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DONATELLA TALKS ABOUT HER TWO WINERIES

Two wineries with a single Tuscan soul and the feminine dream of qualitative excellence. Casato Prime Donne winery in Montalcino and Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda

by Donatella Cinelli Colombini #winedestination

Fattoria del Colle Trequanda

The Casato farm already belonged to my ancestors in 1592. Over the centuries they used it for hunting and for honeymoons. Today the property seems close to the town of Montalcino in a northerly direction, towards Siena, but at that time it appeared remote and in the middle of the woods suitable for solitary intimacy. More recently the Casato belonged to my grandmother Giuliana Tamanti Colombini, then to my mother Francesca and in the future, it will go to my daughter Violante. All women for a winery which is the first in Italy with an entirely female staff and has been renamed “Casato Prime Donne”.

CASATO PRIME DONNE IN MONTALCINO

In 1998, when my mother gave it to me, Casato was almost a ruin. In 25 years, it has changed into an estate capable of exporting to 44 countries around the world with around 17 hectares (out of a total area of 40) of organic Sangiovese vineyards cultivated with obsessive care. I am a traditionalist, a nature lover but also a non-conformist and rather rebellious. For this reason, in my first years alone, I looked for new and different solutions, then I returned to being the paladin of everything ancient and manual with roots proudly in the earth. My Brunellos stand out for their harmonious and certainly feminine elegance.

7 September 2023

CASATO PRIME DONNE AWARD POSTPONED

DUE TO THE SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS OF CARLO GARDINI, DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI’S HUSBAND, IT HAS BEEN DECIDED TO POSTPONE THE CASATO PRIME DONNE AWARD

Francesca Colombini e Donatella Cinelli Colombini al Premio Casato Prime Donne 20216

Francesca Colombini e Donatella Cinelli Colombini al Premio Casato Prime Donne 2016

The 2023 edition of the Casato Prime Donne Award, scheduled for September 16^TH , was dedicated to Francesca Colombini Cinelli, whom I would like to remember here with you.

The initiative was born with the name Premio Barbi Colombini thanks to my mother, in 1981, to bring the interest of the press on Montalcino and Brunello, but also to create new contacts, in the belief that the relationship with great cultural personalities would open minds and would stimulate new energy in the whole territory.

Over the years it has given a boost to the growth of Montalcino and, in 1999, the Award was transformed into a promoter of female talent, and since last year it has added to its previous activity that of incubator of young talents.

31 August 2023

MY RECENTLY AWARDED WINES

BRUNELLO BUT NOT ONLY, ALSO MY ORCIA DOC WINES, THE IGT IL DRAGO E LE 8 COLOMBE, THE ROSSO DI MONTALCINO AND THE CHIANTI SUPERIORE AWARDED WITH SCORES ABOVE 90/100

Awarded wines by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Receiving ratings above 90 points from the major international newspapers is always a pleasure but paradoxically happiness is greater when the judgment concerns a wine other than the TOP ones because it means that the winery offers its customers a very high level of quality across the entire range . In short, it is a sign of the brand’s strength and a confirmation of its choices in the vineyards. In fact, the vineyards are the major economic and organizational commitment of every small but ambitious producer like me.

Here I show you some of the scores that have made me happiest in the last few months. Evidently the 94/100 on my Brunello Prime Donne 2018 (and the 93/100 on the Brunello) also filled me with pride and I am grateful to Monica Larner for having well reviewed my wine in Wine Advocate Robert Parker. Incidentally, Master Sommelier John Szabo and Canadian journalist Michael Godel also gave 94/100 to my 2018 Brunello on “Wine Align”.

But here I would like to tell you about my other labels reviewed in the last few months

VINOUS AWARDS 93+ TO CENERENTOLA DOC ORCIA AND 92 TO THE IGT IL DRAGO E LE 8 COLOMBE

Cenerentola Doc Orcia 2018 also obtained 91/100 in the Falstaff Trophy 2023.

25 August 2023

OFFER: TWO GREAT DOCG WINES AWARDED AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL

3 bottles of Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2018 BIO-Organic “Prime Donne selection” and 3 bottles of Chianti Superiore DOCG 2020 BIO-Organic at the price of 179 € directly to your home

Offerta agosto: 3 Chianti superiore 2020, 3 Brunello di Montalcino progetto Prime Donne, una wine skin e un cavatappi personalizzato

August offer: 3 Chianti superiore 2020, 3 Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne project, a wine skin and a personalized corkscrew

For autumn, a proposal of two premium red wines, produced in small exclusive series and appreciated by wine critics from all over the world

The new proposal includes two wines by Donatella Cinelli Colombini, a wine from each estate: Chianti Superiore DOCG 2020 from Fattoria del Colle and Brunello di Montalcino Progetto Prime Donne DOCG 2018 from Casato Prime Donne. Two flagship wines from Donatella’s wineries!

Both productions are limited to just a few bottles, wines that are approachable, versatile and of typical Tuscan elegance.

Together with the bottles you will find two small gifts: a wine skin ,which is a bubble wrap container to protect your bottles when you carry them in your suitcase, and a professional corkscrew. Both are customized.

OFFER FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

3 bottles of Chianti Superiore DOCG 2020 Organic and

3 bottles of Brunello Prime Donne 2018 Organic

1 wine skin with Donatella Cinelli Colombini logo

1 professional corkscrew with Donatella Cinelli Colombini logo

17 August 2023

THE CASATO PRIME DONNE AWARD WINNERS 2023

THE PRIMA DONNA 2023 IS MARIA CANABAL, FOR JOURNALISM AWARED IRENE CHIARI AND ALESSANDRO REGOLI FROM WINENEWS, LOREDANA SOTTILE AND GIANLUCA ATZENI FROM TREBICCHIERI

Irene Chiari e Alessandro Regoli vincitori del Premio Casato Prime Donne 2023

Irene Chiari e Alessandro Regoli winners of Premio Casato Prime Donne 2023

In 2023 the Casato Prime Donne award chooses one of the characters who have worked the most in favour of gender equality in food & wine: Maria Canabal, founder and organizer of the Parabere Forum. Every year since 2015, the forum brings together, in a different place, 400 women from all over the world: cooks and scientists, engineers and farmers, anthropologists, wine producers and agronomists. Parabere is a non-profit association and is aimed at empowering through three ingredients: information, teaching and role models. Therefore, it tries to create a network that increases the opportunities for the female participants and raises their awareness. In 2015 Maria Canabal was recognized among the “Most Influential Women in Gastronomy” by the Foundation Woman’s Week and her cookbooks were awarded by the Gourmand Cookbooks Awards as “Best in the world”.

The jury of the Casato Prime Donne Award, chaired by Donatella Cinelli Colombini and composed of Rosy Bindi, Anselma Dell’Olio, Anna Pesenti, Stefania Rossini, Anna Scafuri and Daniela Viglione, together with the Mayor of Montalcino Silvio Franceschelli and the President of the Consorzio del Brunello Fabrizio Bindocci have chosen two of the major wine information portals as winners of journalistic awards for their contribution to promoting Montalcino and its wines.

10 August 2023

DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI’S SUPER PASSITO

New look for Donatella Cinelli Colombini's BIO Passito 2018 which inaugurates a more sophisticated style and aims high. A very small series of 364 375 CL bottles...

3 August 2023

Calici di Stelle 2023 with 4-legged friends

A di-vine August in Donatella Cinelli’s Montalcino and Trequanda wineries, two different appointments to celebrate the 2023 edition of a Dog-Friendly Calici di stelle

Gli appuntamenti di Calici di stelle 2023 in compagnia dei vostri amici a 4 zampe

The events Calici di stelle 2023 with 4-legged friends

The traditional August appointment with great wine, this year is specifically dedicated to wine lovers with dogs.

At Casato Prime Donne di Montalcino, a winery celebrated for the excellence of its bottles but also for being the first in Italy with a staff of only women, the tourist’s welcoming is different from any other.

There are two Calici di Stelle appointments, always on Saturday. They will be on the 5^th and 12th August starting at 4.30 pm on the theme “Wine and Music with 4-legged friends”

COST: €34.5, booking required at 0577 849421 -3455495154, casato@cinellicolombini.it – minimum 6 participants

WINE AND MUSIC IN THE BRUNELLO VINEYARDS WITH 4-LEGGED FRIENDS

The program lasts a couple of hours and includes an itinerant tasting of 4 wines paired with 4 pieces of music specially selected by Igor Vazzaz, musician and sommelier. Welcoming also for dogs with bowl and kibble.

Exceptionally, the 4 wines – Chianti Superiore, Rosso di Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino and Vin Santo – will be accompanied by small pairings with typical foods such as dried sausage, pecorino cheese and Sienese dry biscuits.

20 July 2023

CENERENTOLA DOC ORCIA 2019

Great 5-star vintage, the first of a lucky sequence of 4 consecutive good harvests.Cenerentola was born in the Bio- organic vineyards at Fattoria del Colle...

13 July 2023

FARM HOLIDAYS IN TUSCANY

To rest, get a tan but also to discover masterpieces of art, play sports in the midst of breathtaking views, see where Brunello and extra virgin olive oil are born...

6 July 2023

AT THE TABLE UNDER THE TUSCAN STARS

THE FATTORIA DEL COLLE RESTAURANT PRESENTS ITS SUMMER MENU WITH LOTS OF TUSCANY AND A LITTLE IMAGINATION. THE NEW DISH BY CHEF DORIANA MARCHI By Donatella Cinelli Colombini #winedestination [caption id="attachment_79336" align="alignleft" width="300"] Doriana Marchi, chef at Fattoria Del Colle restaurant[/caption] Doriana Marchi, chef of the Fattoria del Colle restaurant is like a Tuscan DOCG for being born and raised in the area and has also been an AIS Sommelier since 2013. She shares my passion for local gastronomic traditions but adds great creativity and an aesthetic sense to these which makes her dishes colourful. Her 2023 novelty is the “Ricotta and spinach ravioli...

30 June 2023

OFFER: LEONE ROSSO AND ROSA DI TETTO FOR PICNICS AND BBQs

Summer is coming and so is the desire to have lunch and dinner outdoors. We propose two “limited edition” and “farmhouse” wines.

Rosa di Tetto, Leone Rosso, customized mini shopper bag, vacuum wine saver

Two very special wines from Fattoria del Colle: the Leone Rosso Orcia DOC 2020 and the Rosato IGT Toscana, which is a trendy type. Both in preview and both wines to drink fresh, giving a special touch to your aperitif, your picnic or your brunch. Together with the bottles you will find a personalized mini shopper bag and a wine saver closure.

SMALL EXCLUSIVE PRODUCTIONS FROM FATTORIA DEL COLLE

These two gems are “family wines”, produced in small series to make your lunches and dinners exceptional, and they are not so easy to find!

For those who don’t know yet, Fattoria del Colle is located in southern Chianti, it is a sixteenth-century farm with an ancient history and a cellar projected into the future.

The buildings form a small hamlet, now transformed into holiday homes, surrounded by olive groves, vineyards and parks. Fattoria del Colle is a farmhouse in Tuscany with restaurant and wellness area with spa, a place miraculously preserved over time that offers guests a weekend in Tuscany with the emotion of reliving a thousand-year history

OFFER FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

6 bott Leone Rosso Doc Orcia 2020 bio

and

6 bott Rosa di Tetto IGT Toscana bio

1 customized mini shopper bag

1 vacuum wine saver

Price 159,00 Euro (instead of 191,00 Euro)

15 Euro discount on shipping cost

For those who wish to double by buying 12 Leone Rosso and 12 Rosa di Tetto the price is even more convenient

Euro 297,00 (instead of Euro 382,00)

Always with the 15 Euro discount on shipping cost

23 June 2023

THE WORL’S MOST DESIRED WINES

WHICH WINES MOST ATTRACT THE INTEREST OF WINE LOVERS AROUND THE WORLD? MOUTON, LAFITE AND DOM PERIGNON

Sassicaia San Guido sixth most desired wine in the world

Don Kavanagh delights us on Wine Searcher with always very “appetizing” news for wine enthusiasts. In this case it is the list of bottles that attract the most attention, the ones that lovers of the nectar of Bacchus look for the most online

The proof that it is a reliable source comes from the numbers: Wine Searcher has 240 million searches a year on a repertoire of 15.9 million wine, beer and spirit labels. Mind-boggling numbers where any bottle ends up disappearing in the multitude … except for some that for fame, qualitative excellence and prestige emerge like the tip of a huge iceberg. And they are more or less always the same ones: French (with some exceptions) and celebrated for dozens and dozens of years

15 June 2023

NEW LOOK FOR THE CASATO PRIME DONNE WINE SHOP

The Casato Prime Donne winery in Montalcino has renovated its Tuscan-style store, made by Tuscan artisans and designed by Tuscan Lorella Salvi

The wine shop changes look

Faithful to her principles, Donatella Cinelli Colombini wanted the Casato Prime Donne to speak the area in which it is located. She hates “non-places”, i.e. environments that could be anywhere in the world and do not tell their own story. So, when she realized that her cellar store needed a restoration, she called Lorella Salvi from the OMIF company in Siena and asked her to <<reorganize this space for me using the style of the place, the local materials and the craftsmen of this area>>.

THE CASATO PRIME DONNE STORE

Lorella smiled but understood. She has been collaborating with Donatella for many years and designed the 3 stores for her: Tuscany Lovers in Siena, Bagno Vignoni and Cortona. For the Casato Prime Donne she therefore designed an environment of very Tuscan austere elegance: wooden shelves with pilasters and frames that recall the old pharmacies of the region, Carrara marble top as in the taverns and three ancient terracotta jars (obviously Tuscan) to support the counter and the glass surface on which to prepare the tastings. Some choices have been controversial such as those regarding the marble, which <<gets stained but when stained it becomes more seasoned and more real>>.

The overall effect is that of furniture “that has always been there” perfectly integrated with a stone farmhouse built over four hundred years ago. Above the wine shelves there are some ancient agricultural tools interspersed with ceramic panels that explain the origin of the name Montalcino from the Latin words Mons and Ilex which

wooden shelf, Casato Prime Donne

became Mons ilicini that is mount of holm oaks (cuercus ilex). The holm oak is the dominant essence in the woods of the Brunello area and was the main economic resource of the inhabitants until the eighteenth century. It was used to produce ceramics and to tan leather thanks to its tannin-rich bark.

8 June 2023