Readers of the Booker Prize-winning novels of Hilary Mantel may recall that Thomas Cromwell – the man who transformed and modernised the administration of England in the 16th century – acquired his financial skills from the Frescobaldi family of Tuscany. Cromwell entered the service of Francesco Frescobaldi in the early years of that century, developing the aptitudes and networks which helped him to become Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Privy Seal, and Lord Great Chamberlain to Henry VIII.
By the time Cromwell went to work for the Frescobaldis, the family had been a powerful force in Tuscan finance and politics for over three centuries. They had also been in the wine business for over two hundred years. Their archives record wine-for-art swaps with Michelangelo as well as deliveries to Henry VIII, signed for by the monarch himself. Fast forward three hundred years – to the mid-19th century – and the Frescobaldis pioneered modern winemaking techniques and brought the first chardonnay, cabernet and merlot vines into Tuscany. Just over a hundred years after this they entered into the Ornellaia joint venture with Robert Mondavi. Few families can boast a history of over 700 years in the wine business. Even fewer can show that for much of that time they were the innovators and industry leaders.
Today the Frescobaldis own 1200 hectares of vineyard – mainly in Tuscany – including Castello di Pomino – to which the Grand Duke Cosimo de Medici awarded protected status in 1716, more than 200 years before Denominazione di Origine; Castello di Nipozzano, home to Montesodi and their Chianti Rufina; CastelGiocondo, their Montalcino estate and source of their extraordinary Brunello; Tenuta di Castiglioni, southwest of Florence, where their history of winegrowing began, and Tenuta dell‘ Ammiraglia in the Maremma region, source of their delicious Vermentino and their Alie Rose.
