I Sodi di S. Niccolò Celebrates 40 Harvests with Art Book and Christie's Auction

The Super Tuscan wine I Sodi di S. Niccolò, produced by Castellare, is marking its 40th vintage with a limited-edition art book and auctions at Pandolfini and Christie's. A 15-liter bottle of the 2017 vintage sold for €4,800 at Pandolfini on November 12, nearly doubling its high estimate of €2,800. Christie's will auction two lots on December 2 and 3: a 15-liter (estimate £1,400-1,800) and an 18-liter (estimate £1,600-2,000) bottle, each accompanied by a numbered art book featuring illustrations by British ornithologist and naturalist John Gould (1804-1881). The book, printed in only 200 copies, collects the 40 bird illustrations that have adorned the wine labels since 1977. The preface is by Paolo Panerai, president of Domini Castellare di Castellina, which owns Castellare (founded 1977 in Chianti Classico), Rocca di Frassinello (Maremma), Feudi del Pisciotto, and Gurra di Mare (both in Sicily). Winemaker Alessandro Cellai, a protégé of Giacomo Tachis, oversees all estates. The 1985 vintage of I Sodi di S. Niccolò was the only Italian wine included in Wine Spectator's first Top 100 in 1988.