Wine Rocca di Frassinello, “Ornello”, Maremma Toscana DOC, 2018

“Ornello” – a rich, voluptuous, enveloping wine that combines a variety of contrasting elements blend of four grape varieties. The taste of wine you can feel good acidity Sandzhoveto, softness, freshness and aroma of Merlot and Syrah, the natural structure of Cabernet Sauvignon. Their union gives birth to a very attractive wine in an elegant style. The name of the wine obtained from the wood used for the manufacture of long sticks, which cowboys urge on the cattle. Cowboys Maremma shown on the label of wine – a symbol of elegance and strength of the Maremma land. Aged for 6-10 months in French oak barrels and in bottles for another six months after bottling, the wine “Ornella” has a good structure with soft tannins that will allow wine stored for 7-10 years.

The winery Rocca di Frassinello is a unique phenomenon in the world of wine. It was designed as a very special company, capable to connect the unconnected. The head of one of the largest wineries in Maremma developed an ambitious project that would help expand the representation of the average consumer about the art of winemaking. Its main aim was to keep the main tradition of wine production, bringing it new technologies, architecture and design functionality, entertainment and even shocking. Indeed, located on top of a low hill, the building brick red color, topped by a tower of rectangular shape, attracts the attention of everyone who passes along the road between Rome and Pisa. It is as if specially emphasizes konrast between the achievements of progress and nature. The author of the project was the Italian architect Renzo Piano, who is known in the world of work such as the airport in Osaka, Japan, Pompidou Centre in the French capital, in the New York City Building New York Times, and in Rome – Parco della Musica.

As a work of contemporary architecture, the building of the winery Rocca di Frassinello different functionality and simplicity. Particular note must be the wine cellar for 2,500 barrels, built in the shape of the Roman arena. The man standing in the center, it seems that he is on the stage surrounded by thousands of spectators. The very “scene” is illuminated by sunlight penetrating through a special window in the ceiling. Another architectural feature of the winery is a huge terrace, which at harvest unload bunch of ripe grapes, and after the initial sorting himself by gravity down into the cellar. From this terrace offers magnificent views of the hills covered with vineyards, fields and hunting grounds, so it is often arranged formal receptions and wine tasting.

Rocca di Frassinello – the first joint Italian-French wine project in which the Italian side is represented by Castellare di Castellina, owned by Paolo Panero and French – Baron Eric de Rothschild, which owns Domains Baron de Rotschild-Lafite in Bordeaux. Vineyards are farms on the highest hill Terminuzzo 15 km from the sea and includes a strip of special climatic conditions, extremely long, dry summer, contributing to the rapid and uniform ripening berries. Soil composition is complex, it is rocky in nature, with a predominance of gravel, clay and limestone. High drainage of the soil allows the grapes to stockpile excess sugar and perfectly enriches its mineral composition.
Half of the area is occupied mainly Sangiovese grape variety, while the remaining 50% are grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Syrah, necessary for the production of red wines. Vineyards are handled manually without the use of chemicals. The use of traditional Tuscan grapes Sangiovese and classic French varieties, as well as the fruitful cooperation oenologists Christian Le Sommer and Alessandro Celli, provide an opportunity to get great wines that reflect the best achievements of the Tuscan and French wine. The first product was released in 2004 and in just a few years, the winery Rocca di Frassinello received recognition from the world’s leading experts.