Frescobaldi

Marchesi de' Frescobaldi – seven centuries of Tuscany in a bottle

There are wineries that have history, and there are wineries that are history. Marchesi de' Frescobaldi belongs to the latter category. For some 700 years, the family has been cultivating wine in Tuscany – a continuity unparalleled in the European wine world. Today, the company's activities are spread across nine individual estates, and its wines are exported to more than 65 countries worldwide.

A family that helped shape Tuscany

The Frescobaldi family is deeply rooted in Florentine history. In the 13th century, Lamberto Frescobaldi commissioned the first wooden bridge over the Arno, later known as the Ponte Santa Trinita. In the early 14th century, the Frescobaldi family began trading in wine, which soon made them one of the most important trading houses in Europe – with documented supply contracts extending as far as the English royal court.

In the 20th century, it was Vittorio, Ferdinando, and Leonardo Frescobaldi who transformed the company into an international powerhouse and significantly shaped Tuscany's reputation as a world-class wine region. Today, Lamberto Frescobaldi serves as president of the company – he initially took over as vice president in 2007 before assuming leadership from his uncle Leonardo in 2013. Together with his siblings Tiziana and Diana, he represents the 30th generation of the family.

Nine estates, nine terroirs

What sets Frescobaldi apart from many other major Tuscan wineries is its geographical diversity. The estate's nine wineries cover a broad spectrum of the Tuscan wine landscape:

• Castello Pomino in Pomino – cool Apennine slopes, 400 to 750 meters high, already recognized in 1716 by Grand Duke Cosimo III de' Medici as one of the four outstanding wine regions of Tuscany.
• Castello Nipozzano in Chianti Rufina – on a mountainside overlooking the Arno Valley, home of the eponymous Riserva
• Tenuta CastelGiocondo in Montalcino – Brunello Territory in southern Tuscany
• Tenuta Ammiraglia in Magliano in Toscana – directly on the Maremma coast, characterized by sea breezes and long sunny days
• Tenuta Castiglioni in Montespertoli, Tenuta Perano in Gaiole in Chianti, Tenuta Calimaia in Montepulciano, Remole in Sieci and the Gorgona island estate

Each estate is understood as an independent unit. The agronomists and oenologists work with the natural conditions – soil, altitude, microclimate – instead of against them.

Pioneering work: International grape varieties and a historic white wine cru

Frescobaldi has not only preserved tradition in Tuscany but also set standards. As early as 1855, the family's ancestors introduced previously unknown grape varieties – including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Chardonnay has thrived particularly well in the vineyards of Castello di Pomino ever since: in 1878, the estate won a gold medal at the Paris World's Fair.

The Cru Benefizio was created here in 1973 – the first Italian white wine ever to be fermented and aged in barriques. The single vineyard lies at an altitude of 700 meters, facing south, and has predominantly sandy soil. The must is fermented in new and once-used barriques and then aged on the lees using bâtonnage. From the 2005 vintage onwards, the wine carries the designation "Riserva".

Sustainability as a structural principle

Since 2012, all Frescobaldi estates have held the AgriQualità certification of the Tuscany region, awarded for the use of ecologically sustainable farming techniques. Castello Nipozzano and Castello Pomino went even further: they were the first estates in Tuscany to receive the PEFC certificate for sustainable forest management.

Frescobaldi at Vinoscout

The Vinoscout selection includes 15 Frescobaldi wines – from easy-drinking entry-level wines to mature Riservas. Here's an overview of the most popular bottles:

• Alìe Rosé Toscana IGT (€13.80) – an elegant rosé made from Syrah and Vermentino grapes from Tenuta Ammiraglia, produced where the cool sea breeze sharpens the aromas.
• Castello di Pomino Bianco DOC (€14.95) – fresh and precise from the cool highlands of Pomino, with the natural acidity that the Apennine climate brings.
• Nipozzano Riserva Chianti Rufina DOCG (17.80 €) – the classic Riserva from Castello Nipozzano, Sangiovese flavor from Chianti Rufina
• Tenuta Frescobaldi di Castiglioni Chianti (€11.90) and Toscana IGT (€19.90) – two faces of the estate in Montespertoli, one approachable and suitable for everyday use, the other with an international mix of grape varieties.
• Castello di Pomino Benefizio Riserva DOC (€29.95) – the historic Chardonnay cru at 700 meters, fermented in barriques, with depth and aging potential.

Prices in the range range from €6.20 to €49.80, making Frescobaldi suitable for both casual after-work drinks and special occasions.