Podere Il Castellaccio Bolgheri Rosso Superiore

Much has been discussed regarding Stendhal Syndrome, the peculiar affliction that befalls some tourists in Florence when exposed to an overwhelming amount of artistic beauty, clinically identified in 1989 as a psychiatric disorder. It is a psychosomatic illness that induces elevated heart rates, euphoria, palpitations, unparalleled sentiments, and emotion—an uncontrollable phenomenon that typically occurs 10 to 20 times per year in certain highly sensitive individuals who may have been yearning their entire lives to visit Tuscany. Hence, if your plans include a journey to the wondrous Florence, consider taking a respite from the throngs of tourists and make your escape to Bolgheri, the cradle of Super Tuscan wines. Here lies Podere Il Castellaccio, an estate precisely perched on the Segalari hill, which as early as the 1960s was chosen by the grandfather of the current owner, Alessandro Scappini, as a place of great potential.

Today, Scappini, reviving the indigenous vines planted by his ancestor, crafts high-quality wines that impeccably mirror the splendid Tuscan landscape. Podere Il Castellaccio Bolgheri Rosso Superiore is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Pugnitello from old vines rooted in schist-rich and marl soil, cultivated following organic principles. In the winery, fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures, with maceration on the skins for 45 to 50 days. Subsequently, the wine matures for 12 months in French oak barrels and for another 12 months in amphorae. Finally, it is refined in the bottle for an additional 6 months before its release to the market.

The result of a perfect amalgamation between a French grape variety and a historic Tuscan grape variety, Podere Il Castellaccio Bolgheri Rosso Superiore is a red wine that embodies all the elegance of Tuscany. A magnificent sensory journey that will make you succumb to such beauty, but without overindulgence.