Ep. 64 Federica Mascheroni Stianti, Castello di Volpaia

Wine Podcast: The Honest Pour with John Lenart

I've traveled throughout the wine world and few places have enchanted me the way Volpaia and the people there have. The hilltop hamlet is magical. The 11th century piazza is composed of a church, a cafe and a the Castello di Volpaia tasting room which was closed when I arrived. That's it. I wander up the road another 50 or so meters to find a smaller, older piazza consisting of not much more than yet another church, a small ancient well and an iron gate. With no signs, I have no idea where to go so I throw caution to the wind and enter the gate. Sitting in the manicured garden under the warm spring Tuscan sun I meet Giovannella Stianti. Tall, grey haired and elegant Giovannella introduces herself to me and warmly welcomes me into her home. All of the walls inside the ancient building are lined with beautiful books. Gio explains that her father was a book binder and this was his work. After lunch Gio takes me on a wonderful tour of the village and winery within. The modern winery is built into the building of the 11th century with pipes running underground connecting one production area to the next. Already enchanted with both the place and Giovannella, I then sat down to record this episode with Federica Mascheroni Stianti, Gio's daughter, who now runs the family business. As charming as her mother, Federica and I talk about what makes wine from Radda unique, the controversy behind the gran selezione classification, and of course we taste some delicious wines. If you travel to Chianti Classico a visit to Castello di Volpaia is not to be missed.