About
Vines have been cultivated in these hills for nearly 3000 years and it is here that Italy’s greatest concentration of ambitious winemakers is found. Famed for its red wines, it is said that the term ‘Chianti’ was first coined in 1404 in reference to Vignamaggio’s wine. Rumour also has it that Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci’s muse, was born here in 1479; today, Vignamaggio’s finest Chianti is named in her honour. Throughout the 20th century, many well thought-out renovations have restored the villa to its ancient splendour.
Today the estate makes wines reflecting both the traditions and potential of the Chianti terroir, using traditional local grapes Sangiovese and Canaiolo for some wines, while others include proportions of international grapes Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah. Vignamaggio also makes tiny amounts of the delectable dessert wine ‘vin santo’. The estate has been host to several illustrious personalities over the years, including its being chosen as the stunning set for Kenneth Branagh’s film version of Shakespeare’s play ‘Much Ado About Nothing’.
