Casaloste Olio Extra Vergine di Oliva

Olio Extra Vergine di Oliva from Casaloste

A golden-green organic delight

Emilia d'Orsi and her husband Giovanni, the two owners of Fattoria Casaloste, produce an outstanding extra virgin olive oil year after year alongside their award-winning red wines. The olive trees grow and flourish on an area of around two hectares - some of them even have a second function as shade trees around the picturesque pool. The olives are harvested every year between the end of October and the beginning of November - by hand, of course. The fruit is then processed quickly and gently within 48 hours - this is crucial for the production of high-quality olive oil. The cold pressing and centrifugal separation of oil and water take place in a nearby certified organic oil mill. The result: golden-green in color and slightly bitter in taste, Casaloste's extra virgin olive oil is perfect for preparing bruschetta, salads, vegetables and, of course, pasta & co.

Fattoria Casaloste: A winery in the Greve Valley

You can get to know Fattoria Casaloste at its best if you take a few days to do so - or ideally spend your vacation here. The two vacation apartments, furnished in typical Tuscan style, invite you to enjoy a truly relaxing stay. The current main house was actually a watchtower on the border between Florence and Siena in the 12th century. And Emilia and Giovanni are actually from Naples. But while visiting a friend in Chianti Classico, the agronomist and oenologist and his wife spontaneously fell in love with the small Casaloste winery. In 1993, Giovanni d'Orsi and his wife Emilia acquired the winery, which is located in the hills of Panzano near Greve in Chianti, and moved from Naples to Tuscany. The estate was renovated over the course of time and today exudes the typical Tuscan country house charm. Casaloste owns a total of 19 hectares of land, of which more than ten hectares are planted with vines and two hectares with olive trees. 

Red wines under the sign of the Gallo Nero

The result of Emilia and Giovanni's hard work is around 60,000 organically produced bottles of red wine per year. These range from lighter wines to powerful reds and elegant top wines with great ageing potential. Giovanni uses only special Sangiovese grapes for his flagship wine, the Gran Selezione called "Don Vincenzo". After a long ageing period in barriques and bottles, the wine is only released on the market after around five years. But the second Riserva with the surname Casaloste has nothing to hide either. It matures in partly new, partly used small and medium-sized barrels. The range also includes the Inversus - a cuvée of Sangiovese and Merlot. The Chianti Classico is of course the top seller in the range - as a reminder of its former home, the label features the stylized Gulf of Naples. And, of course, the Gallo Nero is emblazoned on every bottle with a proudly swollen crest - the official symbol of Chianti Classico.

Organic viticulture for top quality in the bottle

From the very beginning, the d'Orsi couple have been fully committed to organic farming. In 1994, Casaloste was the first organic winery in Panzano to be officially certified by the ICEA (Istituto per la Certificazione Etica ed Ambientale). And this ultimately proved to be a stroke of luck for the organic scene in Panzano - more and more winegrowers followed Emilia and Giovanni's example. Today, Panzano in Chianti is regarded as the organic district par excellence in Italy. But what does that mean in plain language? No chemical pesticides are used, energy is generated by solar panels and many other measures are fully committed to sustainable and organic farming. At the latest since the top ratings in "Gambero Rosso" or "Vini di Veronelli" for the Don Vincenzo Chianti Classico Riserva, even stubborn skeptics should be convinced that the best quality can also be achieved in the vineyard with organic cultivation.

In Italy, in the region Tuscany, in the region Chianti Classico, in

Giovanni Battista d'Orsi