When picking your favourite wine, why not go right back to the fundamental roots of the grape, which, in the eyes of many, grow in the heart of Tuscany. And when it comes to Toscana wine, one cannot ignore the noble name of Frescobaldi…
The history of the Frescobaldi family started over a thousand years ago and is inextricably linked with the history of Tuscany itself. The Frescobaldis are a prominent Florentine family that have been involved in the political, sociological, and economic history of Tuscany since the Middle Ages.
At the high point of medieval Florence, the Frescobaldis spread their influence as bankers, earning the title of treasurers to the English crown. A little later, with the flowering of the Renaissance, they became patrons of major works in Florence, such as the construction of the Santa Trinita Bridge and the Basilica of Santo Spirito.
The family began producing Tuscan wine in 1308 and soon developed a notable client base. In exchange for paintings, the Frescobaldis traded their wine with the Italian Renaissance painter Michelangelo. The family also supplied wine to king Henry VIII; there are surviving contracts in the family archives signed by the king himself.
With all this rich history and know-how, the Frescobaldi name carries an ongoing responsibility towards cultivating the best of Tuscan diversity through its sustainable cultivation of the land to produce fine wines, which perfectly represent the diversity of all the family estates.
Being one of the most influential wine brands that the Italian wine scene can offer, the family has estates all over the Tuscan region, from the medieval castle at Nipozzano Estate in the Chianti area to a contemporary building located at Ammiraglia Estate in the South of Tuscany.
Frescobaldi has also been involved with a number of social and cultural projects that always relate back to the winery. One of the most interesting projects with a high social impact has been the famous Gorgona Project.
Not far from the Tuscan coast lies a small island called Gorgona. Currently the island is used by the Italian Government as a prison. The Frescobaldi family recognized the unique climate and fertile soil of the island and saw an opportunity that could also benefit the prisoners, giving them skills, knowledge and a fresh new way to restart themselves. The family convinced the Government to allow the project to flourish: the making of wine in Gorgona, produced entirely by the residents of the island, the detainees.
Here’s a winemaking institution filled with a rich history and many noble causes. Never pass up an opportunity to experience any one of the family’s wines: Nipozzano, Pomino, Castiglioni, Castelgiocondo, Ammiraglia, Remole and Gorgona.
For more information, visit en.frescobaldi.com
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