Castello di Monsanto is a family owned and operated wine estate located in Chianti, Tuscany. Fabrizio Bianchi founded the winery in 1962 and produced the first 6,000 bottles of the Chianti Classico Cru, Il Poggio. He pioneered the use of only 3 grapes (Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Colorino), eliminating white grapes (Malvasia and Trebbiano) from the Chianti Classico blend.

The 72-hectare vineyards are located between 260 and 310 meters above sea level. Out of these 72, 56 hectares are planted with Sangiovese found in the Il Poggio vineyard and a small percentage of Canaiolo and Colorino. The Valdigallo vineyard produces Chardonnay and the Il Mulino vineyard is the ideal place for the production of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Castello di Monsanto has a unique cellar which is worth a visit. The three-hundred-meter tunnel links the new cellars to the castle’s 18th-century ones and was built by hand-split marl stones using ancient Medieval techniques.

The Chianti Classico Riserva comes from a selection of grapes from vineyards which are more suitable for long maturing. Vinified in steel with maceration of about 20 days, and then in smaller wooden barrels for about 18 months. The wine is typically a blend of 90% Sangiovese, with Canaiolo and Colorino comprising the remainder.