Castello di Volpaia

The village of Volpaia dates to 1172 and served as a fortified outpost for the Florentine Republic in the wars against Siena; in 1250 it was a founding member of the Lega del Chianti (Chianti League), the medieval consortium that bears the Black Rooster emblem. Raffaello Stianti, a Florentine printer and bookbinder, purchased the estate in 1966. He gifted it to his daughter Giovannella and her husband Carlo Mascheroni in 1972 as a wedding present, and the couple gradually transformed what began as a family passion into one of Tuscany's most admired estates. The Mascheroni Stianti family now owns roughly two-thirds of the walled village, housing workers within its walls and integrating all winemaking operations into the historic buildings.

• First documented viticultural records at Volpaia date to 1172; the village joined the Chianti League in 1250
• Estate purchased by Raffaello Stianti in 1966 and gifted to Giovannella Stianti and Carlo Mascheroni in 1972 as a wedding present
• Today managed by Giovannella and the second generation: daughter Federica and son Nicolo Mascheroni Stianti
• The family owns approximately two-thirds of the walled medieval village, employing residents and sustaining a self-sufficient community

Volpaia holds an unusual distinction in the world of Italian wine: it is simultaneously a working winery, a preserved medieval village, and a benchmark producer of high-altitude Chianti Classico. The estate was a pioneer of organic viticulture in the region, beginning its transition in 2001 and releasing its first certified organic vintage in 2003, well ahead of most Chianti Classico peers. Critical recognition has followed: the 2015 Chianti Classico Riserva scored 96 points from Wine Spectator and ranked #3 on their Top 100 of 2018, the first Chianti Classico ever ranked in the top three on that list. The Chianti Classico 2021 was named #5 on Wine Spectator's Top 10 Value wines of 2023 at 92 points and $30, confirming the estate's relevance across price tiers.

• One of Chianti Classico's earliest organic pioneers: transition began 2001, first certified organic vintage 2003
• 2015 Chianti Classico Riserva: 96 points, #3 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2018, the first Chianti Classico ever ranked in that list's top three
• 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva also recognized: #11 on Wine Spectator Top 100, confirming back-to-back vintage excellence
• Chianti Classico 2021 named #5 on Wine Spectator's Top 10 Value wines of 2023 (92 points, $30)

Volpaia's 46 hectares of vineyards climb from 450 to 600 meters on the southern slopes below the village, making the estate one of the highest-elevation wineries in all of Chianti Classico. The soils are predominantly sandstone (locally called macigno Toscano), a sedimentary rock that provides excellent drainage and contributes a distinctive mineral salinity and freshness to the wines. The estate has been certified organic since 2003, employing cover crops, manual weed management, and indigenous yeast fermentations. Sangiovese dominates plantings, complemented by smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mammolo, and Malvasia Nera. A remarkable Sangiovese clone library was assembled after the estate identified 25 distinct clones from a single old-vine parcel, underpinning the single-vineyard Il Puro Casanova Gran Selezione.

• Vineyards: 46 hectares at 450 to 600 meters on southwest-to-southeast facing sandstone slopes in Radda in Chianti
• Soils: predominantly macigno Toscano sandstone, delivering outstanding drainage, mineral precision, and a signature saline finish
• Certified organic since 2003; fermentations use indigenous yeasts; cover crops and manual canopy management throughout
• Sangiovese clone library: 25 distinct clones identified from a single old-vine parcel, now cultivated separately and used for the Il Puro Casanova Gran Selezione

Winemaking at Volpaia is inseparable from the architecture of the village itself. Fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks housed in historic buildings in the upper village; wine then travels by gravity through the underground vinoduct, a labyrinth of stainless steel pipes buried beneath the medieval streets, to barrel cellars in the lower village. Aging protocols differ by tier: the Chianti Classico spends approximately 10 months in Slavonian oak casks; the Riserva (100% Sangiovese, produced since 1967) ages for 24 months in a blend of 80% Slavonian oak casks and 20% French barriques. Coltassala Gran Selezione (95% Sangiovese, 5% Mammolo) and the Il Puro Casanova Gran Selezione (100% Sangiovese, first vintage 2006) each receive 24 months in French oak. Balifico Toscana IGT (65% Sangiovese, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon), launched in 1985, ages 18 months in new French oak.

• Underground vinoduct: buried stainless steel pipes move wine by gravity through the village, required by Italian law protecting historic buildings
• Chianti Classico: 10 months Slavonian oak; Chianti Classico Riserva (100% Sangiovese since 1967): 24 months in 80% Slavonian casks and 20% French barriques
• Coltassala Gran Selezione: 95% Sangiovese, 5% Mammolo; first produced in 1980; 24 months French oak; evolved from Vino da Tavola to Gran Selezione DOCG
• Balifico Toscana IGT: 65% Sangiovese, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon; launched 1985; 18 months new French oak

Volpaia's house style is defined by altitude and sandstone terroir: expect a brighter, fresher, more mineral and floral expression of Sangiovese than is typical of lower-elevation Chianti Classico. The Chianti Classico displays vivid ruby color, crunchy red cherry, wild plum, and a pepper-spice note, with citrussy acidity and fine-grained tannins that rarely feel heavy. The Riserva deepens into black cherry, iron, leather, and tar with extended aging, maintaining remarkable freshness. All bottles carry the Gallo Nero (Black Rooster) DOCG seal; Gran Selezione wines feature additional vintage-specific back-label information about vineyard source and aging.

• Style signature: high acidity, fine tannins, mineral salinity, and vivid red-fruit aromatics reflecting sandstone soils and 450 to 600 meter elevations
• Chianti Classico: vivid ruby; cherry, wild plum, black pepper, mineral finish; drink from release through 8 to 12 years
• Riserva: deeper garnet; black cherry, iron, leather, tar; builds complexity over 10 to 20 years; carries Gallo Nero DOCG seal
• Gran Selezione (Coltassala, Il Puro): single-vineyard provenance noted on label; 24 months French oak; 15 to 25 year aging windows

Volpaia's most celebrated result is the 2015 Chianti Classico Riserva, which earned 96 points from Wine Spectator and the #3 spot on its Top 100 of 2018, the first time a Chianti Classico had ever reached that list's top three. The 2016 Riserva followed with #11 on Wine Spectator's Top 100. The Coltassala Gran Selezione 2019 received 94 points from Wine Advocate and 96 points from Wine Spectator. More recently, the Chianti Classico 2021 was ranked #5 on Wine Spectator's Top 10 Value wines of 2023 at 92 points and $30, underscoring the estate's strength across the entire portfolio. Winemaker Lorenzo Regoli has guided the estate since 2000.

• 2015 Chianti Classico Riserva: 96 points Wine Spectator, #3 Top 100 of 2018; first Chianti Classico in the list's top three
• 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva: #11 Wine Spectator Top 100
• 2019 Coltassala Gran Selezione: 94 points Wine Advocate, 96 points Wine Spectator
• 2021 Chianti Classico: 92 points, #5 Wine Spectator Top 10 Value wines of 2023 at $30