CASTELLO DI MONSANTO

The attraction for the homeland was strong. After leaving San Gimignano, before World War II, Aldo Bianchi, on a visit to Tuscany for a wedding, fell in love with the Castello di Monsanto in 1960, to the point of buying it within a few months. The passion for wine of Aldo's son, Fabrizio Bianchi, played an important role, too. It was the latter, in fact, driven by his entrepreneurial spirit, who planted new vineyards and implemented, together with his wife Giuliana, the wine business around the castle of Monsanto. From 1962, the year of the first harvest, to today, there have been numerous experiments in the vineyard and in the cellar, aiming to maximize quality and achieve perfection in every single detail. This is the DNA of a company whose wines regularly obtain important awards, thanks, first of all, to the passion and devotion of the people involved. The estate is based near Florence: 72 hectares worth of property vineyards, in which Sangiovese, flagship grape of the winery, dominates. Two other historical grapes of the Chianti Classico blend make their appearance on the property, Canaiolo and Colorino, as well as two other non-native grapes, such as Chardonnay which composes the "Fabrizio Bianchi" cuvée, and Cabernet Sauvignon. In the 70s the company began renovating the cellar, creating a temperature control system and changing the barrels with Slavonian wood. In the 80s the cellar was ready, but another project started: the construction of a 300 meter-long underground tunnel for the storage of wooden barrels, using only marl stones with a medieval technique for building cellars. Now you can admire a long and suggestive Etruscan arch. In 1981 the new cellar was ready and a few months later came the first harvest of “Nemo”: a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Il Mulino vineyard. At the end of the 80s Laura, Fabrizio’s daughter, takes over. Today Castello Monsanto winery is synonymous with quality and success, innovation and respect for tradition.