The Beautiful Transformation of Chianti Classico DOCG

By Danielle Callegari

“The first time I visited Castello di Brolio, I arrived as the sun was dipping below the horizon. I was there to meet my friend Francesco Ricasoli, president of the renowned Ricasoli winery, whose ancestor, Bettino, invented the blend that became Chianti Classico. The castle carries almost 900 years of history and expectations, which, combined with the looming darkness and dense, sprawling woods of Chianti, was a little unnerving…”

This article originally appeared in the August/September 2025 Italy Issue of Wine Enthusiast magazine.