Castello Di Fonterutoli

The Mazzei family has cultivated Sangiovese on these galestro and alberese slopes since 1435, making Castello Di Fonterutoli one of Chianti Classico's oldest continuously operated estates. At 500 meters elevation across 100 hectares, the vineyards express the appellation's signature bright acidity and cherry character, while the cellar holds over 500,000 bottles spanning decades of vintages. Traditional vinification meets modern technology here: Sangiovese for the estate's Chianti Classico, Cabernet Sauvignon for the full-bodied Mazzei bottling, and Vermentino for a crisp white that defies regional expectations. Guided vineyard tours move through rows planted generations ago, followed by tastings that pair the estate's reds with bistecca alla fiorentina and pecorino from Pienza. Masterclasses on Sangiovese winemaking reveal how organic practices and careful selection shape each vintage. Private wine and food pairing dinners take place in historic rooms where the Mazzei family has hosted guests for nearly six centuries, each course matched to a different expression of the estate's terroir. The castle accommodations blend stone walls and vaulted ceilings with contemporary comfort, each room framing panoramic views of the rolling Chianti landscape. Sleeping within the estate means waking to the rustle of vine leaves and the scent of ripe grapes during harvest months, the vineyards stretching toward distant hilltop villages. The kitchen draws from Tuscan tradition—pici with ragù, local game, vegetables from the estate's gardens—designed to complement the Sangiovese-based wines that anchor every meal. Beyond the property, Siena's medieval streets lie a short drive south, while the Chianti Sculpture Park offers contemporary art installations among oak and chestnut forests, a counterpoint to the centuries-old vines that define this corner of Tuscany.