Monsanto

Castello di Monsanto is located in Chianti Classico, with the celebrated Il Poggio vineyard sitting between 280 and 320 meters of altitude on sandstone and galestro soil, conditions that favor deep roots and a tannic structure suited to long aging.

In 1961 newlyweds Fabrizio and Giuliana Bianchi inherited an estate then little known, and as early as 1962 made the first harvest of the Il Poggio vineyard, the first Chianti Classico in history to carry the name of its single vineyard on the label.

Its signature label is Il Poggio, today available as Chianti Classico Riserva and Gran Selezione, made from 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo and Colorino, all hand-picked from the roughly 5-hectare vineyard of the same name. Since 1968 the wine no longer contains white grapes, originally part of the traditional recipe.

Yes: over fifty years after its first vintage, Il Poggio is considered by many international critics among the world's great reds, a rare case of sustained quality for a single Chianti Classico vineyard.