Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Castello Monsanto winery
( % 055-8059000; www.castellodimonsanto.it;
16), with 72 hectares (178 acres) of vineyards, produces about 400,000 bottles
a year of chardonnay, Chianti Classico, and sangiovese wines. They export the
bulk of their production to the U.S., so if you like what you drink, you can prob-
ably get it at home. One of the most innovative of the region's vineyards, it was
one of the first to substitute steel tanks for wooden wine casks, and to play around
with the number of days for maceration. You'll learn all about this fascinating his-
tory on the tour, which takes you on a stroll through the grounds, with a visit to
the original 1742 cellars. It's a little tricky to find the place because it doesn't have
any signs (call for directions), but it's close to the SS2, two exits north of
Poggibonsi on an SS429 side route.
Castello de la Panaretto ( % 055-8059003; reservations required; 17 for a tour
plus 2-3 wines, with hors d'oeuvres, 20 for 3-4 wines plus some more local pro-
duce, or you can make a quick visit to taste a wine or two at no cost) is a smaller
castle with exquisite gardens and an expansive view, from which you're going to
want to bring a bottle or two home. The winery is located about 1km ( 2 3 mile)
north of Monsanto.
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Just how beautiful is Vicchiomaggio (Via Vicchiomaggio, 4, Le Bolle exit south of
Strada; % 055-854079; www.vicchiomaggio.it), a centuries-old castle? I can only
assume that Leonardo da Vinci took some inspiration from its surroundings: It
was here that he painted his famous Mona Lisa (she grew up in the castle).
Though the castle, which looms over the Greve Valley, was originally built in the
5th century A . D ., what you see today is the Renaissance reconstruction (approxi-
mately 1450), still one of the best-preserved castles in the region. Now British-
owned, the vineyards here produce a number of delightful wines, particularly the
Ripa Delle More, an award-winning sangiovese/cabernet. Free tastings are avail-
able at the San Jacope shop (daily 9:30am-12:30pm and 2:30-6:30pm; on the
SSS222 right at the turnoff for the castle). You can arrange a tour of the cellars
and castle if you reserve in advance. If you really like it here, you can rent rooms,
stay for a few days, and take one of their cooking or wine appreciation classes
(
100 a night is the starting price for rooms).
Formed from the merger of five vineyards in 1968, Castellare Winery (Poceri
Castellare di Castellina, about 2.4km/1 1 2 miles from Castellina; % 0577-742903;
www.castellare.it; a brief tour and tastings for 9) proudly puts out a much lower
yield than neighboring wineries because it eschews the use of any pesticides or
herbicides and never mixes its local grapes with French or international strains. I
think you'll taste the difference--these wines are quite prized and difficult to get
outside the region.
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( % 0577-7301; www.ricasoli.it; 3 to tour the grounds, bottling room tours and
tasting for 21; daily 9am-noon and 3-6pm; reservations required), a handsome
15th-century castle, was once owned by Chianti creator Baron Ricasoli (see
above). The tour, while pricey, is fascinating, and the wines here are exquisite,
One of Italy's top vineyards for the past 300 years, Castello di Brolio
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