Today we are visiting Castello di Verrazzano in Greve di Chianti. This is a castle that began as an etruscan settlement and was later converted to a roman settlement. The Verrazzano family first acquired the castle in the seventh century and owned it until the Ridolfi family of Florence took ownership in 1819 after the death of the last verrazzano. The castle was known for years as the family home of Giovanni di Verrazzano, who discovered New York Harbor. Within the castle there are both surveillance towers and underground passageways that were used to watch for and react to the movement of people from Siena to Florence in the two centuries during which the Chianti area was the main battleground between Siena and Florence. The original family is thought to have inhabited the castle between the 7th and 10th centuries AD.
The castello today produces wines, olive oil, balsalmic vinegar, and honey, and runs a full restaurant. Castello di Verrazzano has a long history of winemaking; some records of winemaking date back to the year 1171. There are 52 hectares of vineyards on the property, and most of the grapes produced are red grape varieties such as merlot, canailo, cabernet sauvignon, and colorino. Some of the white grape varieties that Castello di Verrazzano produces include trebbiano toscano, traminer,, and malvasia lunga del chianti. Grapes are harvested between September 25th and October 25th, and the castello only uses organic production techniques and harvests by hand.
Guests frequently rave about the wines and other products the winery sells, the food served by the restaurant in the winery, and the beautiful tuscan scenery surrounding the castle. If guests want to extend their stay, they can stay in one of two apartments and 7 double rooms at castello di verrazzano. Guests that choose to stay at the castle have access to the castle, its gardens, wine tastings, cooking classes, walking/biking, and vineyards. The castle is accessible year-round, allowing for a wonderful agritourism experience for any occasion.
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