Castello di Verrazzano Wine estate

The Castle of Verrazzano is located in Greve in Chianti and has an estate of 230 acres. There is a great tradition of winemaking: the “vineyards situated in Verrazzano” are mentioned in a manuscript which dates back to 1150. The Castle became the property of the Verrazzano family in the VII century. Giovanni da Verrazzano, the navigator and discoverer of the bay of New York was born there in 1485. The important Florentine family of Ridolfi succeeded to the Verrazzanos after the death of the last descendant, in 1819. In the 20’ of 1900. Luigi Ridolfi founded in 1926 the Fiorentina, the football team of the city of Florence. In 1958 the Cappellini family took over the Castle and restored the villa and rebuilt the agricultural tissue and the vineyards, according to an ancient model, respecting the historical and architectonic features of the place.

he existing 52 hectares of vineyards (at an altitude between 260 and 420 meters above sea level) are divided into single vineyards located on the more suited ground with the best properties and microclimate. The grapes used are mostly red grapes, among which Sangiovese clearly stands out, along with other varieties including Merlot, Canaiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Colorino, and only a small percentage of white grapes like Trebbiano Toscano, Traminer and Malvasia lunga del Chianti. Thanks to the location of the castle at the center of the property, the grapes reach the cellar in just a few minutes to be quickly and gently pressed and put to ferment in small quantities at a controlled temperature.

The ancient cellars date back to the XVIth century. Aging takes place in Slavonian oak barrels placed along the corridors, protected from sudden temperature changes. 3 years old oak barrels of 30 hl. capacity are used for the elevation of the Chianti and Chianti Classico Riserva, and new barriques (Allier and Vosges) for the elevation of Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Sassello and of the Super Tuscan Bottiglia Particolare. By visiting the winery, surrounded by the scents of fine oak barrels, one enters into the heart of the castle, where selections of the best vintages since 1924 are kept.