Podere Casaccia Sine Felle Chianti Riserva 2022

Podere Casaccia occupies 12 hectares of woods, olive groves, and vineyards in the hills of Scandicci, just a few kilometers from Florence in central Tuscany. Roberto Moretti purchased the property in 1999, initially drawn by a love for the land rather than ambitions of winemaking. That passion evolved, and by 2004, Roberto—often called "Il Dottore" in Italian natural wine circles, a nod to his background as a doctor—had fully committed to producing wines that reflect his energetic character and the terroir from which they originate.

Roberto quickly embraced biodynamic agriculture as the only approach that could honor both Tuscan tradition and his commitment to environmental stewardship. The estate holds certifications for both organic and biodynamic farming from Codex and I Vini Biodinamici. In the vineyards, Roberto handles every stage personally: pruning by hand, fertilizing with legumes and cruciferous cover crops, and applying biodynamic preparations according to lunar cycles. No synthetic chemicals, herbicides, or pesticides are used.

The vineyards at Podere Casaccia contain vines averaging 40 to 50 years old, planted with heritage Tuscan varieties that predate modern clonal selections. Old clones of Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Malvasia Nera, Trebbiano, and Malvasia Bianca grow alongside rarer natives like Giacchè. Roberto has also planted recently rediscovered Tuscan varieties—Pugnitello and Foglia Tonda—to preserve ancient germplasm that nearly disappeared during the 20th century's push toward high-yielding international grapes.

In the cellar, Podere Casaccia maintains the same non-interventionist philosophy. Grapes are hand-harvested and fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts. Wines see no fining or filtration before bottling, with only minimal sulfites added when necessary. The portfolio includes the Priscus Sangiovese, Sine Felle Vecchie Vigne (a traditional field blend), Chianti Riserva, and single-variety bottlings of Foglia Tonda—each wine a mirror of the territory and the conviction behind it.

The hills surrounding Florence—known as the Colli Fiorentini—represent one of Tuscany's oldest winemaking zones, with viticultural traditions predating the Etruscans. Scandicci, where Podere Casaccia farms its biodynamic vineyards, lies just southwest of Florence at elevations between 80 and 160 meters. This proximity to the Renaissance capital means these hillsides have supplied wine to Florentine tables for centuries, though the area often receives less attention than neighboring Chianti Classico or Montalcino.

The terroir of the Florentine hills features a characteristic mix of clay, silt, and sand soils that provide good drainage while retaining enough moisture during Tuscany's hot, dry summers. The southeast-facing slopes around Scandicci receive ample sunlight, promoting phenolic ripeness in Sangiovese—the dominant grape here as throughout central Tuscany. Diurnal temperature variation between warm days and cool nights helps preserve acidity and aromatic freshness in the wines.

Traditional vineyards in the Colli Fiorentini were planted as "promiscuous" or mixed cultivation, with Sangiovese intermingled with Canaiolo, Malvasia Nera, Trebbiano, and other local varieties—all harvested and fermented together. This old-vine field blend approach persists at estates like Podere Casaccia, where Roberto Moretti tends 40-to-50-year-old vines comprising heritage Sangiovese clones alongside Canaiolo and Malvasia Nera. These ancient selections produce wines lighter in color with softer tannins than modern clonal Sangiovese, reflecting pre-industrial Tuscan winemaking.

In recent years, the Florentine hills have attracted natural wine producers committed to biodynamic farming, spontaneous fermentation, and minimal intervention. This movement echoes broader trends across Tuscany, where artisan producers are reviving indigenous varieties and traditional techniques to create wines that express terroir rather than winemaking technology.