The Cantalici family history in winemaking is intertwined with the history of the ancient site where they built their winery. A wealthy Florentine family built L’Antica Fornace (the ancient kiln) in the 16th century in the medieval village of Castagnoli, near Gaiole in Chianti, the heart of today’s Chianti Classico region. For centuries the kiln was used to produce bricks and building materials used throughout Tuscany. The Fornace changed ownership several times over the centuries until Loris Cantalici purchased the site in 1972. Brothers Carlo and Daniele preserved the historic site and integrated it into their winery when they began their winemaking journey in the late 1990’s.
Today, the Cantalici vineyards occupy 90 hectares planted in Sangiovese, the native Italian varietals famous in the region. Also planted on the property are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that are used for blending and production of the SuperTuscan “Tangano”. Carlo and Daniele produce a number of wines that perfectly express this terroir including Chianti Classico that is symbolized with the legendary black rooster, Gallo Nero!