Farewell to Vittorio Frescobaldi, the gentleman of Italian wine

Vittorio Frescobaldi, a leading figure in the Tuscan and Italian wine industry, has passed away at the age of 97. Born in Florence in 1928, after studying agriculture he took over the running of the family business alongside his brothers Ferdinando and Leonardo, opening up opportunities on international markets, particularly in the second half of the 20th century.

Marquis Vittorio Frescobaldi is survived by his wife Bona and his children Fiammetta, Angelica, Lamberto (to whom he had handed over the running of the family business years ago) and Diana. He belonged to the 31st generation of a family whose name has been linked to wine and agriculture since the Middle Ages, and which, over time, became a supplier to the royal court of England, to popes and to noble houses, starting, so to speak, with the Medici of Florence.

It was under his leadership that Marchesi Frescobaldi achieved a significant part of its business growth, thanks above all to its strong focus on foreign markets. These were decisive years for Italian wine in general, which saw a substantial increase in its commitment to quality and the introduction of managerial practices into the wineries.

It is, moreover, thanks to these steps and the growth in exports that Italian wine has evolved from being a product intended for domestic consumption into one with great appeal abroad and a true ambassador for ‘Made in Italy’. Vittorio Frescobaldi played a leading role in all these stages.

Another sign of its strong international outlook was the joint venture, launched in 1995, with the American producer Robert Mondavi. That partnership gave rise to two of the most famous Italian wine labels: Tenuta Luce in Montalcino and Ornellaia in Bolgheri.