Though Italian through and through, Dario Castagno was born in London to Italian parents who were importing fine Italian wine and spirits to England. He returned to Chianti (Tuscany) at age nine, and embarked on a deeply personal exploration of its landscape, legends and lore that is at the heart of his writing. He is a proud member of Siena’s Bruco (Caterpillar) Contrada and an aficionado of the Palio, the city’s legendary horse race. In addition to writing, Castagno produces Rasna Toscano, an organic, handpicked extra virgin olive oil from central Tuscany with the coveted IGP and USDA seals. The author also meets travelers at the medieval hamlet, Borgo Scopeto, and conducts wine tours at Villa Dievole. He also produces a number of HD film presentations, notably “My Chianti” which is based on his second book and in which the author is featured during encounters with Chiantigiani neighbors and friends.

His previous works are 2004’s “Too Much Tuscan Sun”, which received the Benjamin Franklin Award and was subsequently named as a New York Times Bestseller.

(Globe Pequot Press) The same authentic spirit infuses his subsequent books, 2007’s “A Day in Tuscany-More Confessions of a Chianti Tour Guide” (Globe Pequot Press) and “Too Much Tuscan Wine”, self-published in 2009. (www.DarioCastagno.com)