Italy · Tuscany

Soldera Case Basse

Soldera Case Basse is one of Italy's most mythologised wine estates, founded by Gianfranco Soldera in 1972 on the southwestern slopes of Montalcino near Sant'Angelo in Colle. Soldera, a successful Milanese insurance broker who turned to wine, created a biodynamic ecosystem of extraordinary complexity on his 8-hectare property, interplanting vines with dozens of plant species and maintaining one of Italy's most documented biodiversity projects. His Brunello di Montalcino — produced from a single selection of Sangiovese Grosso, macerated for up to 100 days and aged 5–6 years in large Slavonian oak — became the apotheosis of traditional Brunello: concentrated, tannic, and built for 30–50 years of evolution. In 2012, a disgruntled former employee destroyed 62,000 litres of wine from the 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 vintages — one of the most devastating wine losses in history. Soldera continued production until his death in 2019; the estate is now managed by his family. Across 440 auction lots, the estate averages $1,073 per bottle, with prices reaching $5,378.