Roberto Cavalli vodka and Tomasso Cavalli’s wines are vying for rich swiggers

One would think being the son of a globally renowned Italian fashion designer is fabulous, and it probably is — but to an extent. Having a famous last name more often than not is a disadvantage for the offspring; if he follows in the footsteps of his illustrious parent, it will automatically set an unreasonably high benchmark to beat. For Tomasso Cavalli, racehorse-stud farming has been a greater passion and he thus decided to move to the family estate in Chianti in 1989, having gained experience for two years in a horse breeding company in Florida.

“In 2000, I began my project in wine with the support of Carlo Ferrini, a renowned oenologist, and we planted 25 hectares of vines; our first harvest was in 2004,” Cavalli explains. The total area, though, is split between his estate in Chianti and the area adjoining his father Roberto’s villa near Florence. His decision to move into winemaking comes across as purely a business move rather than a passion project, and while his father’s involvement is minimal, he has incorporated Roberto’s strategy of crafting a high-quality product and limiting supply to control quality. “Our debut wine was released in 2007, and we aim to limit production to 40,000 bottles a year for now,” says Cavalli. The wine is a blend of five varieties of grapes; it is smooth, pleasantly fruity yet balanced and graceful. But at Rs 10,990, this isn’t a wine one can afford to drink regularly — although given the agreeable character, it should be one.

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