Raise a glass to women in wine as we celebrate Women’s History Month with a lineup of female-made wines from around the world. Explore each remarkable bottle in Denver restaurants and learn the stories of the women behind the wines.
The history of wine spans centuries and is deeply rooted in tradition. Historically, it was uncommon for women to take the helm as winemakers. Today, the wine industry is evolving and many highly regarded wineries are led by strong women who touch and connect with every aspect of production, from vineyard to winery to the tables of the remarkable restaurants listed below.
In this article series, you’ll find great wines for every budget dynamic women produce worldwide in this global wine experience.
Get to know female winemakers from Colorado, Oregon, New Zealand, and Italy, plus one very ambitious lady from Japan who dared to do it differently and became a saké brewmaster, a role seldom held by a woman in Japan.
Their stories and backgrounds vary, but ties to family, sustainability, and perseverance unite them.
You’ll find their wines waiting for you in the cellars of some of our city’s best restaurants. Prepare to experience the elegance and finesse these woman-made wines bring to exceptional Denver dining rooms.
Alessandra Casini
Bindi Sergardi at Tavernetta
1889 16th St Mall, Denver, CO 80202
The Woman
Now to the rolling hills of Tuscany, where we meet 23rd-generation winemaker Alessandra Casini of Bindi Sergardi in the heart of Chianti Classico. The winery’s origins date back to 1349, with vineyards spread over 1,000 hectares in the picturesque province of Siena. Alessandra joined the family company in 2005, carrying on the family’s 700 years-old winemaking traditions and following in the daring footsteps of her grandmother Chiara and great-grandmother Elisabetta.
During World War II, Chiara, daughter of Elisabetta, oversaw operations at the winery while her husband and father fought for Italy. At the age of 17, she found herself fatherless and a widow of the war. She persevered against the odds, bringing a new standard of resilience to her family legacy and a deeply rooted passion for agriculture.
The family says, “The response which the land has given to our efforts has been strong, vital, and honest. We have derived unforgettable certainties from the land over the course of the long years which we have dedicated to it with passion. It seems to us that what exists today smiles in the vigor of the vineyards in the summer and in the rigor of the vineyards in winter.”
The Wine
The wine program at Tavernetta offers one of the best selections of Italian wine, Champagne, and other gems in Denver. Available by the bottle, you’ll find Alessandra’s Colli di Bindi Sergardi 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva and Tenuta Mocenni di Bindi Sergardi 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva ‘Calidonia’.
Both wines are impeccable examples of the Sangiovese grape showing the breadth and depth of Chianti Classico. The Colli di Bindi Sergardi 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva is made from high-elevation, 20-year-old vines planted in Albarese soils. The wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged in neutral oak barrels for the ultimate expression of the natural fruit. You’ll taste notes of bright red cherry and plum with a touch of rosewater.
The Tenuta Mocenni di Bindi Sergardi 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva ‘Calidonia’ is an homage Calidonia Sergardi, the wife of Girolamo Bindi. The winery is named for their union and this bottle is a symbol of gratitude from the family. A bit more intense in profile than the first, this wine is silky on the palate with darker fruit flavors and a subtle aroma of incense on the nose.
Try either with Tavernetta’s Pappardelle with pork short rib, apple, and Montasio cheese for an immersive Italian tasting experience.
Learn more about Alessandra and Bindi Sergardi here
Check out Tavernetta’s wine list here
