To our favor, Steve had connections with the Henry Wine Group.  They import a lot of wine from Italy and Castellare is one of the wines they import. Steve was able to arrange a very special tour of Castellare.

We were greeted by the winemaker and taken on a complete tour through the cellars.  This was capped by a tasting that covered all of their wines  and grappa, as well.  I think most of us had a bit a buzz by the time we were finished.

As is common with most tastings, we were provided with vessels into which we could dump our excess wine.  The got little use from this group.

Of course, we capped this visit with in the shop where we loaded up of their fine wines. A case of the I Soda Di Niccolo was selected as our “house” wine.

The “little old winemaker” from Castellare stands in front of the grapes aging for Vinsanto.

Our group settled right into the tasting.

True to Tuscany, the winery has great views overlooking the vinyards.

From Sunset Magazine, November 2000...

Castellare “I Sodi di San Nicollo” 1994 (Tuscany), $40.

Though it has a proprietary name, this top wine from Castellare is made in the Chianti region primarily from Sangiovese grapes. Ripe and very earthy, with a long finish, this vintage (the current one) is good; an older one would be even better.

The winery building.

If only we could have been left alone in this room.