Brolio: Chianti's Birthplace

The Brolio Castle, the nearly 600 acres of vineyards, and the spacious winery are the heart of this beautiful winery, Barone Ricasoli, the fourth oldest company in the world that still run from its founding family, and the first in Italy in the field of wine.The cellar, the tasting room and the offices are situated downhill. 

We were there on a hot day of August, and I had the chance to meet Elisabetta Dona Dalle Rose, the great hospitality manager of the company. She welcomed us in the tasting room (always the best place) and took us inside the cellar. The "barriques cathedral" was amazing...

After we walked inside, it was already time for lunch. The winery has a really good restaurant going up to the castle, that is called "Osteria al Castello", insalata di farro, bici al ragù di carni bianche, and the wine, of course, Torricella Chardonnay 2008. A delicious cheese cake in the end.

But how this story started, and why here...

In the 1414 the Florentine Republic granted some lands near Siena to the Ricasoli family. Here the history of Brolio and its great wines was born, and here Bettino Ricasoli (1809-1880) carried out the experiments which led the birth of the modern Chianti. 

Bettino, one of the principal statesman in the Italian Risorgimento, led Tuscany to annexation with the Kingdom of Piedmont and supported the unity of Italy, serving two terms as Prime Minister.

So, we are talking about the Chianti's inventor! And the territory itself is just incredible...we are in the middle on the Chianti Classico region, 20 minutes by car from Siena....this land started to be called "Chianti" in the XIII century, no more than 300km2 between Florence and Siena, the Arno and the Elsa river.

Well ordered vineyards of Sangiovese, but also Merlot grape (and this winery produces a great example of pure Merlot) and beautiful olive groves growing on the better slopes mark this territory, and, disseminate around, villas and villages towered like castles. An real idea of what beauty really is.

To taste: 

Castello di Brolio, Chianti Classico Docg (sangiovese)

Casalferro, Toscana Igt (merlot)

Torricella, Toscana Igt (chardonnay)