Mary and I had the great fortune to meet representatives from the famous Cecchi Winery in 2006 when I was writing an article about the Sagrantino Wine Festival in Montefalco, Umbria. Since then, we have developed a close personal relationship with the Cecchi brothers, Andrea and Cesare as well as Giulia Dirindelli and Chiara Bellacci who handle marketing and hospitality matters.
The beginning of the Cecchi family involvement in the world of wine began in 1893 when Luigi Cecchi set up his own business as a wine taster and broker. In 1908, his eldest son Cesare, then nineteen was sent to work as a cellar assistant at the railway station in Milan, where there was an important wine handling and distribution business. Luigi's other three sons, Mariano, Natale and Francesco started working with their father, and from 1919 onwards rapidly established their reputation in almost every region of Italy. Cesare took over the business in 1939. In 1949 his son Luigi entered the company due to his father’s premature death and ran the company until he passed away. Today, his sons, Andrea and Cesare Cecchi guide the operations of this unique family business with facilities in Tuscany’s Chianti region - Villa Cerna, Castello di Montauto near San Gimignano, Val della Rose and Tenuta Alzatura in Umbria.
Luigi Cecchi
Andrea, Luigi and Cesare.
Andrea and Cesare Cecchi
Cecchi Winery
Cecchi Winery Conference Room
New Storage Facility
A Unique Barreling System
Mary, Chiara and Giulia
Villa Cerna - The Family Home
View from Castello Montauto
Castello Montauto
San Gimignano in the distance
Dinner at Castello Montauto
The Villa at Castello Montauto
Robert with the Grapes
The Cecchi family produces excellent wines that are approachable, distinguished and speak of the terrior from which they are produced. In Tuscany they produce D.O.C.G., D.O.C. and I.G.T. wines ranging from Chianti through Chianti Classico Riserva, Vernaccia, Morellino Scansano, Sangiovese di Toscana, Cabernet and Chardonnay. In Umbria, they produce Orvieto Classico and Sagrantino di Montefalco. The Cecchi wines are widely available in the United States and are imported by Banfi.
We now count the Cecchi family among our personal friends. If traveling through Tuscany and you are close to Castellina in Chianti make an effort to find Casa Vinicola Cecchi. You will be rewarded with a beautiful view, a taste of some of Italy’s best wines and an introduction to some lovely people. You can find directions to Casa Vinicola Cecchi on their website, just click on the Cecchi logo below.
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