Querceto di Castellina
Tucked between the medieval villages of Castellina and Radda, high in the heart of Chianti Classico at nearly 500 meters, sits Querceto di Castellina — a place where eight centuries of Tuscan winemaking meet genuine family hospitality. This is no stuffy estate; it’s a living, breathing working vineyard where the Di Battista family — Jacopo the winemaker, his brother Filippo, his chef mother Laura, and his wife — pour passion into every glass and every meal.
The story runs deep. Querceto first appears in medieval documents as a fortified outpost defending Florence against Siena. Today, it defends something far more rewarding: the art of honest, organic winemaking. Sustainable since 1998 and certified organic since 2012, the estate refuses shortcuts. From the moment buds break to the moment grapes are pressed, every decision is made by hand and by heart. No chemical treatments. Minimal disruption. Maximum respect for the land.
Querceto’s 11.5 hectares of certified organic vineyard—11 of them registered under Chianti Classico DOCG—sit in staggered plantings across five distinct parcels. Il Poggio (planted 1997) and Campolungo (1999–2001) anchor the estate’s Sangiovese; La Fonte and Campocorto (2001) add complexity and precision. The soil tells the story: medium-textured, rocky earth laced with limestone marl and minerals that flow directly into the wine. Sangiovese thrives here, revealing itself with elegance and structure.
The flagship is a marriage of Sangiovese and Merlot from the finest parcels, bottled to age gracefully for years. Yet Querceto di Castellina is not sa tasting room. This is a working estate where you belong. You can also stay in beautifully restored 15th-century stone farmhouses. Learn Tuscan cooking from Laura. Taste wines and understand the thought behind each bottle. Dine under the stars among the vines. The views stretch toward Florence and Siena; the wines taste of honest labor and limestone soil; the hospitality feels like family.
Querceto di Castellina is Tuscany as it should be — authentic, unhurried, and utterly unforgettable.