Vittorio Frescobaldi

Honorary President, Compagnia De´Frescobaldi

Born in Florence Nov. 30, 1928. Majored in classics with a degree in Agricultural Sciences in 1953.

Prior to his university degree, Vittorio had already been working, together with his father Lamberto, in management of the family agricultural interests and assumed full control on his father’s death.

Beginning in the 1960s, he concentrated on re-structuring the family companies. He modernised and re-organised the agricultural estates, developing specific directions for each enterprise and ensuring to each highly-trained agricultural managers. These efforts led to an ambitious afforestation programme that has made Frescobaldi one of the largest forestry operations.

The most important investments were made in viticulture and oenology. The Frescobaldi estates are located in fact in the most prestigious winegrowing areas, such as Castello di Pomino (Pomino DOC), Castello di Nipozzano (Chianti Rufina DOCG), Castel Giocondo (Brunello di Montalcino DOCG), and Tenuta di Santa Maria (Morellino di Scansano DOC).

The company planted new vineyards, constructed state-of-the-art, efficient cellars, and built up a sales network in Italy and abroad. Further expansion, between the 1960s and 1970s, propelled Frescobaldi into the very top ranks of high-quality Italian wine producers. Beginning with his earliest efforts, Vittorio Frescobaldi has operated on the conviction that quality wines will come only from quality vineyards.

 In 1977 he was named Cavaliere del Lavoro (Knight of Labour).

From 1986 to 1990 he served as Vice President of Confagricoltura.

In 1980, when Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi was converted into a joint-stock company, he assumed the presidency. Following the 1989 acquisition of the Tenuta di Castelgiocondo, in Montalcino (Siena), he was re-elected to that position.

In 1995, he signed a joint venture agreement with Robert Mondavi, President of the Robert Mondavi Winery, which committed both companies to work together to produce ultra-premium Tuscan wines (Luce della Vite).

In 1998, the policy of strategic growth led to the purchase of
two properties in the commune of Magliano, Tuscany’s new winegrowing frontier, the Santa Maria estate, which specialises in the production of Morellino di Scansano, and Poderi della Capitana in 1999.

In 2000, Frescobaldi turned its attention to the Collio area, and assumed majority interest (70%) in Conti Attems, one of the largest producers in Friuli, and Vittorio became President of the joint-stock company.

In 2001, an agreement with the Marchi family brought a new joint venture, the Vigneti di Nugola, with the goal of further developing the potential of the IGT growing area.

In 2002, the joint venture between Luce Della Vite and Robert Mondavi acquired increased scope with the acquisition of the Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, in the Bolgheri area.

From 1995 through December 2003, Vittorio served as President of the Banca C. Steinhauslin & C. S.p.A.

On October 2004, he was nominated President of the Gruppo Toscano of the Cavalieri del Lavoro.

In 2006, Vittorio Frescobaldi sets up Tenute di Toscana, a Frescobaldi Group subholding, which owns 100% of Luce della Vite S.r.l, 100% of Castel Giocondo S.r.l. e 95,85% of Tenuta dell’Ornellaia.

In 2007 he decided to resign as Chairman of the Board of Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi. Though he still remains in the board of director of Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi. He’s Honorary President of the board of “Compagnia dei Frescobaldi Spa”, a holding controlling 100% of Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi Srl.

In April 2008 he has been nominated President of “Comitato Grandi Cru d’Italia”, the association representing the producers who, over the years, consistently proposed wines of top quality, according to the ratings of magazines and wine guides.

Vittorio and his wife Bona Frescobaldi have four children, Fiammetta, Angelica, Lamberto, and Diana.