Castello di Volpaia is a Chianti Classico estate in the village of Volpaia, and the Mascheroni Stianti family owns it. The first documents that mention Volpaia date to 1172. Lorenzo della Volpaia, a friend of Leonardo da Vinci, built the planetary clock for Florence's Palazzo Vecchio.
The vineyards cover about 45 hectares, all over 400 metres above sea level. The soils are mostly sandstone, rich in skeleton. The farming is organic, and the conversion paperwork began in September 2000.
Sangiovese is the main grape. The estate bottles it in several Chianti Classico crus, among them Coltassala, Il Puro and Balifico. The range also includes the Castelprile and Nika wine estates.
Not tasted yet
I haven't reviewed a wine from Castello di Volpaia yet. They're on my Top 100 list, which is built from awards.