Querciabella

Querciabella was established in 1974 when Giuseppe Castiglioni, an industrial entrepreneur with a passion for French wines, purchased a small vineyard in Ruffoli on the hillside of Greve in Chianti. The estate initially sold its Chianti under the Casaocci brand, the property's former name, before adopting the Querciabella label. The name refers to Poggio della Querciabella, a small oak-covered hill above the cellar. At the turn of the millennium, Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni took the reins from his father and spearheaded the transformation to organic and plant-based biodynamic viticulture; Giuseppe Castiglioni passed away in 2003. In 2024, Mita Castiglioni, Giuseppe's eldest daughter, took ownership from her brother Sebastiano, who moved on to pursue his art dealership business. The current CEO Roberto Lasorte continues day-to-day management, with Mita's children Andrea and Selene also set to play future roles.

• Founded 1974 by Giuseppe (Pepito) Castiglioni; first Chianti vintage sold under the Casaocci brand name before rebranding to Querciabella
• Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni led estate from late 1990s through 2024; introduced organic and vegan biodynamic practices; winemaker Manfred Ing continues under new ownership
• Mita Castiglioni (Giuseppe's daughter) assumed ownership in 2024; name Querciabella means 'beautiful oak' in Italian, referencing the oak-covered hill above the cellar

Querciabella converted to certified organic farming in 1988, placing it among the earliest converts in Chianti Classico. In 2000, inspired by Nicolas Joly of Coulée de Serrant, Sebastiano Castiglioni transitioned to biodynamic practices, adapting them to exclude all animal products and by-products. This plant-based system uses only cover crops, green manures, and plant-derived composts; no cow horns or animal inputs are used in biodynamic preparations. The estate's commitment extends into the cellar, where no animal-derived fining agents are used, making all wines certified vegan. Grapes are harvested by hand from high-altitude sites ranging from 350 to 700 metres above sea level across Greve, Radda, Gaiole, and Maremma, with around sixty separate micro-vinifications performed each harvest for the Chianti Classico alone.

• Organic certification since 1988, among Italy's earliest converts; plant-based biodynamics since 2000 using only cover crops and plant-material composts
• All wines certified vegan; no animal products used in vineyard preparations or cellar fining
• Around 60 separate micro-vinifications performed each vintage; hand-harvesting from high-altitude vineyards (350 to 700 m a.s.l.)

The core of the portfolio is Chianti Classico DOCG, a 100% Sangiovese sourced from vineyards across three UGAs (Greve, Radda, and Gaiole). The Chianti Classico Riserva draws on the finest parcels from Greve, Radda, and Gaiole, consistently scoring 92 to 96 points from major critics. The Gran Selezione, first released in the 2017 vintage, is a 100% Sangiovese produced from estate vineyards in Ruffoli and Lamole using submerged-cap maceration, with only 6,000 bottles made annually and reviews reaching 99 points. Camartina, the flagship Super Tuscan since 1981, is now approximately 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Sangiovese, matured 18 months in French oak then 12 more in bottle; production is just 10,000 bottles and it is only made in optimal vintages. Batàr (50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Bianco), first produced in 1988, is barrel-fermented 9 months in French oak with extended lees aging and is widely regarded as Italy's original white Super Tuscan. Mongrana from Maremma, a multi-grape blend led by Sangiovese (50%), Merlot (25%), and Cabernet Sauvignon (25%), is matured 12 months in cement and stainless steel vats at 77,000 bottles annually. Palafreno, now a 100% Merlot, and Turpino, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Merlot, complete the Maremma range.

• Chianti Classico: 100% Sangiovese from UGAs Greve, Radda, and Gaiole; around 60 micro-vinifications per vintage; alcohol 14% vol.
• Gran Selezione (first vintage 2017): 100% Sangiovese, 6,000 bottles; submerged-cap maceration; 9 months tonneaux plus 12 months large cask plus 30 months in bottle; 95 to 99 points
• Camartina (since 1981): currently approximately 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Sangiovese; 10,000 bottles; released minimum 30 months after harvest; 2019 vintage received 98/100 James Suckling
• Batàr (since 1988): 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Bianco; 16,000 bottles; barrel-fermented 9 months in French oak; widely called Italy's original white Super Tuscan

Querciabella commands broad international recognition across all price levels. The Chianti Classico and Riserva regularly achieve 92 to 96 points from Antonio Galloni of Vinous, James Suckling, Wine Enthusiast, and Decanter. The Gran Selezione has been a breakout critical success since its debut vintage: the 2019 Gran Selezione scored 99/100 from Daniele Cernilli of DoctorWine, 98/100 from Sarah Heller for Club Oenologique, and 97/100 from Michaela Morris for Decanter. The 2019 Camartina was named to the Top 100 World Wines of 2023 by James Suckling with 98/100. In 2025, Querciabella was named Cantina dell'Anno (Winery of the Year) in the DoctorWine Essential Guide to Italian Wines, curated by Daniele Cernilli. Jancis Robinson described a 17-year-old Camartina as 'rather lovely' and gave the 2020 Batàr 18/20, while Hugh Johnson called Batàr 'a dream of a white' comparable to a Burgundy Grand Cru.

• Gran Selezione 2019: 99/100 Cernilli (DoctorWine), 98/100 Heller (Club Oenologique), 97/100 Morris (Decanter), 96/100 Galloni (Vinous)
• Camartina 2019: 98/100 James Suckling, named Top 100 World Wines 2023; only produced in optimal vintages, approximately 10,000 bottles
• Named DoctorWine Cantina dell'Anno (Winery of the Year) 2025 in the Essential Guide to Italian Wines, curated by Daniele Cernilli

Querciabella's Chianti Classico vineyards span three distinct terroirs across officially recognised UGAs. In Greve (Ruffoli), soils of galestro and sandstone at 350 to 550 metres offer varying clay content with altitude, producing wines with elegance and freshness. Radda (450 m) features a higher proportion of galestro slate, yielding wines with persistent tannins and darker fruit profiles. Lamole (close to 700 m) has sandy soils with clay and schist formations, delivering elegant structure to Sangiovese; the Gran Selezione now draws fruit from both Ruffoli and Lamole, sharing macigno sandstone soils that impart mineral tension. In Maremma, the Alberese estate (Grosseto) sits at just 20 to 50 metres on acidic, mineral-rich soils of silt and alluvial sand with areas of gravel, moderated by proximity to the coast, ideal for the Mongrana and Turpino blends.

• Greve/Ruffoli (350 to 550 m): galestro and sandstone soils; home of Camartina, Batàr, and core of Gran Selezione
• Radda (450 m): higher galestro slate content yields darker fruit and persistent tannin structure in Riserva blends
• Lamole (close to 700 m): sandy soils with clay and schist; contributes elevation-driven freshness and mineral precision to Gran Selezione
• Maremma/Alberese (20 to 50 m): silt and alluvial sand over gravel; Mediterranean influence; planted from 2000; home of Mongrana (77,000 bottles) and Turpino

Querciabella's conversion to organic farming in 1988 was one of the earliest in Chianti Classico, demonstrating that premium wine quality and sustainable agriculture were not contradictory. Sebastiano Castiglioni's development of plant-based biodynamics from 2000 onwards pushed that philosophy further by excluding all animal inputs, creating a model that has influenced a broader conversation about ethical viticulture in Italy. Camartina, first produced in 1981, is recognised as one of the historical Super Tuscans that helped redefine Italian wine on the world stage alongside Sassicaia and Tignanello. The introduction of the Gran Selezione in the 2017 vintage demonstrated Querciabella's commitment to expressing single-site Sangiovese at the apex of the Chianti Classico pyramid. Under Mita Castiglioni's ownership the estate continues to uphold these principles while expanding its Maremma footprint with a new vineyard at Vallemaggiore.

• Certified organic since 1988, among Chianti Classico's earliest converts; plant-based biodynamics since 2000 with no animal inputs in vineyard or cellar
• Camartina (1981) recognised as one of the original historical Super Tuscans; first Batàr vintage 1988 established the white Super Tuscan category
• Gran Selezione (first vintage 2017) represents estate's pinnacle single-vineyard Sangiovese expression at the top of the Chianti Classico classification pyramid