Interview with Castello di Gabianno: A Historic Winery in the Heart of Chianti Classico

In the heart of Chianti Classico, this estate brings together the history and today. With historical references dating back to the time when the castle was built to defend the most important communication route between Florence and Siena, it was know for the most prized produce in wine and oil.

Today, Castello di Gabianno, castle vineyards, snake through the clay and limestone rock-filled soil of the estate. With 85% of Sangiovese, as well as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Colorino, and Malvasia vines, the winery has also been certified for sustainable viticulture approach.

In the interview shared below, we gain insights into the winery products with a fresh perspective on the values and qualities producer is looking for in the production journey.

Q. What is the core product of Your brand?

A. Castello di Gabbiano is one of most historical Chianti Classico estates and it is still today one of most prestigious wine production center in Tuscany. The brand is ever since strictly associated to Sangiovese grapes: Chianti Classico wine is the estate’s most representative production: Chianti Classico annata, Riserva Chianti Classico and Gran Selezione ChiantiQ Classico. Castello di Gabbiano Riserva Chianti Classico is the winery core product.

Q. Tell us about the process Your product goes through, from sourcing to the packaging phase?

A. Created from the estate oldest vineyards, our Riserva Chianti Classico keeps the most typical organoleptic characteristics of this old tradition wine emphasized by a balanced ageing in wood. Only the finest grapes from our estate vineyards are selected for our Riserva. Fruit Parcels from different sites are kept separate during fermentation and aging, providing with an enticing range of flavors and textures for blending one month prior to bottling. Fermentation takes place on the skins in small stainless steel tanks which are monitored individually: punch downs and déléstage are enlisted according to each must. In order to help round out the wine while retaining optimal freshness, the juice undercome a secondary natural malolactic fermentation in stainless steel plus a portion (50%) of French oak. The wine ages 12 months in traditional French oak casks and small barrels – only 10% new oak – it then enjoys 12 months additional bottle maturation prior to release.

Q. What are the qualities You are looking for when creating Your product?

A. Our main focus is authenticity. The combination of our territory and our grapes (Sangiovese) is our strength and value. We need to enhance it and offer the best product coming from this combination that is unique in the world. Grapes tells the territory, the wine tells the grapes: none other options. We do engage most resources, research and energies in the vineyards to get the highest quality grapes. The knowledge, experience and passion of our technicians and the high technology at their disposal help make these excellent grapes into wines that express all the beauty, roughness, elegance and power of our land.

Q. What makes Your product better than the one of Your competitor?

A. Despite the large production volumes, our wines are made from 100% estate grapes! This means total control of the product, from the fruit. In addition, value for money has always been recognized and rewarded.

Q. What is the greatest challenge You’ve encountered while creating Your product?

A. Keeping the style of wine true to itself, having to deal with changes in market taste over the years, changes in climate…  The quality of production has grown a lot in the past years as new vineyards came into production and we have evolved new viticultural techniques. Every vintage, the excellent ones as well as the more difficult ones, high quality grapes come to the cellar. The wine will always reflect the weather pattern of the vintage (rightly so), but it must maintain its recognizable style to the consumer.

The winery has recently been awarded three times in two categories in America Wine Awards competition:

CASTELLO di GABBIANO Cavaliere d’Oro 2017 Riserva Chianti Classico DOCG

Awarded Gold by America Wines Awards

BELLEZZA CASTELLO di GABBIANO Cavaliere d’Oro 2016 Gran Selezione Chianti Classico DOCG

Awarded Gold by America Wines Awards

GABBIANO Cavaliere d’oro 2019 Chianti Classico DOCG

Awarded Silver by America Wines Awards

Winery details:

Castello di Gabbiano

Via di Gabbiano, 22