Volpaia
Summary
Castello di Volpaia is a family-owned organic estate operating from an 11th-century medieval village in Radda in Chianti, with 46 hectares of high-elevation vineyards (450-650m) on galestro and alberese soils dedicated primarily to Sangiovese-based Chianti Classico wines. Their production uniquely integrates modern winemaking within the village's historical buildings, employing gravity-flow techniques, indigenous yeast fermentations, and traditional aging protocols that honor Chianti's heritage while expressing their distinctive high-altitude terroir.
Heritage & Leadership
Castello di Volpaia began not as a winery but as a fortified medieval village dating back to the 11th century. Located in the commune of Radda in Chianti, the village was built by the Volpaia family and became an important defensive outpost in the conflicts between Florence and Siena. The village gained historical significance when Florentine architect and mathematician Lorenzo della Volpaia established a workshop there in the 15th century, crafting astronomical instruments and clocks for the Medici family.
The modern chapter of Volpaia's winemaking history began in 1972 when Carlo and Giovannella Stianti Mascheroni acquired portions of the village and surrounding vineyards. Under their stewardship, the family meticulously restored the medieval buildings while converting them to winemaking facilities, preserving the historical architecture. Today, Castello di Volpaia operates under the leadership of Giovannella Stianti Mascheroni and her daughter Federica Mascheroni Stianti, who serves as the company's president, continuing the family's commitment to quality wine production within this historical context.
Vineyards & Wines
Castello di Volpaia's vineyards span 46 hectares across the highest elevations of the Chianti Classico appellation. Positioned between 450 and 650 meters above sea level in the Radda in Chianti commune, these high-altitude sites experience significant diurnal temperature variations that contribute to the development of complex aromatics and balanced acidity in the grapes. The vineyards feature predominantly galestro and alberese soils—typical of the region's best sites—with excellent drainage and mineral content.
The estate received organic certification in 2009, maintaining strict protocols across all vineyard operations. Sangiovese dominates the plantings at 80%, with complementary plantings of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mammolo, and Malvasia Nera. The estate produces a focused portfolio of wines including their flagship Chianti Classico, a Chianti Classico Riserva, and two single-vineyard offerings: Coltassala (95% Sangiovese, 5% Mammolo) from a 3.8-hectare plot and Il Puro (100% Sangiovese) from the 1-hectare Casanova vineyard. The estate also produces Vin Santo from Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes, continuing a traditional Tuscan winemaking practice.
Philosophy & Practice
Volpaia's winemaking philosophy centers on minimal intervention and respect for traditional methods while embracing modern precision. The winery itself represents this balance—a gravity-flow facility ingeniously integrated into the medieval village buildings, with stainless steel fermentation tanks housed in the former olive oil mill and barrel aging taking place in the old church cellars. This design allows for gentle handling of the grapes and wine throughout production.
The estate's certified organic practices extend beyond elimination of synthetic chemicals to include cover crops, manual weed control, and biodiversity management across the property. Fermentations rely on indigenous yeasts, and extraction techniques vary by vintage conditions to maintain consistency in style while honoring the character of each growing season. Aging protocols are specific to each wine: the Chianti Classico spends 10 months in Slavonian oak casks, while Coltassala and Il Puro receive 24 months in French oak barrels (with percentages of new oak adjusted based on vintage characteristics). The Vin Santo undergoes traditional aging in small caratelli barrels for a minimum of five years. This combination of historical setting, high-altitude vineyards, and precise winemaking has established Volpaia as a distinctive voice in the Chianti Classico region.