Population: 820 (2008)

Poppiano is a small fraction (frazioni) of of the comune of Montespertoli, a 25 minute drive from Florence, in the centre of the Colli Fiorentini.  The area is is home to some of Tuscany's most pristine scenery.  The town of Poppiano and the historic castle make the short drive from Florence or wherever you are staying in Tuscany, well worth it.

Set high overlooking the cascading hills, that change colour with the season, Poppiano's main road is road is lined with Tuscany's staple Cypress trees, that line the path towards  'Il Castello di Poppiano', that has been owned and lived in by the Gucciardini family for centuries.

For decades, the town of Poppiano and the fantastic castle have gone unnoticed and undiscovered by many visitors to the area  and even during the second World War, this part of Chianti remained relatively untouched.

It was in part because of Poppiano's seclusion and yet relative proximity to Florence that many Florentine masterpieces were taken from the Uffizi and Accademmia galleries and were brought Poppiano to be kept safe from harm's way during the war, where world famous pieces by Donatello, Caravaggio, and Botticcelli  were brought and kept safe in in the upper levels of the castle.

The Gucciardini family has owned the Poppiano Castle for centuries and the family's name has been held in high esteem throughout Tuscany and trusted for centuries.  Florentine officials knew could count on the family and the family's home and the city of Florence has never forgotten its tie with the Gucciardini family or the Castello di Poppiano.

Today, one of Florence's most beautiful roads that runs parallel to the Arno river on the Palazzo Pitti side of the Ponte Vecchio is named after the Gucciardini family.

Poppiano occupies one of the most picturesque settings in Tuscany and is surrounded by over 130 hectares/325 acres of vineyards which produce some of the finest Chianti Colli Fiorentini wines.

Almost all of the land surrounding the town and the castle is owned by the Gucciardini family, who employ most of the town's people to help in the production and maintenance of the property.

There are over 800,000 bottles of wine that are produced in the vineyards surrounding Poppiano, approximately 70% red and 30% white.

 It is indeed unusual for high quality white wines to be produced in Tuscany, but because of the unique geographical position which Poppiano occupies in the Arno river valley where there is  a particular effect on the climate, in addition to innovation and creativity the family has employed in cultivation over the year,  the Poppiano white wines are in  some of the most acclaimed white wines in Tuscany.

These white wines include: Campo Segreto, Sassaia del Virginio and Vernaccia.

The red wines include: Chianti Colli Fiorentini Il Cortile, Chianti Colli Fiorentini Riserva, Syrah, Tosco Forte Sangiovese di Toscana, Tricorno.

The famous Vin Santo (Sacred Wine), a honey-coloured desert wine, that is a favourite amongst locals (often served with delicious biscotti), and is also produced on the Poppiano estate and has a particular, incredibly aromatic flavour due to the fact that it is stored in  Chestnut and Oak barrels in the Grand Tower of the Castle. 

It is nothing short of awe-inspiring to climb the tower of the castle, only to find room upon room filled on each side with  wiith aging barrels of Vin Santo.   Each barrel is brought into the tower manually and left to age for years.  It's an enormous task that the family insists is well worth the effort due to the remarkable flavour of the end product.

Visitors to Poppiano's magnificent castle are invited to climb the "Vin Santo Tower" and check out the remarkable views from the top, which reveal an unprecedented bird's eye view of the Chianti region. While it would be nice to enjoy the surrounding area with a cold glass of Vin Santo in hand however, we urge you to wait until you are back on solid ground. It is a long way up!

Few people who have come to Tuscany have made there way to Poppiano, but as Count Gucciardini has begun to open the doors of the castle that have been guarded for so many years, many art, wine, history and nature lovers are left with an indelible impression that has kept those who know, coming back.

It is possible to book a tour of the castle and to visit the wine cellars, as well as to taste the various wines and olive oils which are produced on the estate.

It is advisable to book in advance as the family is often hard at work.  Write us today to find out what is involved in visiting and to make sure you have an unforgettable experience.

For further information contact us at VisitsItaly Travel: team@italyvacationspecialists.com