Next year marks a big fat 60th anniversary in Chianti country. It was June 21, 1965 that Sir Gualtiero Armando Nunzi united with a group of 17 winegrowers under the name of Castelli del Grevepesa to form a cooperative wine company. Their objective was to safeguard the land and age-old traditions of Tuscan winegrowing while producing high-quality wines in compliance with strict regulations laid down by the Consorzio Gallo Nero consortium (now Consorzio del Chianti Classico).

One of Castelli del Grevepesa’s vineyards. The winery now features grapes from 120 regional growers.

They chose the iris as their symbol, a flower that grows naturally between Val di Greve and Val di Pesa, south of Florence—hence the name Castelli (castles) del Greve-pesa. “This perennial flower resists both the sweltering heat of summer and the winter frost,” notes the winery. “It is a symbol of the solidity of Castelli del Grevepesa and of its unbreakable bond with Florentine culture and traditions.”

Today they form the largest Chianti Classico family, with their associate winegrowers numbering 120!

Here’s one of their more affordable and value-packed products.

Castelgreve Chianti Classico 2021 – Tuscany, Italy ($18.95)
Like many, I love bold red wines, but sometimes my palate craves freshness and acidity—something different that doesn’t reek of alcohol from two yards away. Chianti, with its bright juicy edge and often earthy character, certainly qualifies. And when it’s an all-star vintage from the central Italian region like 2021 was—well, now we’re really talking! Showcasing a beautiful ruby red in the glass, there’s a lot to like for under $20 in this newly released wine. While the 13.6% alcohol isn’t exactly low, the balance is so good that you probably won’t even notice it on the nose. Inside, there’s the textbook dried dark cherry, with spice, leather, pepper and wet leaf notes. Oak plays merely a supporting role. In the glass the tannins are rather smooth for such an affordable Chianti. It’s medium-bodied with a savory dark sour cherry on the palate and medium length on the finish. Great value here. 89