The Area
The Castello d’Albola estate is at Radda in Chianti in the Province of Siena,where the cultivation of vines dates back to Etruscan times. The landscape hereis matchless, and there are also historical and cultural treasures that go backto the Middle Ages, as well as hillsides painted with vineyards and absolutelyworld-class wines.

The Estate
The oldest building, the Cassero di Albola, dates back to the 12th century, whenit was the property of the noble magnates of Monterinaldi. Subsequently, itbelonged to personages who played a leading role in Tuscany’s history: theAcciaiuolis, the Samminiatis, the Pazzis and the Ginori Contis. It was the Acciaiuoliswho, in the 15th century, built the Castle, which was transformed during theRenaissance into a splendid villa.

Climate and Soil
The climate is continental, with temperatures in winter below 4°-5°C (39°-41°F),and very dry summers when the thermometer rises above 30°C (86°F). Thedifferences between day and night temperatures are accentuated by the altitudeof between 400 and 500 meters (1,310-1,640 ft.). Average annual rainfall is 800-900 mm. (31.5-35.4 in.), which falls mainly in late autumn and in spring. The soilis principally clay, with good drainage and an excellent capacity for retaining andthen yielding nutritive elements to the vines.

The Vineyards
The property comprises 850 hectares (2,100 acres) of which 157 (388 acres) arevineyards, split up among various plots of land. The training system of the vines,which used to be the classic Tuscan doppio capovolto, has been converted toespalier with a density of 5,000 vines per hectare (2,023 per acre).

Cultivation Techniques
The systems adopted are all aimed at taking full advantage of the sunlight thatbathes the estate’s south-facing hillside vineyards, thus guaranteeing excellentripening of the grapes.

Grape Varieties adn Wines
The predominant grape is Sangiovese (on which important research has beencarried out for several years, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture andthe Chianti Classico Consortium), but there are also international varieties:Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Nero.