The terroir tapestry
In partnership with Castello Di Meleto
Discover more at Castello di Meleto
'The Castello di Meleto selection is as diverse as it is delicious, from the youthfully fresh to wines of great complexity and longevity'
The Castello di Meleto story is a modern, vinous fairytale. Records of winemaking at the property date back to 1256, but its current success began with a crowdfunding appeal in 1968.
Turning an investment
into a fairytale
Readers of finance magazine Quattrosoldi were invited to buy shares in the castle and its land. The tale of a magical place, tragically fallen into disrepair but with great potential, captured the imagination of investors. Sufficient shares were sold, and Castello di Meleto Società Agricola was born.
Almost 60 years later, the estate has become the largest organic estate in Chianti Classico, with an impressive reputation for fine wine production. The property extends over 1,000ha in the highly regarded commune of Gaiole in Chianti. Given its scale, it is not surprising that Castello di Meleto is blessed with an enviably diverse range of terroirs.
Vines cover 130ha, on sites rising from 250m to 600m above sea level. The soils are varied and include sand, gravel, clay, alberese and galestro. Seven named vineyards make up the estate, all fully mapped by Netsens – wireless technology based on a network of weather stations and sensors positioned throughout the vines, providing an impressive amount of data on every row.
The information that comes from this technology allows the team to make prompt, environmentally sustainable interventions – whether that means introducing mustard plants to deter powdery mildew or planting legumes to supplement nitrogen levels in the soil. It is all part of Castello di Meleto’s commitment to conserving this varied landscape, where vineyards sit among woodland, pasture and olive groves.
A rich synthesis of flavours
At the winery, oenologists bring the terroir of the estate’s vineyards to life, making around 80 micro-vinifications from the individual zones. Stainless steel, wood or cement vessels are selected, depending on the characteristics of each parcel. This meticulous endeavour is key to the style of the finished wines, and to their popularity with connoisseurs worldwide.
The Castello di Meleto selection is as diverse as it is delicious, from the youthfully fresh to wines of great complexity and longevity. While reds dominate, there are notable white wines too: Simbionte IGT, for example, is a blend of Trebbiano and Malvasia Bianca, aged in acacia barrels. Sparkling enthusiasts are also catered for: Teatrico Spumante Brut Rosè Metodo Classico is 100% Sangiovese, aged on its lees for three years.
Sangiovese strikes platinum
Recently, Castello di Meleto secured a Platinum medal for the Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2020 at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards. The judges wrote, ‘an orchestra of rosemary, sage and black tea aromatics percolate across the nose and slip into the melt-in-the-mouth chorus of cherry compote that lines the palate. Tightly furled with graphite tannins, smoky acidity and a lingering finish.’
The Gran Selezione category makes Sangiovese the protagonist, and Castello di Meleto were quick to adopt it, seizing the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the grape. For the 2020 vintage, the fruit was picked from three vineyards: Poggiarso, Casi and San Piero.
At almost 530m above sea level, Poggiarso is the coldest vineyard on the estate. Here, clay soils are blessed with nutrient-giving alberese and heat-retaining galestro. Yields are typically low, but the grapes are wonderfully fragrant and of great quality. In Casi, the warm soils are predominantly clay with sandstone, and the climate is cool. The gravel vineyards of San Piero are more exposed, giving fruit with charming freshness. The wine was aged in 30 and 50 hectolitre barrels for 27 months, and is a thrilling articulation of three great vineyards, in a sumptuous vintage.
This is just one award among many for the estate; the care and attention to detail taken in both vineyard and winery guarantee many more delicious chapters to come in the Castello di Meleto story.
Published 7 October 2025