A history as rich as its wines
Tuscany’s sun-drenched hills and fertile soils have hosted grapevines for millennia, and prized wines have been produced here for centuries – the vineyards around the idyllic town of Montalcino were known for their sweet whites in the pre-Roman era. However, since the mid-1950s, the region’s star player has been Brunello di Montalcino, a powerful Sangiovese red with great potential for ageing. It is also one of Italy’s most collectable wines.
Woven into the area’s ancient vines is a rich history: the Via Francigena, an ancient pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome, passes through Montalcino; the parish church of San Michele Arcangelo is home to a tableau by pre-Renaissance painter Pietro Lorenzetti; and the hilltop castle known as Castiglion del Bosco has been a medieval stronghold and even a political safe house. It’s now part of the Val d’Orcia Unesco World Heritage Site, and its stone tower stands strong nearly 1,000 years after it was built. It is also at the heart of the Brunello di Montalcino wine consortium, which made Brunello one of the first wines with the status DOCG (denominazione di origine controllata e garantita).
Naturally, the conditions that suit viticulture so well here are also very appealing to visitors. From the castle’s hilltop vantage point – now also home to Castiglion del Bosco Estate – the panoramic views mean you can watch the misty blue-green morning dew lifting from the valleys as the warm Mediterranean breeze sweeps in. This landscape was, in fact, an inspiration for many Renaissance artists and even represented their agricultural ideal, which of course included neat rows of mature, grape-laden vines.
The making of an iconic red
Over the past 20 years, the team at Castiglion del Bosco Estate has set out to restore and preserve the ancient buildings while innovating the winemaking. The introduction of an energy-efficient, 2,000-hectolitre-capacity cellar has enabled the team to develop new expressions of its beloved Brunello, most notably the Campo del Drago. Only the grapes grown in the estate’s highest vineyard – just 1.5 hectares in size – go into this cru wine, which then spends 24 months in French oak, resulting in a refined expression of the bold fruits and smooth tannins that characterise the most artfully aged Brunello di Montalcino wines.
The knowledge that goes into growing, fermenting and ageing world-class reds is shared in generous detail at the estate. Following a look at the cellars, a signature tour and tasting includes six Castiglion del Bosco wines, all accompanied by locally sourced cheese, charcuterie, fresh bread and honey. Those looking to enhance the various qualities of the reds or further explore Tuscany’s edible delights should choose a cheese-and-wine-pairing session, not least because it includes a taste of the estate’s superb Vin Santo. The two on-site restaurants offer a golden opportunity to enjoy further pairings; marketing manager Gemma Grieco says that the Millecento Brunello Riserva with the rich Tuscan wild boar ragù served at Osteria La Canonica is a particularly special match. ‘The earthy, complex notes of the Brunello bring out the savoury, gamey character of the boar beautifully,’ she explains. ‘It’s often a highlight of the dining experience.’
Experiencing more of Montalcino
To truly understand how this region came to create one of the world’s best reds, you need to delve into its landscape – its soil, even – and learn from those who work with it most intimately. In September, visitors to Castiglion del Bosco can join the grape harvest, exploring Montalcino’s terroir on foot and being taught the meticulous art of gathering the fruit. The next steps are revealed in the fermentation and ageing rooms, before the estate’s experts discuss and explain the effects of these viticultural processes in a tasting.
Indeed, the best way to get closer to a wine that is so intrinsically linked to its region is by drinking it. For an in-depth introduction to the estate’s headline wines, the Brunello vertical tasting is unmissable. The heatwaves and harvest conditions of the wines’ most remarkable vintages are explained in these sessions, as you sip six Brunellos that are rarely found outside of the most impressive of wine collections.
Whether your visit to Montalcino revolves around history, art, nature or all three, Castiglion del Bosco’s Brunello will enrich your holiday memories.
Discover the estate’s range of experiences at wine.castigliondelbosco.com
