Cultivating Toscana Diversity

An Interview with Livia le Divelec, Brand Ambassador and Winemaker, Frescobaldi Toscana

The Piero Sartogo designed cellar at Tenuta Ammiraglia in Magliano, Toscana (left); the aging room at Castello Pomino in Pomino, (above)

use for a particular sort of terroir because, in the end, it is the wine that will be telling the story and sharing the culture of that specifi c piece of land. Given all of the variations in regard to cli- mate and the terroir, are you able to accurately predict how a new release will turn out or are you at every single estate. Each estate has its own still surprised at the end of the process? team of experts and its own cellar where we We have to be able to read the harvest in process grapes. This is part of a long tradition advance because we get totally different cli- but, of course, we are becoming even more matic conditions every single year. What makes contemporary year after year. While it’s impor- the difference is checking your vineyards and Livia le Divelec with a bottle of Alìe wine tant to remain loyal to tradition, we also have your single vines day after day. We actually run to look beyond our current horizons. Alìe is an in between the wires checking our grapes and EDITORS’ NOTE Livia le Divelec has been a wine- example of this philosophy. our production. If we work this way, we can maker for Frescobaldi Toscana since September Does Frescobaldi Toscana distribute its produce quality grapes and quality wine can be 2014 and its Brand Ambassador since January globally or is it customized based on extracted and processed in the cellar. 2017. Previously, she was the wine department the brand? Will you discuss Frescobaldi’s commit- coordinator at University of the Arts. We have a general focus, but also try to ment to the environment and sustainability She holds a degree in viticulture and enology personalize it for the culture that exists in each and how important this is to the company? from the University of Florence. country where we may face different types For us, it’s a state of mind. It’s an ethic of of approaches to wine. With seven estates in production. In the last year, for example, we were COMPANY BRIEF The Frescobaldi family has a Tuscany, our production is substantial. We have introducing ancient techniques, but in a more 700-year-old history of making wine in Tuscany. many wines within our portfolio, although they modern way such as the sowing of essences in Frescobaldi Toscana’s (en.frescobaldi.com) of course do not all have the same importance, the soil. That way we can better control the natu- vision is to be the reference producer of Tuscan but we still try to export from each estate to ral fertility of the soil and porosity. All of these fi ne wines and exclusively dedicated to exalt the markets all over the world. were really ancient agricultural techniques that diversity of its terroirs. Frescobaldi produces wine Is technology impacting the wine-making we reintroduced into our philosophy and our at its seven estates in Tuscany – Tenuta Perano, process or is it still about handcraftsmanship? mentality. We are working to control nature in Castello Nipozzano, Tenuta CastelGiocondo, We are focused on technology. The secret the most natural way possible. Tenuta Castiglioni, Castello Pomino, Tenuta of our production is that we can really mesh our Was wine making something that you Ammiraglia, and Rèmole – and distributes it to traditional methods and our technology knowl- knew at a young age you wanted to do? discerning customers worldwide. edge. For our historical wines, we perhaps con- My father was a wine producer and I am the centrate more on tradition, but there are other youngest in my family and I was the only one Will you highlight the history and heritage wines for which we have to understand the latest who decided to follow in the agricultural aspects. of Frescobaldi Toscana and how the busi- technology and apply it to our production. I fell in love with this when I was a child because ness has evolved? We pay close attention to the vineyards 365 I was curious about what was happening. Every The Frescobaldi family has a long history in days a year and there is a lot of technical knowl- winter the leaves fall off, but what is happening in Tuscany. In the medieval era, they started in the edge being applied there that is making the dif- the tree? What about the leaf? Why in springtime, very center part of Tuscany, in the Appalachian ference in terms of taste. For example, producing when the temperatures are rising up, does life start currently called Montespertoli. They fi rst a red wine is probably easier than producing a again? I was very curious about it. started wine production at Tenuta Castiglioni 700 white wine or a rosé wine where more attention What makes Frescobaldi such a special years ago. Later on, they spread to the Northern must be paid to the details. With red wine, we use company for you? part of Tuscany and then also to Montalcino. the skins which have natural antioxidants. When They are in love with what they do and they They then moved toward the sea with Tenuta we are producing a rosé or a white wine, you are transmit this to everyone around them. This moti- Ammiraglia, where we are producing the Alìe immediately separating out the skins. vates you to do your best. Since it’s an important wine. Finally, last October, we entered the Chianti Therefore, technology is important in the brand and really well-known worldwide, I have Classico area, which is very important. production process, however the human factor the chance to meet different people in the wine We are involved in important work in remains equally as important. As winemakers, we business and better understand the culture of wine Tuscany and one of our focuses is to build value have to evaluate which techniques to use or not to all over the world, which is really interesting.• 90 LEADERS POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2020 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. VOLUME 43, NUMBER 1