Owner

Paolo Caciorgna

Winemaker

Paolo Caciogna

Appellation

Terre di Casole Sangiovese DOC and Etna Rosso DOC

Distribution Area

Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania

Varieties

Carricante, Catarratto, Inzolia, Minella, Nerello Mascalese, Sangiovese

Vineyard

Tuscan Vineyards:
The Osteria delle Macchie vineyard is located on a hill at an altitude of 250 meters above sea level and exposed to the southeast. Most of the vines (1.3 ha) were implanted in 2001; in 2006 a further plot of 0.9 ha was planted, in the lower part of the hill exposed most to the south. The vineyard is planted solely to Sangiovese.

The vine training system is Guyot, a method that requires more work in the vineyard than the spurred cordon but helps the plant live longer and produce excellent fruit with a good balance. The plant density is 5,680 vines / ha.

The soil is medium textured with a slight prevalence of sand, offering excellent drainage. It is also rich in calcium and magnesium.

Etna Vineyards:
The vineyard is 700-800 meters of elevation on the north side of the volcano and is mostly planted to Nerello Mascalese. The land in this area is magical! Rich in sand and many mineral salts, it gives the grapes an aromatic finesse, silky and velvety tannins. The result is a wine that, aged in small oak barrels, is expressed with great aromatic finesse, good body, complexity and drinkability.

Farming

Organic

Visit Website

About Pietro Caciorgna

The Caciorgna farm is in the town of Casole d’Elsa, in the province of Siena, an enchanting area in the heart of Tuscany. It is about 18 miles/30 km from Siena and San Gimignano and 31 miles/50 km from Florence.

In 1953, Giovanni and Fulvia Caciorgna fell in love with this area, where they decided to move with their seven children, one of which is Pietro. They sold their small “Podere” located near the Tower of Pitino, a beautiful place near San Severino Marche, to buy a small strip of land where they continued farming, a profession passed down through generations. Today the Caciorgna family has a total area of 30 acres/20 ha where they grow cereal, corn, sunflower, fodder for a small breeding of Chianina cattle, and obviously grapes for wine, which initially was only for family consumption. Leading the company is Pietro Caciorgna and his wife Elda, who mainly takes care of the farm, the animals, and the vegetable garden.  

Early on it did not seem as if any of Pietro Caciorgna’s children would take up his passion for running the modest farm, but renowned enologist, Paolo Caciorgna, recently returned home as a now famous winemaker with international experience and built a small jewel of a winery. In 2007, Paolo was integral in helping to establish a new DOC in Casole d’Elsa, Terre di Casole Sangiovese DOC. He now makes some wines under this regional designation from his hillside vineyard “Osteria delle Macchie” which was planted in 2001 to 5.6 acres/2.3 hectares of Sangiovese. Between 2009 and 2011, he built a cellar to control every step of production and increase quality, making every possible improvement in the different stages, from harvest to bottling. 

In 2006, a dear friend of Paolo’s, Marco de Grazia, invited Paolo to his farm on Mount Etna, in Sicily, Tenuta delle Terre Nere, where he produces an excellent wine from Nerello Mascalese grapes on the north side of the volcano. Together they visited several vineyards for sale until they found a small jewel, half a hectare of Nerello Mascalese. Paolo bought it and shortly after, purchased another vineyard located in the Contrada called “Bocca d’Orzo or Piano d’Aria” (Randazzo), which he recently expanded. In addition to the properties Paolo purchased, he rents a small vineyard and buys grapes from his neighbors in Sicily.  

The philosophy of the Caciorgna family is to produce quality while respecting the environment and health of the consumer, so no chemical fertilizers are used. To prevent vine diseases, only traditional products such as copper and sulfur are used. 

Related News
& Press

September 22, 2021

Great Value Wines: 10 Etna Rossos for Under $40

April 28, 2021

Sangiovese Wine Territory: Pietro Caciorgna Estate, Tuscany

April 30, 2020

For This Tuscan Winemaker, Great Wine Is All About The Land

April 23, 2020

Great Value Wines: 6 Etna Rossos for Less Than $50

November 06, 2019

An Offer He Couldn't Refuse

February 16, 2018

Somm Select Features Pietro Caciorgna Etna Rosso Ciauri’a