GRAPES, GHOSTS AND GIANTS
 Meet the ghost of the Iron Baron who gallops past dressed in black on his white steed. Step over the stones of the past and walk up to the great stronghold of the Brolio Castle with its Sienese neo-gothic architecture. Follow the romantic style of ages long gone and travel from Barberino to Tavarnelle Val di Pesa. Let the directions guide you to S. Donato in Poggio and from there go to Castellina in Chianti. Continue down to Radda and to Gaiole in Chianti. You will pass through San Regolo to reach the bustling crossroads of Madonna of Brolio. Drive down the main road towards Castelnuovo and turn right to find the impressive Castle of Brolio which is in the center of the Chianti area in the province of Siena. If you follow the directions for Castelnuovo Berardenga or from the exit A1 Valdarno and follow the state road SS 408, you will reach the lovely Brolio castle. It will be interesting to note that the SS 484 is called the 'street of castles' in Chianti with the Cacchino castle, Meleto Castle and other well-known castles. But, there is no other castle as beautiful and as enchanting as the Brolio Castle which is between Castelnuovo Berardenga and Gaiole of Chianti.
 When history began its travel through the ancient days, the Castle of Brolio belonged at that time to the Longobards. The Brolio Castle was donated to the Abbey of Florence in 1009 by the Marquis Boniface who was the son of Count Alberto. But the next century saw it taken by the family of Firidolfi. With battles between Florence and Siena, the castle was taken by the Republic of Florence. With the advent of trade, the castle was manned by a podesta and structured with new fortifications. Between 1452 and 1478, the Aragonese laid waste its structure and lands. But in 1484, the giants of fame and fortune from the Medici family, Cosimo I, re-fortified it with the architect, Guiliano Sangallo. But as the years rolled by, the 12th century saw the powerful family of the Ricasoli of Cacchiano take possession of the castle as the reigning feudal lords. The Brolio Castle was built before the year 1000 and still belongs to the descendants of the Ricasoli family.
 The original structure formed a pentagon with huge walls and towers. Depicted as a fortress with bastion walls, the Brolio Castle was one of the first forms of fortresses to be built. Well preserved with a high scarp wall at the base, the embrasures at different levels are intriguing and interesting. As the Ricasoli family lived there over the decades, the 19th century saw the Castle Brolio as the sanctuary of Bettino Ricasoli, the 'iron baron', who was a statesman and played an important role in the forming of the Republic of Italy. As an interesting fact, it was Bettino Ricasoli who defined the standard and the composition of the famous Chianti wine. He was an accomplished agronomist besides being a great statesman. During his time the castle saw the introduction of the Sienese neo-gothic architecture which was the style at that time. Built at the top of the hill, the castle of Brolio was structured to defend the Republic of Florence against the Ghibelline army of Siena.
PATRIOTIC, PATRIARCHAL AND PICTURESQUE
 Majestic and huge, the Brolio Castle evolves over 1200 hectares of green vineyards, refreshing olive groves and dark woody forests of oak. Picturesque and perfect in its setting, the countryside unravels its beautiful farmhouses that punctuate the landscape with Siena seen in the hazy horizon. This beautiful scenery is reflected in a painting by Ambrogio Lorenzetti in the 1300s which is placed at the Town Hall of Siena. Walk into the interior of the castle and explore its interesting features. Come and stand in an atmosphere of solemnity at the small but appealing family chapel.
The castle of Brolio comprises of strong round towers and heavy fortifications to accommodate the new fire weapons of those days. The legend has it that the 'iron baron's' ghost in black still roams ceaselessly on a white horse at night. The name of the Brolio Castle is derived from the Longobardo term for an enclosed green space or orchard, 'Brolo'. With a watch tower, the fortress was transformed into a manor built in the romantic English style. Introduced by the Baron Bettino Ricasoli in 1835, the 'Gothic revival' was animated with brick that was so different from any other castle of that time. This ancient fortress was structured with Tudor windows and crenallated turrets built with a new type of stone called 'mattone' and pietra serena. Brolio Castle is a standing example of the various periods that evolved over the ages. The base of the castle reflects the early medieval structure and its walls are reminiscent of the Renaissance architecture and style.
 Come and sit in the shade of the 16th century garden created as a fusion between the Italian and the Romantic periods of that time. Walk down its boxed shrubbery and pathways landscaped by the botanist Simone Ricasoli. He also brought in trees from other countries and herbs. The fir trees which were imported stand at a height of 30-40 meters. Notice the strategic placement of the castle with its imposing ramparts with its old keep and the baronial building. At the head of frontier wars, Brolio Castle is in the center of vineyards that roll into infinity. The Ricasoli were famous for their wines that were left to age in their huge cellars fortified with strong massive walls. Take a walk along the ramparts and absorb fabulous views of the countryside. Red wine in Italy was not fit to be consumed, but only after the Baron Ricasoli's adventurous attempts, the famous Brolio Ricasoli was born to give the essence of a sparkling wine.
FAME, FAMILY AND FORTUNE
Lift up a glass of the famous Riserva Brolio and toast the spirit of the mighty iron baron. Listen to the closely guarded secrets of his private life. Bettino Ricasoli was known to be religious and serious. He was overcome with jealousy as his newly wed wife was seen dancing a little too close to a young man at a ball. He immediately moved with his wife, Anna, to the lonely castle of Brolio which is to the south of Siena, a part where no other Ricasoli had ever lived. This was where he experimented with different grapes producing the fabulous Brolio vintage 1841 which became the standard for Chianti Classico with Brolio Ricasoli as a prestigious product. The descendants of the Ricasoli family still continue their wine making production as the oldest family operation in the business.
Come and meet the famous family who has made history as reformers and inventors. Held on par with the American President Jefferson, Bettino Ricasoli, the first Prime Minister of Italy has changed the face of history in Italy. The heir to the Ricasoli family, Francesco Ricasoli is still churning the wheels of history with the maintenance of one of the most popular wineries in Tuscany. Since the year 1141, the Ricasoli family has been producing wine from their estate. The Brolio estate extends over 3,000 acres in the Chianti district. There are 600 vineyards in different regions which are divided 7 sectors. Pluck a luscious grape from the fertile vineyard of Pianarsiccio vineyard which can be found on the state road SS 408 that runs from Pianella to Gaiole in Chianti with the River Arabia meandering through. The name of the Pinarsccio vineyard is derived from the ancient farm buildings that were built there before Brolio Castle was constructed. Standing at a level of 240-340 meters above sea level the Pinarsiccio vineyard evolves over 83 acres on the slopes and is in the south west. The vineyard with its alluvial soil is planted with Malvasia Toscana on the lower slopes and with the Sangiovese grapes on the higher slopes.
 Come along and visit the treasures of the Ricasoli family at the Nebbiano vineyard. You will find it along the Pianella that leads to the hamlet of San Regolo and the Brolio Castle. This lies at an altitude of 320-380 meters with 124 acres south-west and south-east, with Sangiovese grapes and a considerable amount of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay that are planted on undulating slopes. Carry a bottle of this magical wine as you traverse the 26-acre Santa Lucia vineyard. Named after the old chapel on the east of the village of Monti in Chianti, the vineyard is planted with Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes.
The Ricasoli heritage goes on from the Brolio Castle to Monti in Chianti. The vineyards of Casalferro - Montecalcini slopes through 84 acres of vineyards towards the south west at an altitude of 390-410 meters planted with Merlot and Sangiovese varieties. The Coli and Agresto vineyard of the Ricasoli fame is found on the road from Brolio to Monti in Chianti. Ranging over an area of 140 acres, the area is filled with vines and oaks in a dense growth. Planted in a south to south-westerly direction in rich soil and an altitude of 410-460 meters help the Sangiovese to thrive. The provincial road Pianella-San Regolo leads to the Brolio Castle. The Tarci vineyard belonging to the age-old Ricasoli family stretches across 75 acres at an altitude of 370-480 meters on the lower slopes producing the Sangiovese and Merlot grapes. The Grotta vineyard stemming from the Ricasoli fortune is at the foot of the hill where the castle stands. Rolling in the direction of Siena with an altitude of 440-490 meters, the Grotta zone welcomes visitors to the castle besides being a farm. Rolling over gentle waves of hills in a south westerly stretch, the vineyards are planted in 61 acres with the unique Sangiovese variety.
Come and enjoy the waves of history, the undulating treasures of the land and the empire of the Ricasoli heritage. Follow its course along a noble lineage as time unravels an eventful journey...Cheer the spirit of entrepreneurship. tradition and freedom.. |
