Castello di Volpaia is an organic estate winery in Volpaia, an area within Radda-in-Chianti in Tuscany, Italy. Red wines are made under the Chianti Classico DOCG. Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC and Vin Santo Val D’Arbia have also been made. The Volpaia castle dates to 1172.

Owner: Federica Mascheroni Stianti. Born in Florence in 1976, to Carlo Mascheroni and Giovannella Stianti. Federica, took her earliest degrees in Milan. In 1995, she went to Florence, where she earned another degree in technical restoration. In 2000, Federica went to work at the university in Arezzo in the Restauro e Conservazione dei Beni Artistici, where she completed her lessons in painting restoration in 2007 with full degrees and top honors. She lives in Florence, where she works as a painting and fresco restorer. She also assists Castello di Volpaia with public relations and events.

Staff: Manager (vineyards, winemaking): Lorenzo Regoli. | Riccardo Cotarella from the early 2000s.

Vineyards: In Radda. 35ha of vines. The main soil type here is a loose sandstone (‘macigno‘). Click the link to hear Federica Mascheroni Stianti’s views on this soil. She also told me such soil ‘gives lighter wines. In our area it’s not possible for us to make big wines. It’s rare to have very high alcohol, because usually ripeness is dictated by the high altitude. Only in a very hot season like 2003 or 2012 can you find high alcohol.’

Pinot Noir: ‘6 years old, 530 metres a.s.l ( Rosemary George MW: 1994).

Organic certification: 2004 First vintage with full organic certification.

White wines

Val d’Arbia Bianco:  No longer made.

Toscana Bianco, Torniello: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano Toscano.

Red wines

Val d’Arbia: 2001 Bottled.

Chianti Classico DOCG, Castello di Volpaia: 2011 90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot and Syrah. | 2016 Lovely fluidity and crunch to this, clear bright fruit, tidy tannins (Anteprima 2018). | 2017 90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot. | 2018 Contains a portion of Merlot. 12 months in oak vats.

Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva, Castello di Volpaia: 2010 14.5%. 40,000 bottles. | 2015 Bottled. | 2016 100% Sangiovese. | 2017 Very dry season. 100% Sangiovese. 24 months in 30hl French oak. Smooth and soft (Anteprima 2020).

Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva, Coltassala: 1981 Debut. | 2008 Marks & Spencer 100% Sangiovese. Nice rich cedar and blueberry flavours. Crying out for a thick wild boar stew (Bronze at DWWA 2013). | 2010 95% Sangiovese, 5% Mammolo. | 2017 30% new oak, with both fruit and oak tannin yet to settle down beneath bright raspberry fruit (Anteprima 2020).

Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione, Il Puro, Vigneto Casanova: 2015 100% Sangiovese.

Toscana Rosso Balifico: A SuperTuscan. 1985 Debut. A Supertuscan. Balifico is named after the renowned Volpaia’s vineyard on which its grapes are grown. 1985 Debut. From 66% Sangiovese and 33% Cabernet Franc & Cabernet Sauvignon. | 2009  65% Sangiovese, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Sweet wines

Vin Santo del Val d’Arbia, Castello di Volpaia: 1994 Bottled.

Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC: 2001 16.5%.

Contact

Castello di Volpaia

Loc Volpaia, Piazza della Cisterna, 1

53017 Radda in Chianti (SI), Italy

Tel+39 0577 738066 | Website: www.volpaia.com

Bibliography

Rosemary George MW, ‘Tuscan Trends’, Wine Magazine, March 1994, p.34-36.