Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany, Italy 2021

The Chianti Classico label features the Commenda di Sant’Eufrosino, the second of four churches built for Volpaia hamlet. Attributed to the Italian architect and sculptor Michelozzo di Bartolomeo (1396-1472) the church was built in 1443 by request of the Canigiani family who lived in Volpaia. One of the family members wished to join the Knights of Malta, a religious order and military brotherhood ruled by a “Grand Master” that answered only to the Pope. The Knights of Malta required that the Canigianis build a church in Volpaia before joining the religious order. The Commenda was deconsecrated in 1932 and declared a national monument in 1981. For thirteen years, until 1993, the Commenda housed a renowned art collection. The Commenda is now used for dinners, tastings and other events and its basement contains one of Volpaia’s barrel-aging cellars.