Castello Di Gabbiano

The famous Chianti Classico region — home of the Castello di Gabbiano estate vineyards — lies in the heart of Tuscany. The soils there range from limestone and sandstone to clay, and the average elevation is 600-900 feet above sea level. Chianti typically has mild winters and warm summers and receives an average annual rainfall of 25 inches, a climate very similar to the Bordeaux region of France. The unique terroir of the Chianti appellation continually yields high-quality fruit, rich in perfume and body.

The Tuscan winemaking tradition was formed over 3,000 years ago when the Etruscans cultivated vines and made wine. During the Middle Ages, battles raged between Siena and Florence for control of this fruitful land. This led to the construction of the region's many castles or Castelli. As part of the fortification, the "cavaliere" knight on horseback, as depicted on our labels, protected the owner from the threat of invasion.

Construction of the Castello began in 1124 and included a wine cellar intended for the production and conservation of wine. The existence of the wine cellar is proof that wine was being made at the estate from the beginning of its history. The estate's original owners, the Bardis, were one of the wealthiest Florentine banking families. In the late 1200's, the family expanded the fortress, building walls on either side of the original tower. The new walls were crenellated (notched along the top of the wall) in the Guelph architectural style of that time. In 1408, the Bardis sold Castello di Gabbiano to the Soderini family, another powerful Florentine family - politically very prominent and influential. In 1505, the Soderinis added the round towers to the Castello's four corners. The round towers are an example of the influence of French architectural style. It was during the Soderini era that the castle was transformed into a structure very similar to the one that stands today.

Tuscany is a culturally and agriculturally wealthy region of incomparable beauty, located in west-central Italy, north of Rome. Triangular in shape, Tuscany is bounded on the north by the Emiliano Appennino mountain range, on the southeast by the provinces of Umbria and Latium, and on the southwest by the Mediterranean Sea.

Tuscany contains nine municipal provinces that encompass 22,989 kilometers (8,876 square miles). Two thirds of the territory is covered by steep hills and valleys. The Arno River runs from Florence through Pisa to the Mediterranean Sea.

The Chianti district in Tuscany stretches from Florence in the north to Siena in the south, and from the Mediterranean to just west of Arezzo. The Chianti appellation has seven sub zones, including Chianti Classico, which is its largest zone.

Its soils range from limestone and sandstone to clay and sand. Chianti typically has mild winters and warm summers and receives an average annual rainfall of 25 inches. This climate is very similar to the Bordeaux region of France, which is renowned for its fine wines.