Castello di Brolio: Exploring Tuscany

Turning a travel day into an active adventure

We woke up on day three of our Italian vacation feeling a bit more normal having shaken off the vestiges of our initial jetlag. It was with a heavy heart that we checked out of Podere la Rocca, our delightful agriturismo, and hopped in our little rental car to start our journey towards Florence. 

Driving through Tuscany is almost as beautiful as biking, so we enjoyed the ride as we left the Montepuciano area and entered the Chianti Classico region. We arrived in the town of Gaolie to explore Castello di Brolio, the ancestral castle of Baron Francesco Ricasoli. Their vineyards are the most extensive in the Chianti Classico region. 

We found Castello di Brolio with the aid of GPS and purchased tickets at the gift shop for the simple “Visit to the gardens and tasting at the wine shop” for 6.5 euros. The gardens of Castello di Brolio are open every day without a reservation to tour from April to November. There are many different tours to choose from, but most require reservations in advance. 

We followed a steep stone path through a wooded area and got our first glimpse of the castle. I’ll admit I hadn’t done any research about the castle prior to our visit, so I was pleased to discover that it is a legitimate castle; the first stones date to the Middle Ages. The Ricasoli family acquired the castle in 1141. The castle has suffered many attacks including aerial bombing during World War II. Through the years it has been rebuilt and modified. Its’ architecture reflects different eras including medieval, Romanesque, and neo-Gothic. Baron Francesco Ricasoli presides over the family wine making business which has continued for more than 800 years. 

We circled the castle’s fortressed walls and admired the gardens. The area surrounding the castle is marked by gentle hills, green valleys, thick forest and of course olive groves and vineyards.  The garden tour allows you to check out the family chapel which houses the crypt in its basement. I spied a trampoline in a side area as evidence that there are younger family members who inhabit the castle. There must be some fantastic games of hide and seek inside. 

The path led us around to the main terrace which has a view to die for of their formal gardens, vineyards and ancestral Tuscan lands stretching across the verdant valley. The main terrace also allows you to view the impressive façade of the castle. I overheard a nearby tour guide indicating where a bomb had fallen through the castle roof and where the façade had to be replaced during WWII. Not wanting to seem like a mooch since I hadn’t purchased a guided tour ticket I didn’t linger near the tour, but instead admired the formal gardens directly below the terrace and peeked in a greenhouse that housed lots of lime trees and other beautiful plants.

Our walk/hike around Castello di Brolio took approximately an hour and a half. It was easy, aside from the steep hill at the beginning, but worth it for the view and learning about the castle. We returned to the parking lot and drove to the nearby wine shop for our tasting. In addition to the shop, there is a restaurant and a bakery/café where many road bikers had stopped to take a break. The tasting was brief, but the shop employees were friendly and helpful. We enjoyed the wine we tasted and arranged to have some shipped home. Our next stop was to Siena for walking, sightseeing and lunch, so we hopped back in our rental car and continued on our way. 

Helpful Information:

Castello di Brolio:

https://www.ricasoli.com/en/castle/