July 2022

Querceto di Castellina Azienda Agricola – Tuscany, Italy

While we have visited Tuscany many times, we have never stayed in Tuscany. There is something magical about the thought of staying at a Tuscan winery. There are so many options in this region so picking one can certainly be a challenge. I discovered Cena in Vigna by Querceto di Castellina several years back and had planned on attending a dinner in 2020 – thanks to COVID, that was postponed. When the 2022 series was released, I asked which dinners were open with a room available on property – the July dinner was the only one with both openings and that is how we got here. We were so excited not only to be attending this dinner but also to be staying at this beautiful property for two nights.

The Property

Querceto di Castellina is family owned by the Di Battista family since 1945 and converted to producing organic wine under their label in 1998. There are 28 acres containing six vineyards (Belvedere, Poggio, Campocorto, Campolungo, La Fonte and Livia) producing four grape varietals (Sangiovese, Merlot, Viognier, and Roussanne) and six wines (L’aura, Sei, Podalirio, Furtivo, Livia, Venti).

Querceto di Castellina is locates under and hour away from Florence tucked into Castellina in Chanti in the coveted Chianti Classico region. This ride on the Vespa was nothing short of a dream! The property sits atop a hill giving stunning views of the surrounding areas. We spent one morning walking around the property and we just could not believe how beautiful everything is here.

Rooms

The property has apartments on the property, many of which are restored 15th century structures. There are nine suites that can sleep varying party sizes from two to nine and the entire property can accommodate up to 40 people at once. We were fortunate enough to stay in the Laura suite and were blown away when we opened the door. Full kitchen and living space, an enormous bed room and a modern full bathroom. We immediately wished we were staying longer to take advantage of the kitchen and living space. The owner told us that where the bed is located was where the cows would congregate to eat before the renovation and restoration! And the view every time we opened the door – just amazing – vines for days.

Amenities

Querceto di Castellina offers several amenities for guests including a pool, bbq/picinc area, laundry services, ping pong table, and free wifi. In the cooler months, firewood is included. There is also a full tasting room where wine can be tasted and guests get 10% off of bottles purchased. Since our visit was in July, we took full advantage of the pool during the day. The Rosato went perfectly on these hot days.

Dining Options

While there is no restaurant on property, there are several options to have some food at the property. All but one of the apartments have full kitchens so if you are staying, definitely stop at a grocery store on the way so you can make some things yourself.

• Breakfast can be added in the mornings for an additional charge. We did this on the morning we left and it was a wonderful spread of pastries, yogurt, fruit, and more.
• Livia Wine & Cheese Bar is where wine tastings take place. There is also an option of adding a cheese tasting with cheeses from De Magi from the organic cheese farm Podere Il Casale in Pienza.
• There are a few options for lunch that include a wine tasting as well. This needs to be booked in advance as visitors coming for wine tastings are also able to book these experiences. We booked “A TASTE OF TUSCANY LUNCH & WINE TASTING” which included a wine tasting and three courses – charcuterie, crostini and artisanal cheeses, and dessert. Everything was so delicious and if we were staying longer, we would have definitely done more of these.
• On occasion, Querceto hosts events such as wedding and wine dinners in the vineyard partnering with a local restaurant to provide an exquisite dining experience. Have a group of 8 or more people? You could book a private wine dinner for your group. We came here for the Cena in Vigna wine dinner series Querceto hosts each year – one dinner each month for the months from June to September.
• For dinners, cooking in the apartment is an option or visit one of the neighboring towns such as Castellina in Chianti or Panzano, or even a nearby osteria such as Osteria Le Panzanelle.

Things To Do 

Querceto is the perfect spot to relax and unwind, disconnect from the world and immerse yourself in nature. Enjoy the apartment, take a dip in the pool, taste the wine, take a cooking class offered by the matriarch of the family, or visit the wine cellar and learn how wine is made.

Make sure to save some time to explore nearby as well! This area is full of gems that are waiting to be explored.

Castellina in Chianti – The town is just a few minutes from Querceto and, sits atop a hill, has a center that does not permit cars. There are some wonderful restaurants here including Ristorante Albergaccio di Castellina and Taverna Squarcialupi. Make sure to stop at Gelateria di Castellina for amazing gelato. There is also a market every Saturday morning that I would have loved to have visited.

Panzano – We have visited Panzano a few times and it is well worth the twenty minute drive to this town. The main attraction here is visiting Dario Cecchini, famous for his humanitarian approach to butchery and promoting a good life for animals. He operates two restaurants (Solociccia and Officina della Bistecca) and a butcher shop. But this is no ordinary butcher shop – serving up snacks, pouring wine, and blasting American disco music – this is such a fun and unique spot.

We had the most amazing time staying at Querceto di Castellina and our only regret was not staying longer. I am already trying to figure out the next opportunity for us to visit and stay for awhile. I know there are so many wonderful places to stay in Tuscany but I cannot recommend Querceto di Castellina enough in every way.

Continue reading about our weekend in Tuscany here!