Castrum Monte-ficali was the original name of the early, medieval village which has been known as Castello di Montefioralle since the Renaissance. Castrum translates as fortress, and the distinct label is a play on this theme, being based on the decorative door of an eighteenth century cassaforte (safe). This wine is a blend of our Sangiovese with similar quantities of Merlot and Cabernet sauvignon cultivated at a smallholding near the monastery of Badia a Passignano. This is a fruity, spicy, medium-bodied wine, a wine which accompanies many foods wonderfully. Although Castrum is partially created with French or so-called “international” varietals, the tradition of blending these 3 grape varieties in Tuscany dates back to the 1800s, and to the excellent vineyards of Carmignano Docg, far, far before the invention of the “Supertuscan” wines.

The wine region of Chianti classico is renowned throughout the world for the beauty of its various landscapes and for the joy that its atmosphere and lifestyle has created for many. Our estate lies within the municipality of Greve-in-Chianti, one of the most important wine towns of the Florentine Chianti Classico. We are situated on the highest ground, close to the peak of Montefili, and look down on the hamlet of Mezzuola , the village of Montefioralle and the magnificent panorama of the valley of the Greve. The ‘Tenuta di Monte-Ficali’ estate was born from the ashes of the historic ‘Mezzuola’ estate of the Bordoni family, who had made Chianti Classico in the lands surrounding their hunting lodge since 1782. The black and gold label of our Chianti Classico pays homage to the nobility and depth of history of our world class terroir and attempts to capture the ‘zeitgeist’ of the 18th Century.

Our Chianti Classico Riserva is made from the first selection of the grapes, the ripest and sweetest, with the promise of greatness. After fermentation these grapes will go onto age in the best quality French oak for a minimum of 18 months. This is a wine that can be cellared for 10 years, where it will go on to develop further nuance and smoothness. The name of the Riserva makes reference to the ancient military road "Via del Guardingo di Passignano", that passes from the Greve valley through the town of Montefioralle (a fortress village) and leads up and over the Montefili hill, passing our estate before descending into the valleys of the Pesa and Elsa via the Monastery of Badia a Passignano. A ‘Guardingo’ is an early medieval Lombardian name for a military watchtower that once stood on the high ground, although its actual position is lost in the sands of time.