Castello Romitorio

Castello Romitorio

Castello Romitorio winery takes its name from the massive twelfth-century fortress that sits atop a hill surrounded by an oak tree forest in northwestern Montalcino. The winery was founded in 1984 when artist Sandro Chia acquired the estate from his friend, Baron Giorgio Franchetti. The first Sangiovese parcels were planted in 1984 on slopes near Castello Romitorio. Ever since then, Castello Romitorio has been totally committed to the study, exploration and promotion of Brunello di Montalcino wine.

In 1999, the winery expanded with the acquisition of ‘Tenuta Ghiaccio Forte’ in the Southwestern region of Scansano, Grosseto. The winery is planted with Sangiovese, Petit Verdot and Syrah.

Sandro’s son Filippo Chia has been managing the winery since 2005.

The labels are the exquisite work of Sandro Chia, an advocate of the Italian Transavanguardia movement, which is all about figurative art, symbolism, and mythical imagery.

THE TERROIR

Castello Romitorio sits on the northwestern ridge of the Montalcino hills, with vineyards planted at elevations  between 200 and 400 metres above sea level. The soils are a complex blend of galestro (a brittle, schist-like marl), clay and albarese limestone, which impart minerality and freshness to the grapes.

Because the site is high altitude and fairly exposed, the micro-climate features cooler nights and diurnal shifts that help preserve acidity and aromatics in the estate’s 100% Sangiovese plantings. The work in the vineyard is meticulous, with low yields, manual harvesting and rigorous plot‐by‐plot care designed to allow each vine to express the distinct terroir.