Photo gallery
Vineyards
The Castelvecchio farm is in San Pancrazio in the municipality of San Casciano Val di Pesa, 20 km from Florence, in Chianti DOCG-Denomination controlled and guarantee as production area properly as Chianti Colli Fiorentini –Florentine hills. Since 1960 the farm has 73 hectares of land, 30 of which are vineyards, and 15 olive groves. The conformity of the soil is of Pliocenic origin, characterized mainly by a kind of pebbly limestone rich in marl, and by sandstone, which offer a good agronomic fertility and basic freshness.
As since 1995 18 hectares of new specialized vineyards have been replanted, as they are almost located on hillsides south-east: Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot grapes, while on the north-west facing slopes the Black Canaiolo, Merlot, Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia del Chianti are grown.
The wine cellars, situated beneath the villa, have stainless steel vats for the vinification process, oak casks or cement vats for ageing and an ideal atmosphere for refining wines. The quality of wines derives mostly from the excellent grapes that arrive in the cellar, obtained through passion and continuous care for our vineyards as a guarantee for an exclusive product.
The production line aims to underline the character and originality of each wine.
Property: Rocchi Family from 1962
Owner and Director of production: Filippo Rocchi
Creative director: Stefania Rocchi-Trapani
Winemaker: Luca D’Attoma
Hystorical notes
Historically, Castelvecchio was one of the most ancient and important holdings of the Cavalcanti family (an ancient merchant florentine’s family). The name of the property can already be seen in a parchment from 1189, making note of a real estate transaction, and in which reference is made to a CastelVecchio (or Old Castle) in Val di Pesa.
The building traces the variable fortunes of the Cavalcanti family until the time when, after the conclusion of the battle of Monteaperti between Siena and Florence, it was razed to the ground. In the 15th century, almost directly on top of the ruins, the present villa was built. Later abandoned, the house fell into disrepair where it languished as a simple farmhouse forgotten in the midst of a thick wood.
In 1960, the villa was properly restored to its former elegance replete by Renzo Rocchi with the dignified air becoming a Manor Estate. Though it was in a spirit of lightheartedness that the wine cellars were built and the vineyards planted, all begins for passion and love for the country-side.
Immediately outside the estate we can still see the ruins of the original Castello dei Cavalcanti, while the Chapel of San Lorenzo remains very well preserved. Records of this church date back to the end of the 12th century, in pure Romane style.
The coat of arms as logo of the winery since many years was copied from the original one in stoce on the of the chapel’s door entrance.It is said that originally the chapel belonged to a small community which was united over the following centuries with the parish of San Pancrazio, to be found 2 km from Castelvecchio.
Philosophy of work
What matters most is the emotion you get from the wine.
Filippo and Stefania started to occupy theirselves with Castelvecchio along with their father Carlo Rocchi in 1993. Since that day immediately they realized though, that they had made a choice of life beginning not only for passion but first for great gratitude to the grandfather Renzo Rocchi that founded the winery in 1962.
The road undertaken gives them constantly sincere Emotions.
Emotions in vineyard the very place where the wine-maker’s life takes form where the care in the vineyards is at the bottom of it all.
Emotions for the harvest, an extremely exciting moment, from the first sampling of the grapes to make sure that the moment of picking is just right.
Emotions for the job in the wine cellar to the fermentation stage where the temperature, the repassing of the grape dregs over the must, the pressing and the length of the maceration all make a difference, before moving onto the maturing and fining stage.
Emotions of giving free access at new upcoming ideas so to look for combining tradition and innovation.
Emotions of good and direct relationship with clients that continue to choose our wines year after year.
Our philosophy aims to communicate the ‘message’ that every single wine encloses, renovating at every harvest and presenting our collections of infinity emotions.