CASTELLO DI VOLPAIA

The winemaker

The famous Gambero Rosso guide describes it as one of the most beautiful estates in the whole of Chianti Classico. A historic wine-growing estate par excellence, the whole village of Castello di Volpaia is linked in one way or another to vines and wine. The Stianti-Mascheroni family acquired the estate in the 1970s. And if Chianti Classico shines with such a fine reputation today, it's not least thanks to the remarkable work of Carlo Mascheroni, who has fought to restore the appellation, playing a key role as president of the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico. In the historic village of Castello di Volpaia, the Mascheroni family has brought a great deal of modernity, renovating the houses to house their employees and, above all, building an ultra-modern winery. While preserving the village's medieval identity, they installed a modern, functional winery in a maze of underground passages. At the time, the estate also had to replant a large part of its vineyard (like many Chianti estates). They carried out a massal selection of their finest vines, using their best native clones. Carlo's children have since taken over the running of the exceptional 46-hectare vineyard, which is entirely farmed organically. The altitude and south-western exposure of the vineyards result in significant temperature differences between day and night, which is essential for the proper ripening of Sangiovese, the region's emblematic grape variety. The Sangiovese grape is renowned on the estate for producing wines of great generosity, dominated by red fruit, with a beautiful freshness. Their Chianti Classico Riserva is ranked #3 in Wine Spectator's top 100 in 2018. They also grow Bordeaux varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, which give rise to super Tuscans, acclaimed by the trade press. The historic charm of Castello di Volpaia is expressed in its great wines, which capture the full expression of the magnificent Chianti terroir.