The history of the Frescobaldi family is closely linked to the history of Tuscany. This is a prominent Florentine noble family involved in the political, sociological, and economic history of Tuscany since the Middle Ages. The family began winemaking in 1308, and in exchange for paintings traded their wine with Michelangelo. They also supplied Henry VIII with wine and have contracts in their archives signed by him! Frescobaldi pioneered modern wine production techniques and in 1855 introduced Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Merlot vines to Tuscany, which were at the time unknown varieties to the region. In the 20th century, brothers Vittorio, Ferdinando and Leonardo Frescobaldi raised Tuscany to a place of greatness for viticulture. Creativity and the pursuit of excellence are the soul of Frescobaldi; their great wines are born from terroirs of excellence and from a passion that has been handed down from father to son for generations. Today, the present Marchesi, Lamberto Frescobaldi, is the President of the business, carrying on the legacy with the aim to further strengthen the uniqueness of the Frescobaldi wines from each family estate. They own nine estates in Tuscany on some of the best vineyard sites in the region: Castello di Nipozzano in Chianti Rufina, Tenuta Castel Giocondo in Montalcino, Tenuta Castiglioni in Chianti Colli Fiorentini (which has some of the oldest Merlot vines in Tuscany), Remolè and Tenuta Perano in Chianti Classico, Castel di Pomino in Pomino, Tenuta Ammiraglia in Maremma, and Gorgona. Now this is a very special project indeed: a collaboration between Frescobaldi and the Penal Institute on the island of Gorgona (off the west coast of Italy in front of Livorno), where Frescobaldi's agronomists and oenologists have worked with the inmates since 2011 to produce unique wines. In 2012 Frescobaldi's estates received AgriQualità certification (awarded for the use of ecologically sustainable farming techniques compatible with the protection of the natural environment). Frescobaldi are renowned for their exceptional wines and, when you choose Frescobaldi, you are selecting from one of Italy's most celebrated wine dynasties – 700 years and 30 generations of history!