4 wines 
Tastings
Tours
Accommodation
Booking required 
Wine area
Chianti Classico
The galestro and alberese hills between Florence and Siena, where Sangiovese became Italy's most quoted red.
Castello di Albola
Castello di Albola is a medieval hilltop village turned wine estate above Radda in Chianti, in the hills between Florence and Siena. The Zonin family has owned it since 1979, and Alessandro Gallo has run it since 2004. Its vineyards sit between 350 and 650 metres, on some of the highest hills in Chianti Classico, and have been certified organic since 2021. Eight tastings and tours can be booked online. There are three suites and three villas to stay in, and an osteria in the village.
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Tuscany
- 4 wines
- Tastings
- Tours
- Accommodation
- Booking required
Wines from Castello di Albola
About Castello di Albola
Albola was a fortified village long before it was a wine estate. It appears in monastery records from the 11th and 12th centuries. It was a stronghold of the Chianti League and was besieged by Aragonese troops in 1478. The Pazzi, the Acciaiuoli and the Ginori Conti princes all held these lands. The vaulted cellars under the village, built by the Samminiati, the Pazzi and the Ginori Conti, are still where the reds age. The Zonin family bought the estate in 1979, first brought the vineyards up to quality, then restored the farmhouses and the manor house.
Alessandro Gallo, director and winemaker, has run Albola since 2004 and lives with his family in the 12th-century keep. The estate calls its wines Wines of Altitude. The vineyards climb from 350 to 650 metres, high for Chianti Classico, on stony clay soils. He credits the stone and the altitude for the soft tannins and long life of the Sangiovese. Since June 2021 the whole estate has been farmed organic, with certification, and it holds the Equalitas sustainability standard.
The Chianti Classico is pure Sangiovese and spends a year in big Slavonian oak casks. The Riserva gets 14 months in wood and 18 in bottle. Its Gran Selezione wines each come from a single vineyard, among them Santa Caterina, about ten acres of south-facing slope just below the village, and Il Solatìo. Acciaiolo is the odd one out, a Toscana IGT made from Cabernet Sauvignon grown in one old vineyard, named after the Acciaiuoli family. There is also a Chardonnay, Poggio alle Fate, a Vin Santo, and olive oil from the estate's own trees.
Visitors can choose between eight tastings and tours. They range from an hour with three wines to a two-hour blind tasting, or a tour that ends with old vintages from the cellar. The classic and premium tours run every day at 11:00 and 16:30, the other tours at their own set times, and everything must be booked ahead. Albola Osteria, in the village, serves lunch every day and dinner on Fridays and Saturdays. Three suites sit inside the medieval village. On the estate, Villa Le Marangole, an 18th-century farmhouse with six double rooms, and the smaller Villa Crognole are rented whole, and a third villa, Ellere, looks over the vines.
Plate I · TUSCANY
Castello di Albola on the Tuscany wine atlas
Winery
Castello di Albola
Radda in Chianti, Siena · Chianti Classico
Denominations Produced
Grapes Used
Visit & Experiences
9 bookable experiences at Castello di Albola
8 tastings and 1 stay, checked by our editors. From €20.
Tasting
Guided Classic Tasting
1h
From €20 per person
Wines of Altitude | Radda in Chianti Discover the essence of Castello di Albola, in Radda in Chianti, with a guided tasting of three iconic wines, ideal for learning about the style of our Wines of Altitude, an authentic expression of Chianti Classico. Le Fagge Toscana Bianco IGT Chianti Classico DOCG Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva
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via Winalist
Tasting
Guided Premium Tasting
1h
From €30 per person
The Crus of Castello di Albola | Radda in Chianti An experience dedicated to those who want to explore the excellence of the Crus of Castello di Albola, in the territory of Radda in Chianti. A guided premium tasting that reveals the deepest identity of the estate and its terroir. Poggio alle Fate Chardonnay Toscana IGT Santa Caterina Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione Il Solatìo Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione
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via Winalist
Tasting & Tour
Tour and Classic Tasting
1h 30
From €35 per person
Radda in Chianti Wine Experience Enjoy an authentic wine tourism experience in Radda in Chianti with a guided tour of the vineyards, the ancient village, and the historic cellars of Castello di Albola, followed by a classic guided tasting of three of the estate's signature wines. Le Fagge Toscana Bianco IGT Chianti Classico DOCG Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva
Book this tour
via Winalist
Tasting & Tour
Premium Tour and Tasting
1h 30
From €35 per person
Cru Experience | Radda in Chianti An exclusive journey into the heart of Radda in Chianti, designed for those who wish to discover the most prestigious side of Castello di Albola. The tour includes a guided tour of the vineyards, the historic village, and the cellars, followed by a premium tasting of the estate's three Crus, the finest expression of the Radda in Chianti terroir. Poggio alle Fate Chardonnay Toscana IGT Santa Caterina Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione Il Solatìo Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione
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via Winalist
Tasting & Tour
Wandering Tour and Tasting
1h 30
From €50 per person
Discover Castello di Albola step by step with the Itinerant Tour experience; a unique journey that combines a visit to the historic cellars of the estate in Radda in Chianti with a tasting of the most representative wines of Chianti Classico. Accompanied by an expert guide, you will experience a journey through ancient walls, oak barrels, and the aromas of aging wine, tasting different labels at evocative stops within the estate. Each glass tells a story: a place, a vintage, and a different emotion, revealing the deep connection between the wine and its terroir. An authentic and immersive experience, designed for those who wish to experience the charm of Chianti Classico step by step and discover the peculiarities of the historic wines of Castello di Albola.
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via Winalist
Tasting & Tour
Blind Tour and Tasting
2h
From €70 per person
Discover the authentic essence of Castello di Albola, in Radda in Chianti, with a guided tour of the historic cellar, among ancient walls, oak barrels, and aromas that tell the story of the long aging of our wines. The experience continues with a blind tasting of three selected wines from Castello di Albola: without knowing the labels, you will let your senses guide you, exploring the aromas, fragrances, and unique nuances of our wines. An original and engaging way to experience wine without filters, learning to recognize the characteristics that make each glass special. An exclusive and immersive experience, designed for those who wish to experience the magic of Chianti Classico and appreciate the refinement of the historic wines of Castello di Albola.
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via Winalist
Tasting & Tour
Old Vintage Tour and Tasting
2h
From €90 per person
A true journey through time. Experience a unique journey with Old Vintages at Castello di Albola, a true journey through time discovering the historic wines of Chianti Classico. The guided tour takes you through the centuries-old cellars, where the silence and the scent of wood tell the long wait of great wines. The experience culminates in an exclusive tasting of old vintages of our prestigious Wines Of Altitude, a rare opportunity to appreciate the evolution of the wine, the depth of its aromas, and the elegance that only time can bestow. An exciting and immersive experience, designed for those who want to savor the history and unique character of Castello di Albola wines, experiencing the authentic charm of Chianti Classico in every glass.
Book this tour
via Winalist
Food Pairing
Cooking Class with Lunch
4h
From €180 per person
Typical Tuscan cooking class where guests can cook and learn culinary techniques. This will be followed by a tour of the estate, lunch, and a tasting of our wines.
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via Winalist
Accommodation
Suites in the village, villas on the estate
Three suites inside the medieval village, with breakfast, plus estate villas rented whole: the 18th-century Villa Le Marangole with six double rooms and a caretaker couple who cook, and the smaller Villa Crognole.
See rooms and rates
on albola.it
Experience
Picnic among the vines
€35 per person, wine not included
A wicker basket of Tuscan produce to eat among the vineyards and gardens, on Saturdays from April to October at 12:00 and 15:30. No tour is included, wine is not included, and booking is required.
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What Castello di Albola makes
Castello di Albola's current bottle selection is led by Chianti Classico DOCG. The clearest grape signal comes from Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Common questions
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Yes. The estate runs eight tastings and tours that can be booked online, from a one-hour guided tasting of three wines to two-hour blind and old-vintage tours. Everything is by reservation. The classic and premium tours leave every day at 11:00 and 16:30, and the other tours have their own set times. The blind and old-vintage tours are not for children, and the old-vintage tour runs in English only.
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