Castello di Volpaia

Perched high on a ridge overlooking the hills of Radda in Chianti, Castello di Volpaia is one of the most extraordinary wine estates in Tuscany. Founded in the 11th century, Volpaia was not simply a castle but a fully fortified medieval village, strategically positioned between the rival city-states of Florence and Siena. Remarkably, its original layout has survived almost intact, making it one of the best-preserved medieval villages in Chianti Classico.

The modern story of Volpaia began in 1966, when Raffaello Mascheroni Stianti purchased much of the historic hamlet, just one year before Chianti Classico received DOC status. A few years later, the estate became a wedding gift to his daughter Giovannella ("Gio") and her husband Carlo Stianti Mascheroni. Together, they embarked on an ambitious restoration project that continues today, carefully preserving the village's historic character while transforming it into one of Italy's most innovative wineries.

What makes Volpaia truly unique is the way the winery has been integrated into the medieval village itself. Rather than constructing a single modern cellar, the family restored the ancient buildings one by one, creating a network of fermentation rooms, barrel cellars, bottling facilities and ageing rooms hidden behind centuries-old stone walls. These are connected by an ingenious underground pipeline system that allows the wine to move gently between buildings by gravity and hoses beneath the village streets. To the casual visitor, Volpaia appears to be a beautifully preserved medieval hamlet; only upon closer inspection does its remarkable role as a living winery reveal itself.

Today, Castello di Volpaia is internationally renowned for its certified organic Chianti Classico wines, produced with great respect for both tradition and terroir. A visit offers far more than a tasting—it is an opportunity to wander through a living medieval village where history, architecture and winemaking have become inseparable. Few places in Tuscany capture the spirit of Chianti Classico so completely, making Volpaia an unforgettable destination for wine lovers and history enthusiasts alike.