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Frescobaldi made its first foray into the Chianti Classico region with the purchase of Castello di San Donato in Perano for €13.3m.
This historic property, situated between the central Chianti villages of Radda and Gaiole, is nestled within a 617-acre estate with 250 hectares under vine including 52 hectares of south-facing vineyards, in the Gaiole commune of Chianti Classico.
The terroir is notable for its rocky and free-draining soils and its vineyards enjoy a wide range of diurnal temperatures during the growth cycle of the vine.
Frescobaldi has been managing the estate’s vineyards since 2014, but has now taken full ownership of the estate.
“This year we will release the wines of the magnificent 2015 vintage, which has extraordinary complexity and longevity.
“The estate’s flagship wine will be its Gran Selezione: two other Chianti Classico wines will also be produced,” said Lamberto Frescobaldi, president of Frescobaldi.
Frescobaldi also owns Tenuta di Castiglioni in Montespertoli; Nipozzano castle in Chianti Rufina; Castelgiocondo in Montalcino and Tenuta dell’Ammiraglia in Maremma.
The company has expanded its agriturismo facilities at both Nipozzano castle in Chianti Rufina and Castelgiocondo in Montalcino, offering guests the chance to stay at both properties and enjoy cellar tours, and traditional Tuscan dishes paired with Frescobaldi wines.
Last November Frescobaldi opened a restaurant in Florence’s Piazza della Signoria that specialises in classic Tuscan dishes with a modern twist.
Ristorante Frescobaldi Firenze serves the likes of veal cheek pappardelle with rosemary croutons; Sicilian red prawn tartare with avocado; pear and pecorino tortelli with honey and walnuts; and beef fillet with brandy and almonds.
The American artist Eric Wesley is the winner of the 2016 Artisti per Frescobaldi Award.
The announcement took place at the award ceremony held at GAM, Milan’s Gallery of Modern Art in Villa Reale, Milan. The artist from Los Angeles won with his artwork “Not Yet Titled 2016”, which was selected by the award panel composed of Massimiliano Gioni (Artistic Director of the Trussardi Foundation of Milan), Samuel Keller (Director of the Beyeler Foundation of Basel), and Gianfranco Maraniello (Director of the MART in Rovereto).
“If one possible definition of what art is the capacity to “imagine a world while being in the world”, then Wesley is most definitely an artist able to reach such an aspiration competently and romantically. Beginning with the observation of a bottle of wine, he created an object that is highly refined both scientifically and poetically, activating an invisible void to be projected, and to project us, into a shared energetic universe.”
Artisti per Frescobaldi, created and directed by Tiziana Frescobaldi, and curated by Ludovico Pratesi aims to promote contemporary artists from the newest generations. Following the 2012 Italian and 2014 German editions, the 2016 edition is dedicated to the United States and involved the artists Matthew Brannon (USA), Eric Wesley (USA), and Patrizio di Massimo (Italy). Each artist was tasked with creating an artwork inspired by CastelGiocondo, the Frescobaldi family’s historic estate in Montalcino that will be the star of future editions of the Award. The artists interpreted the world of wine and its traditions in different ways: Matthew Brannon worked on the daily consumption of wine, Patrizio di Massimo on its conservation, and Eric Wesley on the relationship between wine, science and technology.
The Award is tied to the Frescobaldi tradition of arts patronage. For over 700 years the family has cultivated relationships with the likes of Donatello, Michelozzo Michelozzi and Filippo Brunelleschi.
Artisti per Frescobaldi represents the family’s commitment to support artists from the newest generations. Tiziana Frescobaldi’s wish is to continue in the family tradition with a project that ties wine to art through contemporary art works.
“I’m happy to celebrate the third edition of the Artisti per Frescobaldi award at GAM, Milan’s Gallery of Modern Art,” says Tiziana Frescobaldi, artistic director of the project. “This year’s award involved two American artists, Matthew Brannon and Eric Wesley, and one Italian, Patrizio di Massimo. I thank them for having accepted to contribute with great passion and important artworks to an Award inspired by a contemporary concept of patronage.”
“This Artisti per Frescobaldi Award has been witness to the creation of greatly impactful and complex pieces as well as a demonstration of truly noteworthy commitment by the artists,” says Ludovico Pratesi, Curator of the Award. “Each artist made use of a different expressive language in relation to the past, present and future. I’m truly satisfied of the results we achieved, and I believe they represent an excellent indication of what’s to come in future editions.”
To further support the Frescobaldi family’s support of the Arts, Artisti per Frescobaldi has offered the museum hosting the exhibit a sponsorship for the creation of the complete catalogue of the GAM’s collection.
During the evening of October 21, the 999 Magnum limited edition of CastelGiocondo Brunello featuring the three labels designed by the artists was presented to the attending guests. Proceeds from the sales of these bottles will be devolved in 2017 to to support three young students selected by an equal number of prestigious art academies.
On September 6, Nipozzano was one of the stops on the tour organized by the Andrea Bocelli Foundation for Celebrity Fight Night, the charity event for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, scheduled from the 4th to the 7thof September, 2014. Over a hundred guests were expected in Florence, among which were celebrities like Reba McEntire, Ronnie Dunn, Cheryl Ladd, and Maksim Chmerkovskiye.
The guests arrived at the Nipozzano castle along the magnificent avenue of cypresses where they were greeted by a glass of Frescobaldi wine. They then strolled to the square in front of the villa where they enjoyed the spectacle of the Volterra flag throwers, who paid tribute to the tradition of this historic wine cellar. After the show, there was a tour of the cellars, which have lost none of their antique charm and owe everything to the vision of an foresighted ancestor of the Frescobaldi family, who in 1855 invested 1,000 silver florins to start growing varieties previously unknown in Tuscany, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
"We are very honored to have been chosen to host one of the highlights of this tour of solidarity to raise funds to fight this terrible disease", said Marchese Lamberto Frescobaldi who welcomed guests with his wife Eleonora. "With the Maestro Bocelli we have a great bond of friendship and mutual esteem: he is very sensitive to social issues; we worked together on a project to make a wine with the inmates of Gorgona and its label bears his signature as well as a quote. It is important”, said Lamberto Frescobaldi, “that the world of business and entertainment collaborate to support causes such as this and that each does his or her part."