I Castei wine

I Castei is a prestigious range of wines produced by the Michele Castellani winery, located in the heart of the Valpolicella Classica region in Veneto, Italy. The name 'I Castei' refers to a specific plot of land or 'cru' within the estate's vineyards, which are known for their clay and limestone soils that provide ideal drainage and mineral complexity for traditional grape varieties.

The history of the brand is deeply rooted in the Castellani family tradition, specifically under the leadership of Michele Castellani and his children. The winery specializes in the traditional methods of the region, including the 'Appassimento' technique (drying grapes for Amarone) and the 'Ripasso' method (refermenting Valpolicella wine on the skins of Amarone) to create rich, full-bodied reds like the Valpolicella Ripasso and Amarone della Valpolicella.

Today, the brand remains an independent family-owned enterprise. The ultimate ownership lies with Castellani Michele & Figli srl, maintaining local production and management in Valgatara di Marano di Valpolicella. This ensures that the production process—from the manual harvest to the aging in Slavonian oak barrels—is strictly controlled to preserve the authentic 'terroir' and craftsmanship associated with the Italian Veneto wine region.