The Frescobaldi family dates back 30 generations in Italy and owns eight wine estates throughout Tuscany: Castello Nipozzano, Tenuta Perano, Tenuta CastelGiocondco, Tenuta Castiglioni, Castello Pomino, Tenuta Ammiraglia, Tenuta Calimaia and Remole. The crown jewel for its history and grandeur is Castello Nipozzano in DOC Rufina, a small Chianti production zone known for its exceptional wines. Rufina is a 20-minute drive from Florence which is also home to Palazzo Frescobaldi the family’s renaissance-style palace in Borgo Santo Spirito.
We had the pleasure of visiting Castello Nipozzano in June 2025 for a tour and tasting with winemaker, Lorenzo Portaro. We had just finished touring the island of Gorgona, home to a federal penitentiary, where Lamberto Frescobaldi has invested in a viticultural program to teach inmates to tend to the vineyards and make wine. So, it was an interesting transition to travel from an island of incarceration open to media and trade visitors just one day a year, to Nipozzano which attracts 15,000 visitors a year.
Historic records trace the first wines made at Nipozzano to the Renaissance.
Castello Nipozzano once served as a fortress to protect the region around Florence. Historic records trace the first wines made here to the Renaissance. The Frescobaldi family acquired the property the estate in 1855 and planted international varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. At that time, it was unusual to cultivate non-native varieties. The word “nipozzano” means “without a well,” a reference to the area’s dry growing conditions.
Castello Nipozzano served as important fortress to protect the region around Florence.
The Nipozzano estate includes 1,500 acres of mountainous forest, cattle-grazing land, vineyards, olive groves, an olive mill, a winery. In the DOC Chianti Rufina. Nipozzano represents 20 percent wine production in Chianti Rufina which adds up to over one million bottles annually. The estate also produces Laudemio Frescobaldi Extra Virgin Olive Oil which is exceptional. There are accommodation for overnight stays at the Castello and a bistro called Il Quartino on the property overlooking the vineyards. The menu offers different burgers sourced from Nipozzano’s herd of Chianina cattle.
Frescobaldi Winemaker Lorenzo Portaro gave us a tour of the vineyards.
Nipozzano has 280 hectares under vine planted at altitudes ranging between 250 and 400 meters above sea level. Eighty percent of plantings are Sangiovese with the remaining 20 percent international red varieties. The soil in the region are a mix of limestone, clay, sandstone and marl. We started our late morning tour at the Montesodi vineyard located 340 meters. Here, vineyards are planted in schist soils with an expansive south-west exposure. Then we headed a little higher to the Morometo vineyards at 400 meters. Despite the June heat wave hovering over Tuscany, we could feel cooling breezes coming off the Appenine Mountains. These winds contribute to the renowned freshness of Rufina’s wines.
Our next stop was the castle’s ancient underground cellars, where we also visited the Frescobaldi family’s private cellar. Then, we settled in to taste a few wines in one of the Castello’s many dining rooms. Portaro emphasized that his focus is reductive winemaking to help preserve the wine’s freshness and fruit. He also embraces a gentle approach to extraction of tannins and both long lees and barrel aging. “The wines are drinkable now and also have longer aging potential,” he explained.
We tasted three wines:
Nipozzano Riserva Chianti Rufina, 2022 (80% Sangiovese, 20% mixed native and international red varieties). Aged in barrique for 24 months, this wine is lush and silky with notes of fresh raspberries, blackberries, violets and spice with a long finish and soft tannins.
Montesodi Terrelectae Riserva 2022 (100% Sangiovese) “Terrelectae” is Rufina’s category of cru wines which must be made from 100% Sangiovese and aged for a minimum of 30 months. Grapes for this wine are sourced from the Montesodi vineyard. This wine has notes of fresh and dried red berries, orange peel and spice. On the palate it was fresh, silky and elegant with a long persistent finish..
Morometo 2022 IGT Toscana (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot, 15% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Franc) This is Nipozzano’s version of a super Tuscan. A deep ruby wine with an intense, complex bouquet and balanced tannins. The wine delivers notes of red currants, blackberry and cassis with accents of licorice, allspice and pepper with a touch of balsam. The finish is long and persistent. The first vintage of this wine was in 1983.
Tasting Nipozzano wines with winemaker, Lorenzo Portaro
Information:
Frescobaldi – Castello Nipozzano
Vintus is the U.S. Importer for Frescobaldi – Castello Nipozzano