Case Basse, Soldera

Case Basse, formally Società Agricola Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera, is a wine estate in Montalcino, Tuscany. Gianfranco Soldera was born in Treviso on 29 January 1937 and moved to Milan with his family as a child. At the start of the 1960s he founded one of the first insurance brokerage companies in Italy, which he ran until 2003. At the end of the 1960s he and his wife Graziella, a flower and plant enthusiast, decided to buy land with the intention of producing one of the best wines in the world. The search for suitable land proved long and hard; in June 1972 the couple discovered Montalcino and Case Basse, a 23-hectare estate that had lain uncultivated for years. They bought it two months later and planted the first vines between 1972 and 1973, carefully choosing the plots most suitable for Sangiovese. The estate's first vintage was 1975. The first Brunello Soldera, made from the 1977 vintage, was sold in 1982, marking the start of business relations that eventually reached wine lovers in more than 40 countries.

• Gianfranco Soldera was born in Treviso on 29 January 1937 and ran an insurance brokerage in Milan from the early 1960s until 2003
• Gianfranco and Graziella Soldera discovered the uncultivated, 23-hectare Case Basse estate in June 1972 and bought it two months later
• The first vines were planted between 1972 and 1973; the estate's first vintage was 1975
• The first Brunello Soldera, the 1977 vintage, was sold in 1982; Soldera wines are now distributed in more than 40 countries

Case Basse covers more than 23 hectares at an elevation of 320 metres in the southwestern part of Montalcino, on hilly terrain the estate describes as of Eocene origin, in a southwesterly position with a dry climate and abundant sun. The estate's own site describes its current vineyard as limited to a total of 10 hectares, sized so that the vines can be worked and harvested entirely by hand. Weedkillers and other chemical products are never used; the soil is fertilised only with organic matter, and the vine rows are worked by hand. Grapes are selected first in the vineyard and then again in the cellar, with the berries checked one by one to ensure only healthy, ripe fruit is used.

• 23-hectare estate at 320 metres elevation in southwestern Montalcino, on hilly terrain the estate describes as of Eocene origin
• The estate's current vineyard is limited to a total of 10 hectares, worked entirely by hand
• No weedkillers or chemical products are used; the soil is fertilised only with organic matter
• Grapes are selected in the vineyard and again in the cellar, with berries checked individually

Fermentation at Case Basse is completely natural, taking place in large vertical Slavonian oak vats through native microorganisms that develop spontaneously, without the use of artificial yeasts. In January 1976 a collaboration and friendship began between Soldera and the Master taster Giulio Gambelli; the two tasted from the barrels together to guide the wine's development, and Soldera credited Gambelli with much of the credit for the high level of quality the wines reached. The winery's longest-standing scientific partnership is with Professor Massimo Vincenzini's team, which carries out physical-chemical and microbiological analysis on the grapes and the fermenting wine. The cellar, which Soldera called "a belly destined to house and protect something precious," lies 14 metres underground and was built exclusively with natural materials, avoiding the use of concrete. It was designed by architect Stefano Lambardi based on Soldera's own plan and holds a constant temperature of about 13 degrees Celsius with 85% humidity. Wine ages for long periods in large Slavonian oak barrels, and bottling takes place directly in the cellar. Average annual production is 15,000 bottles, drastically reduced in vintages that do not meet the estate's standards; Soldera said that 27 of 30 vintages had been excellent, with the historic 1979 the best.

• Fermentation is entirely natural, in large vertical Slavonian oak vats with native yeasts and no artificial additions
• Collaboration with taster Giulio Gambelli began in January 1976; Professor Massimo Vincenzini's team has long provided physical-chemical and microbiological analysis
• The cellar lies 14 metres underground, built without concrete and designed by architect Stefano Lambardi; it holds roughly 13 degrees Celsius and 85% humidity
• Average production is 15,000 bottles a year, reduced sharply in weak vintages; Soldera called 27 of 30 vintages excellent, with 1979 the best

Graziella Soldera, a botany and landscape architecture enthusiast, designed and created a botanical garden covering more than two hectares at Case Basse, growing hundreds of species including antique roses she searched out around the world. The Noisette rose "La Biche" was found in Texas after a search of more than two years, and the climbing rose "Pinkie" was imported from Australia; both were introduced to Italy for the first time by Graziella Soldera. The garden also holds peonies, collectible irises, and rare bulbs such as the Tulipa Maureen. A "White Garden," favored by nocturnal pollinators, and a pond with the water lily Marliacea Albida and Nelumbo Nucifera complete the grounds. The estate's natural winegrowing depends on this wider ecosystem: artificial nests and beehives support birds, bees and other insects that help keep the vines healthy, and fruit trees, berry bushes and pomegranates on the property provide food for wildlife through autumn and winter; old olive trees planted on the estate in the 1970s are also tended as part of this ecosystem.

• Graziella Soldera created a botanical garden of more than two hectares, including antique roses she sourced internationally
• The Noisette rose "La Biche" was found in Texas after a two-year search; the climbing rose "Pinkie" was imported from Australia
• Artificial nests and beehives support birds, bees and other insects around the vineyard
• Fruit trees, berry bushes and pomegranates on the estate provide food for birds and insects through autumn and winter; old olive trees planted in the 1970s are also tended

Case Basse's first wine, produced from 1975 to 1979, was Rosso di Montalcino Soldera, a red wine made from grapes grown in the Brunello Soldera vineyards. The first Brunello Soldera was sold in 1982 (the 1977 vintage), and Brunello di Montalcino Soldera DOCG, including a Riserva designation in some years, continued until 2006. Soldera Intistieti, a 100% Sangiovese table wine with shorter barrel ageing, was produced between 1985 and 1992. An unusual weather pattern in 2005 caused one barrel to mature after about three years; that wine was released as Soldera Pegasos, a name inspired by the winged horse that had already appeared on the estate's shorter-aged labels. Since 2013, beginning with the 2006 wine, all Case Basse wines have carried the Toscana IGT/IGP Soldera Case Basse 100% Sangiovese label. The 2021 vintage, the most recent on sale on the estate's own website, was limited to about 19,000 bottles.

• Rosso di Montalcino Soldera (1975-1979) was the estate's first wine
• Brunello di Montalcino Soldera DOCG ran from the 1977 vintage (sold 1982) through 2006, including Riserva bottlings in some years
• Soldera Intistieti, a 100% Sangiovese table wine with shorter ageing, was made between 1985 and 1992
• Soldera Pegasos, a single 2005-vintage IGT, resulted from one barrel maturing unusually fast that year
• Since 2013 all wines are labeled Toscana IGT/IGP Soldera Case Basse 100% Sangiovese; the 2021 vintage was limited to about 19,000 bottles

On the night of 2 December 2012, a former Case Basse employee broke into the cellar under cover of darkness and opened ten casks of ageing Brunello di Montalcino, ruining 62,600 litres of wine spanning the 2007 to 2012 vintages; no bottles or other valuables were taken or damaged. Fabrizio Bindocci, managing director of Il Poggione and president of the Brunello Consorzio, told Decanter that producers across Montalcino rallied to Soldera's support after the attack, and that Soldera told him: "I'll get through this. I'm not giving up and I'm not beaten." The employee, Andrea Di Gisi, was later sentenced to four years in prison after a trial in Siena; Soldera said the judge had "accepted the prosecutor's requests in full." The Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino offered to supply wine for Soldera to sell in place of what was lost, but Soldera refused, arguing it would not be fair to consumers, and resigned from the Consorzio with immediate effect, continuing to produce wine exclusively from the estate's own Sangiovese vines. Gianfranco Soldera died on 16 February 2019, at age 82. Following his death, the family continued the business in keeping with the founding principles of Case Basse; Graziella Soldera, Monica and Paolo, Mauro and Valeria carry the estate's identity forward today. On the estate's own team page, Monica Soldera holds the role of President, Mauro Soldera is Administrator, and Gianpaolo Franco is Vigneron, alongside a wider team spanning production, administration, sales and communication.

• On 2 December 2012 a former employee opened ten casks of ageing Brunello, ruining 62,600 litres spanning the 2007-2012 vintages; no bottles or other valuables were taken
• Andrea Di Gisi was sentenced to four years in prison after a trial in Siena
• Soldera refused the Consorzio's offer of replacement wine and resigned from the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino with immediate effect
• Gianfranco Soldera died on 16 February 2019, at age 82
• Today's leadership includes Monica Soldera as President, Mauro Soldera as Administrator, and Gianpaolo Franco as Vigneron

Primary sources (producer's own site): https://www.soldera.it/en/, https://www.soldera.it/en/the-founder-gianfranco-soldera/, https://www.soldera.it/en/the-winery/, https://www.soldera.it/en/the-team/, https://www.soldera.it/en/natural-vinegrowing-and-winemaking/, https://www.soldera.it/en/soldera-wine-production/, https://www.soldera.it/en/soldera-wines-by-vintage/, https://www.soldera.it/en/botanical-garden/, https://www.soldera.it/en/the-wine-toscana-sangiovese-ig-soldera-case-basse/. Secondary sources: Decanter ("Former employee jailed for Soldera sabotage"), Decanter ("Montalcino producer Gianfranco Soldera dies"), Decanter ("Neighbours rally round as Soldera's Brunellos are destroyed"). Last verified 2026-09-09. Where the producer's site and a secondary source disagree, the producer's site governs. Spot something off? Submit a correction.