It has been said the the winery at Rocca Di Frassinello is like a magic carpet hovering over the vineyard and the beautiful Maremma hillside. When you are standing on the top that is exactly what it feels like…floating on air.
Rocca di Frassinello is a joint venture between an Italian, Castellare di Castellina and a French producer, Domaines Baron de Rothchild- Lafite…the first time this has happened.
The building was designed by Renzo Piano…and it is amazing. Attention was paid to aesthetics and, most importantly, the production process. Renzo believed that the heart of the winery is the space where the wine improves in the barrel, and at Rocca di Frassinello that space takes centre stage.
It is right in the middle of the building, underground, so that the developing has the perfect temperature and humidity.Walking into it is like walking into an auditorium, 40 metres x 40 metres, with the barrels as the audience.
The production area is on the outside of the square. On 2 sides are the steel tanks, each linked by a chute that comes from the courtyard at the top of the building. The grapes arrive at courtyard in crates and are carefully sorted on a bench to remove any foreign bodies and dropped into the chutes and the tanks…what a brilliant idea. It is much more gentle on the grapes, ensuring that they reach the tanks in the best possible condition.
The enormous reception and tasting area has huge windows on all sides so you can see the vines and the beautiful countryside from wherever you are.
Good wine is made in the vineyard before the winery, so great care has been taken with the selection of grape varieties and meticulous care of the vines.
We tried 4 wines. First was the Vermentino, their first white wine, made from 100% Vermentino grapes. It is delicate and fruity…perfect for summer.
Next was Poggio Alla Guardia, a blend of a Merlot 45%, Cabernet Sauvignon 40% and Sangioveto 15% (the Italian content)…a fresh and fruity easy drinking wine.
The third wine was Le Sughere di Frassinello, a blend of Sangioveto 50%, Merlot 25% and Cabernet Sauvignon 25%. It is a wine suitable for ageing, but perfectly drinkable right now. It goes through a long aging process in barriques and in the bottle.
Our final tasting was Rocca di Frassinello, Sangioveto 60%, Merlot 20% and Cabernet Sauvignon 20%. It is an intense, elegant wind with delicate tannins. It achieved a peak right from its first harvest in 2004. It mixes strength, intensity and elegance.
To celebrate the 10th harvest at Rocca Di Frassinello, well known artist and photographer David LaChapelle, designed the Limited Edition labels after falling in love with Rocca di Frassinello. He was inspired to create Rapture of the Grape, a harvest romance…an ode to wine.
We had 2 charming and handsome Italians to show us the winery and help us to taste their wonderful wines…meet Pericle and Tomasso.
Visits to Rocca di Frassinello are welcome. It is located in Giuncarico (Grossetto). Email them at info@castellare.it or call (39) 0577 742903 or take a look at their website www.castellare.it
Our visit was kindly organised by Cala del Porto during our stay there…one of the many services they offer their lucky guests. www.baglionihotels.com/CaladelPort0