The establishment of the Badia di Passignano vineyards is unclear. Originally part of an ancient monastery, it would appear that the earliest plantings date back to the fifth century. In 1049 Badia passed into the Vallombrosano order, a reformed branch of the Benedictines specialising in winegrowing and forestry. Over time, the order became so powerful that it owned a quarter of Tuscany. Between 1196 and 1255 the Abbey was attacked, burned and razed to the ground by the Florentines. In 1266 reconstruction began under Ruggero Buonedelmonti and further additions were made in the 15th century when Ghirlandaio decorated the monks refectory with one of his three depictions of the Last Supper.