Castello Vicchiomaggio

Castello Vicchiomaggio is a medieval castle in Greve in Chianti whose documented history stretches back centuries, with notable historical visitors including Leonardo da Vinci, who is documented to have stayed at the property during the creation of the Mona Lisa and made a drawing preserved in his personal manuscripts. The Matta family's connection to Italian wine began in 1921 when Federico Secondo Matta founded F.S. Matta Ltd in London, eventually building it into the largest and most dynamic importer of Italian wines and spirits in the UK by the early 1960s. The Matta acquisition of Vicchiomaggio in 1964 reflected the family's commitment to anchoring their commercial wine business in actual Tuscan vineyard production, and the property has remained in the family ever since. John Matta, Federico's son, moved to Vicchiomaggio in 1970 after three years of formal oenology and viticulture training at the prestigious Alba wine school in Piedmont, and has served as the estate's winemaker for more than five decades. John is supported by his wife Paola and their four children (Federica, Delfina, Victoria, and Sebastian), maintaining the Matta family's continuous operational involvement.

• Medieval castle with documented history extending back centuries; Leonardo da Vinci stayed at the property during creation of Mona Lisa
• Matta family ownership since 1964; broader family wine commerce dates to 1921 founding of F.S. Matta Ltd in London
• F.S. Matta Ltd was UK's largest importer of Italian wines and spirits by early 1960s, anchoring the family in Italian wine trade
• John Matta has served as winemaker since 1970 after Alba oenology training; supported by wife Paola and four children

Castello Vicchiomaggio's vineyards cover 24 hectares (with some sources citing 24 to 34 hectares depending on holdings) of the 140-hectare estate, distributed across the slopes around Greve in Chianti at elevations ranging from 300 to 450 metres. The estate sits in the central Greve UGA with soils dominated by Galestro and Alberese characteristic of the village. Plantings are dominated by Sangiovese with substantial proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot used both for blending into the Chianti Classico tier (up to the 20% complementary varietal allowance under DOCG rules) and for the estate's dedicated IGT Toscana Super Tuscan range. The remainder of the 140-hectare property is devoted to olive groves, woodland, and integrated farming landscape including the medieval castle complex itself, which serves as both the working winery base and a heritage hospitality property.

• 24 hectares of vines on 140-hectare estate at 300 to 450 metres elevation in central Greve UGA
• Galestro and Alberese soils characteristic of the Greve village
• Sangiovese-dominant plantings with substantial Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for IGT Toscana Super Tuscan range
• Medieval castle complex serves as both working winery base and heritage hospitality property

Castello Vicchiomaggio winemaking under John Matta's long tenure has combined traditional Greve Chianti Classico structure with Alba-trained technical precision and a commitment to both Sangiovese and international varietal expression. Fermentations are conducted in temperature-controlled stainless steel with controlled extractions, with parcel-by-parcel vinification for the top cuvées. Aging strategies vary by tier: estate Chianti Classico in a mix of large oak botti and selected smaller barrels, the Agostino Petri and La Prima Riserva bottlings with extended barriques aging, and the FSM and Ripa delle More IGT Toscana Super Tuscans in extensive French oak befitting their international varietal profile. The house style sits in the structured, age-worthy Greve camp with a noticeable openness to international varietal influence that reflects John Matta's commercial background as well as the estate's stylistic identity.

• Temperature-controlled stainless-steel fermentation with controlled extractions; parcel-by-parcel vinification for top cuvées
• Aging by tier: estate CC in botti and selected barrels, Riserva bottlings with extended barrique aging, IGT Super Tuscans in extensive French oak
• Structured, age-worthy Greve house style with noticeable openness to international varietal influence
• Reflects both Alba oenology training and the Matta family's international commercial wine background

The estate produces a substantial tiered range. Castello Vicchiomaggio Chianti Classico DOCG is the core estate wine, a Sangiovese-dominant expression with limited international varietal blending. The Riserva tier includes Agostino Petri Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG and La Prima Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, with extended barrel and bottle aging. The Gran Selezione tier represents the estate's top Chianti Classico expression. Outside the DOCG tier, the IGT Toscana range is substantial: FSM (named for Federico Secondo Matta) is the flagship Bordeaux-blend Super Tuscan honoring the family patriarch, and Ripa delle More is a parallel international-varietal IGT bottling. The estate also produces white wines under the IGT range using Sauvignon Blanc and other international varieties, plus traditional Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC. The medieval castle operates as an integrated wine resort with accommodation, restaurant, and tasting experiences.

• Castello Vicchiomaggio Chianti Classico DOCG: core estate wine in structured Greve house style
• Agostino Petri and La Prima Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG: tier with extended barrique aging
• FSM IGT Toscana (named for Federico Secondo Matta): flagship Bordeaux-blend Super Tuscan honoring family patriarch
• Ripa delle More IGT Toscana, white IGT bottlings, traditional Vin Santo del Chianti Classico, plus integrated wine resort

Castello Vicchiomaggio holds a distinctive position in Chianti Classico through its 60+ years of continuous Matta family ownership, its medieval castle heritage (including the documented Leonardo da Vinci visit), and its substantial Super Tuscan IGT program rooted in the family's long commercial wine background. Within the Greve UGA, the estate sits alongside Vignamaggio, Castello di Verrazzano, Castello di Querceto, and Querciabella as the village's principal anchors. The Matta family's UK commercial wine origins (F.S. Matta Ltd dating to 1921) give the estate stronger commercial integration with the British and international wine trade than many comparable Chianti Classico estates, with John Matta serving as a long-standing bridge between Tuscan production and international distribution. The integrated wine resort and heritage hospitality program also positions the estate within the contemporary Chianti Classico wine-tourism economy, alongside other castle-hospitality estates across the appellation.

• 60+ years of continuous Matta family ownership since 1964
• Greve UGA anchor alongside Vignamaggio, Castello di Verrazzano, Castello di Querceto, Querciabella
• Substantial Super Tuscan IGT program rooted in family's long commercial wine background (F.S. Matta Ltd since 1921)
• Integrated wine resort and heritage hospitality program positions estate in CC wine-tourism economy