The Wineries

Castello di Nipozzano

The Castello di Nipozzano, built in year 1000 as a defensive fortress, became the centre of communal life for the village of the same name. Today the castle houses the wine cellar, where the estate red wines are produced and cask-aged. Nipozzano also serves as Frescobaldi’s hospitality centre for its fine food and wine initiatives. The estate lies in the heart of the Chianti Rufina area, covering 626 hectares at elevations between 250 and 400 metres. 240 hectares are planted with Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The soil, rich in clay and limestone, and its dry, well-ventilated weather compose the ideal terroir for the production of wines that are elegant and well balanced, full bodied, with firm structures to last them over many years. Those qualities are amply demonstrated by Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva DOCG and by the Montesodi and Mormoreto crus.

		Castelli del Grevepesa
		Major producer of Chianti Classico "Gallo Nero", Castelli del Grevepesa is located south of Florence in the Chianti Classico area in the commune of San Casciano Val di Pesa. Castelli del Grevepesa is a strictly run co-operative of over 180 growers. It was established in 1965 and today has 200 associate farms using the latest techniques to produce a wide range of Chianti Classico including the most popular brand in Florence "Castelgreve." It has 1,000 hectares of specialized vineyards, 650 of which have been judged suitable for the production of Chianti Classico DOCG. The winery owns 321 fermentation tanks in vitrified concrete for a total of 92,025 hl, complete with 17 stainless steel tanks with a total of 3,689 hl. The cellar has a total capacity of 110,700 hectolitres. The bottling line is semi-automatic and was completely replaced in 1990.

		Antinori
	The Antinori family has been in the wine business since Giovanni di Piero Antinori joined the Florentine Guild of Vintners in 1385 – more than 26 generations ago. Throughout the family’s long history it has remained family owned and operated, and today, the 617-year old company is directed by Marchese Piero Antinori. All three of Piero’s daughters, Albiera, Allegra and Alessia are involved in the day-to-day operations of the family business. Antinori own a large number of estates throughout Tuscany. Tenuta Tignanello is the jewel in the crown, the estate comprising two vineyards, the 47 ha Tignanello and alongside the 10 ha Solaia. These are vineyards of marl, with areas of shale and chalk, at an altitude of 350 to 450 m. This is the source of the two Super-Tuscans which have been focal points in the Tuscan revolution that has occurred over the latter 20th Century; Tignanello (20% Cabernet, 80% Sangiovese) and Solaia (a mirror image 80% Cabernet and 20% Sangiovese). Another Tuscan estate owned by Antinori is the Badia a Passignano, which encircles a beautiful ancient abbey still owned by the Vallombrosian monks.

		CastelGiocondo Estate
		Erected in 1100, to defend the road between the port of Talamone and the town of Siena, the castle was acquired by the Frescobaldi in 1989. The Frescobaldi CastelGiocondo Estate is situated on the seaside deposit of Montalcino at an altitude of 250 to 450m and at sea level, it extends some 807 hectares, of which 202 cultivate the vines, with 152 hectares devoted to the production of Brunello di Montalcino. The terrain of the vineyards is diverse and well adjusted to the various altitudes. The climate is dry and windy, ideal conditions for the production of the 4 wines: Frescobaldi CastelGiocondo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, Frescobaldi CastelGiocondo Brunello di Montalcino, Frescobaldi Campo ai Sassi Rosso di Montalcino and Frescobaldi Lamaione.
		Banfi

	Castello Banfi, a family-owned vineyard estate and winery in the Brunello region of Tuscany, is a rarity among Italian wine estates, not just because of its size (some 7,100 acres, of which around 2,400 are planted with vines), its composition of single vineyards, or its state-of-the-art winery, but because it was started from scratch less than 20 years ago. John and Harry Mariani, successful American importers, joined forces with Italy's leading enologist, Ezio Rivella intending to produce top-quality wine on a scale never before attempted in Italy. The first step was to find suitable land. Most of the land was covered with forest and brush when the Mariani family found it; nevertheless, they recognized that the site was exactly what they had been searching for. The 4,500 acres that they first found were near Montalcino, and eligible for the DOCG of Brunello di Montalcino, one of the most prestigious of all Italian wines. The adjacent estate, of 2,600 acres, became available shortly afterwards. When the 11th century castle was acquired in 1984, the estate was renamed Castello Banfi. The land was planted to vines in only a few places; elsewhere the only crops were corn and olives. But there are abundant south-facing slopes overlooking a valley bottom that, 40 million years ago, was under the sea. Even today, the calcium-rich soil is scattered with seashells. To the south of the estate is the massive Monte Amiata, at 5,700 feet the highest mountain in southern Tuscany. The shelter this offers from storms moving in from the south means that the Montalcino hills are the driest in Tuscany.
		Lungarotti

		Umbria's premier winery, the Lungarotti Winery looms large in this small and beautiful region bordering Tuscany. Umbrian wines are now widely recognized for their high quality, but Lungarotti is credited with earning the region its initial fame, thanks to its pioneering wines and insatiable drive to promote Umbrian wine and culture. Although wine has been made in Umbria for untold centuries, it was under the hand of the late Giorigio Lungarotti and his earthy Sangiovese blends that Umbrian wines reached a worldwide audience. Lungarotti is also the area's dominant winemaker, with more than 300 acres of vineyard owned or directly controlled by the company. The company limits its wine production to just a few labels, including the company's strongest seller, Rubesco DOC. Other labels in the Lungarotti stable include Aurente, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Giubilante, Grappa di Rubesco, Pinot Grigio, Rubesco Riserva Vigna Monticchio DOCG, San Giorgio, Torre di Giano, and Vino Santo. In addition to its core winemaking operations, Lungarotti produces olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The company also has developed a number of tourism initiatives, including the four-star Le Tre Vaselle; the Lungarotti Wine Museum, considered by many as one of the best in the world; the Olive and Olive Oil Museum; and La Spolla, a gift shop featuring traditional handcrafts. Cantine Giorgio Lungarotti is led by the founder's daughter, Chiara Lungarotti, who serves as company CEO. Stepdaughter Teresa Severini, who became the first female Italian oenologist in 1978, serves as the company's winemaker. Their mother, Maria Grazia, is curator of the museums.
		Castello di Magione

	Magione, an Umbrian town some 10 km. east of Lake Trasimeno, is the site of a medieval castle, owned by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and originally used as a hostel for pilgrims to the Holy Land. Castello di Magione grows Grechetto at a single vineyard called Monterone. Grechetto is the first of a series of mono-varietals and blends that will reach the market over the next few years. It is a relative of the antique plants which supplied the Greeks and Romans with grapes, hence its name. This white wine whose flavours are more marked than most vinifera types, is made in the modern style but displays clear exotic elements in its aroma and muscular texture. Placed in the restored ancient rooms of the castle, the cellar is a beautiful example of tradition and innovation with the big thermo-conditioned stainless steel basins surrounded by the medieval walls and the vaults dating back to the XV century. Magione Castle farm covers an area of 1325 hectares. The vineyards are placed in the DOC district of "Trasimeno hills," with an area of 30 hectares. Two thirds of the vineyards are dedicated to red grapes (Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Gamay, Sangiovese, and Pinot black) and the white ones are mostly represented by the local Grechetto.
		Carpineto Grandi Vini di Toscana

		Founded in 1967, Carpineto is a partnership between Giovanni C. Sacchet and Antonio M. Zaccheo, whose original mission was to produce a world-class red wine from the Chianti Classico appellation. By applying modern viticulture and winemaking techniques, they dramatically exceeded the quality standards of the day. Under their leadership, Carpineto developed an award winning, international reputation for elegant wines of approachable intensity and extract, as well as consistency vintage after vintage. Today experimentation goes hand in hand with the spirit of innovation of the founders, with respect for historical Tuscan values. The product line includes wines from the most prestigious Tuscan DOCG appellations to varietal specific wines of great structure, as well as innovative proprietary blends. About 95% of Carpineto’s wine production is red wine, with the majority being wines that are aged three or more years before their release date. Company Carpineto has four properties: Greve in Chianti (fraction Dudda - Chianti Classico), Gaville, Chianciano Montepulciano (Vino Nobile area) and Gavorrano. Greve in Chianti, located at 300 meters above sea level, is the original home of the Company, known for centuries under the name of Carpineto.