Vineyards in Chianti Classico DOCG

Marchesi Antinori ★ 4.9

Chianti Classico DOCG and Toscana IGTSangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot270 haFounded 1385Antinori family (Marchese Piero Antinori, chairman emeritus; Albiera Antinori, president)Winemaker Renzo CotarellaChianti Classico DOCG

The Antinori family has produced wine in Tuscany since 1385. Anchored by the Tignanello estate in Chianti Classico, the parent house also owns Bolgheri's Guado al Tasso under a separate producer slug.

Tasting: Antinori nel Chianti Classico cellar at Bargino offers visits, tastings and the Rinuccio 1180 restaurant; multi-tier tasting programmes by reservation.

Signature wines: tignanello, solaia, marchese-antinori-chianti-classico-riserva, villa-antinori-chianti-classico-riserva

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 96 (2019)

Castello di Ama ★ 4.8

Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione and Toscana IGTSangiovese, Malvasia Nera, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Nero90 haFounded 1972Lorenza Sebasti and Marco PallantiWinemaker Marco PallantiChianti Classico DOCG

Founded in 1972 in the hamlet of Ama at Gaiole in Chianti, the estate produces single-vineyard Gran Selezione bottlings from Bellavista and La Casuccia and pairs the wine programme with a contemporary art collection.

Tasting: Cellar tour, hamlet walk, art collection and tasting flight bookable through the estate; the property hosts a contemporary art programme with installations by Anish Kapoor and Louise Bourgeois.

Signature wines: castello-di-ama-vigneto-bellavista, castello-di-ama-vigneto-la-casuccia, castello-di-ama-haiku, castello-di-ama-l-apparita

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 95 (2018)

Felsina ★ 4.7

Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione and Toscana IGTSangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay95 haFounded 1966Domenico Poggiali and familyWinemaker Giovanni PoggialiChianti Classico DOCG

Castelnuovo Berardenga estate established 1966 by Domenico Poggiali. Sangiovese-focused with the Rancia Gran Selezione and the IGT Fontalloro forming the core of the range.

Tasting: Cellar visits and tasting flights by appointment; the Rancia single-vineyard Gran Selezione is the estate's flagship.

Signature wines: felsina-rancia-chianti-classico-riserva, felsina-fontalloro, felsina-berardenga-chianti-classico

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 95 (2019)

Fontodi ★ 4.9

Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione and Toscana IGTSangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pinot Nero90 haFounded 1968Manetti familyWinemaker Giovanni ManettiICEAChianti Classico DOCG

Panzano estate in the Conca d'Oro amphitheatre, owned by the Manetti family since 1968 and ICEA-organic certified since 1990. Flaccianello della Pieve is the flagship Sangiovese IGT.

Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings by appointment in the Conca d'Oro amphitheatre of Panzano; organic since 1990 and certified by ICEA.

Signature wines: fontodi-flaccianello-della-pieve, fontodi-vigna-del-sorbo, fontodi-chianti-classico

Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2019), Vinous 96 (2019)

Isole e Olena ★ 4.8

Chianti Classico DOCG and Toscana IGTSangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay56 haFounded 1956EPI Group (Christopher Descours), acquired from the De Marchi family in 2022Winemaker Emanuele ReolonChianti Classico DOCG

Founded in 1956 by the De Marchi family; the EPI Group acquired the estate in 2022. The Cepparello pure Sangiovese IGT remains the flagship alongside the Chianti Classico.

Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings by appointment; Cepparello (100% Sangiovese IGT) is the long-running flagship from the De Marchi era.

Signature wines: isole-e-olena-cepparello, isole-e-olena-chianti-classico, isole-e-olena-collezione-de-marchi-syrah

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 95 (2018)

San Felice ★ 4.6

Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione and Toscana IGTSangiovese, Pugnitello, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot200 haFounded 1968Allianz Group (insurance investor); historic property of the Grisaldi del Taja familyWinemaker Leonardo BellacciniChianti Classico DOCG

Castelnuovo Berardenga estate combining a Relais & Chateaux resort with a Chianti Classico programme that recovered the indigenous Pugnitello grape from near-extinction.

Tasting: The Borgo San Felice resort hosts cellar tours, tasting flights and a vineyard experience programme; the property includes a Relais & Chateaux hotel.

Signature wines: san-felice-il-grigio-gran-selezione, san-felice-vigorello, san-felice-pugnitello

Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2019), Vinous 94 (2018)

Castello di Volpaia ★ 4.7

Chianti Classico DOCG Gran SelezioneSangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon49 haFounded 1172Mascheroni Stianti familyWinemaker Giancarlo CecchiICEAChianti Classico DOCG

ICEA-organic certified estate on a fortified hamlet at 600 metres in Radda in Chianti, with the cellar dispersed through medieval buildings owned by the Mascheroni Stianti family.

Tasting: The fortified medieval hamlet of Volpaia houses the cellar across the village buildings; tastings, cellar walks and Bottega lunches by booking.

Signature wines: castello-di-volpaia-coltassala, castello-di-volpaia-il-puro-gran-selezione, castello-di-volpaia-chianti-classico

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 94 (2018)

Querciabella ★ 4.7

Chianti Classico DOCG and Toscana IGTSangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay81 haFounded 1974Castiglioni familyWinemaker Manfred IngDemeter CertifiedECOCERTChianti Classico DOCG

Greve in Chianti estate founded 1974 by the Castiglioni family. Demeter-certified biodynamic with vegan vinification practices; Camartina is the long-running Sangiovese-Cabernet IGT.

Tasting: Tastings and estate visits by appointment; the entire farming operation is Demeter biodynamic and the cellar uses no animal products in vinification.

Signature wines: querciabella-camartina, querciabella-batar, querciabella-chianti-classico

Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2018), Vinous 94 (2018)

Castell'in Villa ★ 4.6

Chianti Classico DOCG and Toscana IGTSangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malvasia Nera55 haFounded 1968Principessa Coralia Pignatelli della LeonessaWinemaker Coralia Pignatelli della Leonessa with Vittorio Fiore consultingChianti Classico DOCG

Castelnuovo Berardenga property owned since 1968 by Principessa Coralia Pignatelli, producing some of Chianti Classico's longest-lived traditionally-styled Riservas.

Tasting: Estate visits and tasting flights by appointment; lunch available in the borgo with prior reservation.

Signature wines: castell-in-villa-chianti-classico-riserva, castell-in-villa-poggio-delle-rose-riserva, castell-in-villa-santacroce

Scores: Vinous 95 (2016), Wine Advocate 94 (2016)

Riecine ★ 4.7

Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione and Toscana IGTSangiovese, Canaiolo Nero13 haFounded 1971Lana FrankWinemaker Alessandro CampatelliBiodynamic PracticingICEAChianti Classico DOCG

Tiny Gaiole estate of 13 hectares founded in 1971 by Englishman John Dunkley. Organic since 2014, vegan vinification, and now producing 100% Sangiovese under the La Gioia Toscana IGT flagship.

Tasting: Small-group estate tastings by reservation; vegan-vinified wines.

Signature wines: riecine-la-gioia, riecine-chianti-classico-riserva, riecine-chianti-classico

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2018), Vinous 95 (2019)

Castello di Querceto ★ 4.4

Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione and Toscana IGTSangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Mammolo60 haFounded 1897Francois familyWinemaker Alessandro FrancoisChianti Classico DOCG

Francois family estate in Greve in Chianti dating to 1897, set around a medieval castle. Il Picchio Gran Selezione anchors a Sangiovese-led range alongside Super Tuscan IGT bottlings.

Tasting: Cellar tours and tasting flights from the medieval castle property; on-site agriturismo accommodation.

Signature wines: castello-di-querceto-il-picchio, castello-di-querceto-la-corte, castello-di-querceto-chianti-classico-riserva

Scores: Wine Advocate 93 (2019), Vinous 92 (2018)

Fattoria Le Fonti ★ 4.4

Chianti Classico DOCG and Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOCSangiovese, Canaiolo Nero, Colorino, Malvasia Bianca Lunga, Trebbiano Toscano22 haFounded 1999Vicky Schmitt-VitaliWinemaker Vicky Schmitt-Vitali with Stefano Porcinai consultingICEAChianti Classico DOCG

Small Chianti Classico estate at Poggibonsi run by Vicky Schmitt-Vitali since 1999. Certified ICEA-organic; the Vin Santo del Chianti Classico is aged 10 years in caratelli.

Tasting: Small-group estate tastings and cellar visits by appointment; agriturismo rooms available; certified organic.

Signature wines: le-fonti-chianti-classico-riserva, le-fonti-vito-arturo, le-fonti-vin-santo

Scores: Vinous 92 (2019), Wine Advocate 91 (2019)

Barone Ricasoli Castello di Brolio ★ 4.8

Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione, Chianti Classico DOCG, and Toscana IGTSangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Abrusco240 haFounded 1141Francesco Ricasoli (32nd generation of the Ricasoli family)Winemaker Massimiliano BiagiChianti Classico DOCG

1,200-hectare estate at Gaiole in Chianti with 240 hectares under vine. Bettino Ricasoli codified the modern Chianti formula here in 1872; the family has owned the castle since 1141 and produces Gran Selezione plus the Casalferro IGT.

Tasting: Cellar visits, guided tastings, wine shop, agriturismo, and the Osteria del Castello restaurant at the Madonna a Brolio property. Open daily 10:00 to 19:00.

Signature wines: castello-di-brolio-gran-selezione, colledila-gran-selezione, casalferro, brolio-bettino

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), James Suckling 96 (2019)

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