Rocca di Frassinello, quando il genio umano incontra Madre Natura

Visit Rocca di Frassinello, where Mother Nature's art blends with the genius of architect Renzo Piano. A painting within a painting, discovering stories, inspiration, love, and beauty. TuscanyPeople takes you inside Rocca di Frassinello, to the heart of the temple that, like few other wineries in the world, celebrates the nectar of the gods..

Rocca di Frassinello: When Genius Meets Mother Nature

THEto Frassinello Fortress It is located on the highest hill in front of Giuncarico: here, from the tower overlooking the valley of rows, looking beyond Grosseto Marina, the sea can be seen like a silver table set between sky and earth. Mother Nature draws from a chromatic palette of greens and blues, brushing here and there, intertwining tones, shades and shapes.

At the centre of the painting, the ingenuity and creativity of thehuman artThe cellar's orange color, almost like the pulp of an apricot, becomes the beating heart of everything. And everything revolves around: from the row to the barrique to the glass.

Rocca di Frassinello, a winery of art and wine

In short, Rocca di Frassinello isn't just any winery. It's not like that at all. Among others, the artist fell in love with it. David LaChapelle: after walking among the vineyards of Rocca di Frassinello, back in his studio in Los Angeles LaChapelle drew Rapture of the Grape, the work from which the limited edition of Rocca di Frassinello bottles is based to celebrate the company's first 10 harvests.

“I absolutely have to express in an image the respect for wine and its history, the aesthetics, the humility and the search for perfection, the same as making art, that I felt among the people working in the vineyard and then in the cellar designed by Renzo Piano” (David LaChapelle)

Whether you are or not, gods wine lovers or expert winemakers, it doesn't matter. In fact, not being one is one more reason to visit Frassinello Fortress, living, understanding—I dare say feeling—the culture of wine. But we'll get to that in a few lines, once we're inside the barrel room.

Before entering, a presentation of the Rocca is in order, beyond the impressionistic canvas that first appears. The area – "blessed by the Lord" they say at the Rocca – is made up of approximately 90 hectares of vineyards on a medium-long term program of 125: this took two years to unite five farms which today together constitute a property of 500 hectares.

👉 Read also: 10 Trattorias in Maremma You Can't Say No To

The history of Rocca di Frassinello

Rocca di Frassinello, inaugurated in 2007, was born from a simple and at the same time ambitious idea, that is to replicate the model of excellence of Castellare of Castellina in Chianti Classico in a new territory: Gavorrano and the Maremma, between Bolgheri and Scansano. In these places a geological foot with the same characteristics as the land of the Chianti Classico and of Montalcino, but with a substantial difference: 4, 5 but also 6 degrees of highest average temperature throughout the year and a very strong temperature range between day and night.

The first, and to date only, project of was born in Gavorrano joint venture Italian-French for the production of wine: Castellare together with Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), the most famous wine brand in France. The agreement has combined the experience of Castellare in the cultivation and winemaking of the main Tuscan grape variety, the Sangioveto, and that of Chateau Lafite on French grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz.

The cellar

We arrive at the cellar, for which one of the greatest architects in the world was chosen: Renzo Piano. And for the Ligurian architect it was a first timeIn fact, Piano had never attempted to design a building to produce, elevate and allow wine to be tasted.

“There vineyard It is a cultivation of great wisdom. With its rows it designs the land, delineates the landscape, better than any other plant. I always need understand the environment before realizing a project and looking at it from above, like birds” (Renzo Piano)

The result is a building with elegant shapes, harmonious and essential, with an innovative and suggestive element: the barrel cellar at the heart of the company.

“One of the most beautifully designed wineries around the globe” (Architectural Digest)

The doors open onto a large square living room – 40 meters by 40 – without any supporting columns: a wine amphitheater With 2,500 barriques, a classically inspired tribute to the nectar of the gods. Or a church, as Piano described it:

“Like entering a church. In the center a ray of light, but in the dim light 2500 barrels” (Renzo Piano)

Piano has thus revolutionised the typical concept of cellar spaces by placing the barrel cellar in the center, underground, to naturally maintain stable humidity and temperature. Around, all the other functions of the production cycle: on two sides are distributed the steel vats, above each of which, through a manhole accessible from the roof above (the churchyard, he calls it Piano), in the period of grape harvest the grapes fall by gravity.

Tasting at the Rocca

From this temple of wine, the visit to the cellar continues upstairs, in the pavilion: it's time to delight your palate with a selection of 5 wines.

VermentinoThe grape variety shows its best. With citrusy aromatic notes, it has a balanced flavor, well-supported by the acidity and minerality that make it savory and persistent.

Poggio alle Vigne: Strong personality, spicy and easy to drink.

Merlot (40%), Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Sangioveto (15%), Syrah (5%)
Vinification: in steel – Aging: cement

OrnelloNamed after the long, pointed stick used by cowboys to lead their cattle, Ornello has a full, rich flavor. On the nose, it presents balsamic and roasted coffee notes, while on the palate it offers notes of undergrowth and very soft, velvety tannins.

Sangioveto (40%), Syrah (20%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), Merlot (20%)
Vinification: in steel – Aging: in barriques for 10 months.

The Cork Oaks of FrassinelloHere the Sangioveto and the international vines, Cabernet and Merlot, blend to create an ideal Italian-French wine.

Sangioveto (50%), Merlot (25%), Cabernet Sauvignon (25%) Vinification: in steel – Aging: in barrique for 12 months.

Frassinello Fortress: First Bordeaux classification, the ultimate expression of the Italian-French project. A wine that successfully combines strength, intensity, and elegance, with soft tannins that round out the palate.

Sangioveto (50%), Merlot (25%), Cabernet Sauvignon (25%) Vinification: in steel – Aging: in barrique for 18 months.

The terrace of Rocca di Frassinello

From the room you then have access to the terrace, or to use the words of his architectural father, to churchyard of Rocca di Frassinello: it is an open-air square of over 5,000 sq m. In the middle of the square, a vertical element: it is the light-catching tower, a parallelepiped that allows you to control the temperature, humidity and other meteorological inclement weather and, like a lighthouse, indicates the presence of the cellar from afar.

«On this hill we have created ahuge terrace Imagine it as a village square: you walk, you talk, and all around you is this scenery of rolling hills. The grapes arrive on the terrace and are then dropped into the cellar, built downwards. The magic comes from the barriquerie, in the belly of the earth, in the shadows, with 2,500 barrels that look at you like big eyes». (Renzo Piano)

📍FOR MORE INFORMATION:

👉 Fattoria La Massa: From Bordeaux to Chianti on a Ferrari of Wine

👉 Renzo Piano and the Ise Shrine: Staying Young Through Young People

👉 Why live in Tuscany? 10 things to think about.

👉 Journey through the evocative cities and fascinating medieval villages of the Metalliferous Hills

Is Tuscany your passion? It's ours too!

Let's keep in touch