Castello La Leccia
Tuscany, Italy
Written historical sources mention Castello La Leccia as early as 1077, when the nobleman Rodolfo di Guinzo acquired part of the castle. Considering the strategic importance of its position, the rights of the castle were divided between 16 different owners. Around the mid-1400s, the castle, as well as most of the Chianti area, was annexed to the dominion of the Ricasoli family. News of raids and devastation, but also a deep passion for the ancient practice of wine-growing, can be noted in the sorrowful letters written by Andrea Ricasoli in 1529 during the bloody conflict between Siena and Florence: “...perhaps fifty Sienese came to my dwelling in Chianti called la Leccia where…..they burnt all that was in the place….and 200 barrels of wine in the cellars were all spilled….” During the XVIII Century, the Castle, in whose hamlet around 70 people resided, began to take on the appearance of a villa due to the modification of part of the structure. In 1920, the entire property was bought by the Daddi Family, and in the course of the Second World War, in July 1944, the hamlet, occupied at the time by German troops, was heavily bombed and ultimately part of the tower, the last testament to its medieval structure, was partially destroyed as well as a wing of the 1700’s villa. In 2018, the baton was passed to the Swiss Sonderegger family who, with the same passion and commitment of former times, now manages Castello la Leccia, with the help of GM Guido Orzalesi. Thanks to the dedication and attention with which our team performs their duties on a daily basis, the values of respect for the environment and nature have been renewed.
