Rocca di Frassinello
A journey into the heart of Maremma
Reading Time: 4 mins
Rocca di Frassinello is the Maremma winery where a cellar designed by Renzo Piano, 2,500 barrels resting underground and a friendship between Tuscan and French winemaking meet. This is the story of my visit, with a vertical tasting for the estate’s 20th anniversary.
Rocca di Frassinello was born with its first vintage in 2004, from a bold vision shared by two friends: Paolo Panerai, italian publisher and ,owner of Castellare di Castellina, and Baron Eric de Rothschild, of the prestigious Château Lafite Rothschild.
Their goal was to create a world-class winery that would unite the traditions of Tuscan and French winemaking. And to bring that dream to life, they enlisted the help of Renzo Piano, one of Italy’s most renowned architects.
Piano’s design for the winery is nothing short of visionary. The building stands proudly on top of a hill, its striking red walls blending seamlessly with the rolling landscape. But it’s what lies inside that truly sets it apart—a vast underground cellar, designed as an inverted pyramid, where 2,500 barrels rest like worshippers in a temple. Piano design ensures that gravity itself moves the grapes from the open-air sagrato (churchyard) into the fermentation vats below, preserving the integrity of the wine.
Rocca di Frassinello is a fusion of artistry, winemaking, and history. The estate even houses an archaeological museum, displaying artifacts from the nearby Etruscan necropolis of San Germano, reminding us that winemaking on these hills goes back nearly 3,000 years.
A visit I will not forget
Now, back to my visit. I was fortunate to attend the winery’s 20th-anniversary celebration, where I participated in a vertical tasting of their finest vintages. Guided by the incredibly knowledgeable Master of Wine Gabriele Gorelli, we tasted wines from 2004 all the way to the celebratory 2020 vintage. Each wine spoke to the history and evolution of the estate, but one vintage in particular stole my heart—the Rocca di Frassinello 2020 Maremma Toscana IGT.
Visits like this one are the heart of my winery tours in Tuscany: if you would like to discover estates where architecture, history and wine meet, tell me what you would like to explore.
The 2020 vintage stands out not just for its quality, but for the climatic conditions that shaped it. Despite a hot summer, the weather allowed for a perfect ripening of the grapes. The significant temperature shifts between day and night helped concentrate the aromas and polyphenols, resulting in a wine of remarkable balance .
This wine is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. It shows a deep ruby color with garnet reflections. On the nose, it offers a rich bouquet of ripe red fruits, such as cherries and plums, accented by hints of spices and a subtle earthiness.
On the palate, it is full-bodied with velvety tannins, yet it maintains an impressive freshness and balance. The finish is long and persistent, with flavors of dark berries, spices, and a hint of minerality. This wine beautifully combines the strength of the Maremma terroir with the elegance typically found in Bordeaux blends.
Wines like this 2020 vintage are the kind of bottles I choose for the Toscana Wine Club.
In my Toscana Wine Club selections, you will find only wines that I personally guarantee for their exceptional quality and unique character. These are not just any wines, but bottles that tell the story of the land, the people, and the passion behind them.
Every wine in the club has been carefully chosen because it offers something special—whether it’s the expression of a particular terroir, the craftsmanship of a renowned winemaker, or simply a flavor that you won’t easily forget. I wholeheartedly recommend these wines to all wine lovers, knowing they are worth savoring with every sip.
Would you like to walk into cellars like this one with me, or receive bottles like this at home? Take a look at my winery tours in Tuscany and at the Toscana Wine Club memberships, and tell me where to start.
By Claudia Callegari, DipWSET Level 4 Certified sommelier. I lead private wine tastings at Tuscan villas, visits to small wineries and the Toscana Wine Club.
Reviewed and updated on October 20, 2026.