History Castell'in Villa, located in Castelnuovo Berardenga, Tuscany, originated as a medieval hamlet from the 1200s. The modern winery was founded in the late 1960s by Princess Coralia Pignatelli della Leonessa and her husband Riccardo, who purchased the 298-hectare estate in 1968, including a 13th-century farmhouse and one hectare of vines. They expanded plantings, consulting the Chianti consorzio, and switched to 100% Sangiovese for Chianti wines. After Riccardo's death in 1985, Princess Coralia dedicated herself fully to the estate. The winery maintains an extensive library of older vintages, with the 1971 Chianti Classico Riserva noted for its acclaim.
Viticulture Philosophy The estate spans 54-56 hectares across eight vineyard sites, emphasizing diverse Tuscan terroirs with alluvial soils of pebbles and sand, some with clay and limestone. Vineyards, primarily south-facing hillsides at 300-350 meters elevation, are interspersed with olive groves and forests for biodiversity. Organic practices are followed without certification, using cover crops, no chemical herbicides or pesticides, and low yields (about 100,000 bottles annually from potential 380,000). Focus is on Sangiovese, with the top Poggio delle Rose site (planted 1990 with clonal selections) highlighting quality and tradition.
Winemaking Techniques Wines ferment spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks, with 10-14 days of skin contact. Aging occurs in large Slavonian oak botti for 18-36 months, followed by at least six months in bottle; total added SO2 is under 40 ppm, and wines are unfined and unfiltered. Chianti Classico and Riserva are 100% Sangiovese from select sites, while Poggio delle Rose is a single-vineyard Sangiovese with partial French oak aging. Toscana Santa Croce blends 50% Sangiovese and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. Releases are delayed for added complexity.
Critics and Journalist Praises Castell'in Villa's wines are benchmarks for traditional, age-worthy Chianti Classico. Antonio Galloni describes them as among Italy's most age-worthy, with elegance and longevity up to 40 years. The 1970s vintages received acclaim, with a resurgence in traditional styles. Giacomo Tachis, involved in early Tignanello, suggested Cabernet grafting and purchased fruit. Wines display classic dried fruits, flowers, minerals, and earthy Tuscan character, praised for energy, acidity, and structure.
