Tuscany; Greve in Chianti; Castello di Verrazzano: drying wine grapes for dessert wine vin santo and vin santo barrels in the cantina (wine cellar) inside the castle; The history of Castello di Verrazzano started in 1170 with a tower house on a 348 m high hill 1 km outside Greve. The actual castle was built in late 15th and starting 16th century and owned by the noble Florentine Da Verrazzano family; until 1819. Most prominent member of the family was the explorer and navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano (1485 - 1528). In 1524; he discovered the New York Bay during his expedition along the North American East coast. The new owners; the Ridolfi family; became famous in 1936; when the Italian Olympic team prepared here for the Olympic Games in Berlin. Today; the huge castle is owned by the Cappellini family and is a modern wine estate.