The castagnedi family at tenuta sant’antonio in valpolicella.
Armando, Tiziano, Paolo and Massimo Castagnedi: four brothers and a single passion that originated in their father’s vineyards at San Zeno di Colognola ai Colli, where the most famous Veronese wines are made: Amarone, Valpolicella, and Soave.
In 1989, they took the bold and far-sighted decision to buy vineyards in the Monti Garbi region of Valpolicella, near Verona, laying the foundation for what has now an internationally famous brand, the producer of excellent wines, with more than one hundred hectares of vineyards and a state-of-the-art ageing facility.
It was a real challenge. The decision to plant new vines alongside the existing vineyards and to build a new winery in the Monti Garbi area demanded courage and a keen business sense: two qualities the Castagnedi brothers do not lack.
You have to be a true viticulturist, in the purest sense of the word, rather than just a vigneron to even consider cultivating such unusual terrain. A vigneron would have dismissed the terroir on principle. The Castagnedi brothers, on the other hand, had tended and cared for vines for other vine-growing and wine-producing businesses in Tuscany, Sicily and Latium for years and realised the enormous potential of the Monti Garbi area.
Tenuta Sant’Antonio is a member of the Amarone Families Association, whose aim is to promote understanding of what “true Amarone” really is. Its basis is exactly that, a business which has always believed and invested in the importance and the value of the family.
Monti Garbi
This story is from the May 2017 edition of Decanter.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2017 edition of Decanter.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Wine wisdom
Our regular learning section helps you get more from your glass
Around ABRUZZO
A stunning, under-explored, year-round destination with an extraordinary natural setting, Abruzzo’s appeal lies in its rustic villages and a sunny-natured, hospitable local character
UMBRIA A wine lover's guide
In the heart of Italy lies an undulating landscape dotted with hilltop villages and draped with olive groves, where winemakers are breathing new life into long-neglected indigenous grape varieties
Lessons in LAMBRUSCO
Coming from the same region of northern Italy as some of the world’s most famous names in food, the wide range of Lambrusco wines provide ample scope for complementing meals both local and international, while refreshing the palate, too
Sustainable cocktails THE FUTURE?
In every industry, it's pretty much the hottest topic right now, but what does the S-word mean when it comes to cocktail-making? Leading experts give us their take and share eco-conscious recipes to replicate at home
VENTOUX AOC The rising star of the Rhône
The Southern Rhone appellation is emerging as a community-led force of innovation and sustainability.
Polkadraai Hills
This lesser-known corner of South Africa’s Stellenbosch region is starting to turn heads, thanks to its special soils and a close-knit community of talented young winemakers
BY FARR
The enigmatic Nick Farr, of Australia's celebrated By Farr winery, is famously reluctant to entertain the wine media or submit samples for tasting. So we jumped at an opportunity to visit the family estate in Geelong to taste some of the country's most sought-after Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Brunello di Montalcino 2019: 30 picks from a 5-star vintage
It's a vintage to bring cheer to Tuscany lovers' hearts, and the first of what is being billed as a strong run of three to come. The successful 2019 Brunello wines offer richness, balance and immediate appeal while also managing to avoid excess
Brunello di Montalcino 2019
It's a vintage to bring cheer to Tuscany lovers' hearts, and the first of what is being billed as a strong run of three to come. The successful 2019 Brunello wines offer richness, balance and immediate appeal while also managing to avoid excess