Frascole

Frascole sits in the hills overlooking Dicomano in the Chianti Rufina sub-zone, on land with Etruscan and Roman viticultural roots. The Lippi and Santoni families have farmed the estate since 1992, dedicating themselves to wine and olive oil production with a strong environmental philosophy from the outset. Organic certification followed in 1999 for both wine and oil, placing Frascole among the early adopters of organic farming in the Chianti Rufina sub-zone. The estate has been passed down through the family with continuity of philosophy and stewardship.

• Located in the hills above Dicomano in the Chianti Rufina sub-zone
• Lippi and Santoni families have farmed the estate since 1992
• Wines and olive oil certified organic since 1999
• Etruscan and Roman viticultural roots on the estate's ancient hillside terrain

The estate covers approximately 100 hectares, including 15 hectares of vineyards and 9 hectares of olive groves, with the balance in woodland and pasture. Vineyards sit between 350 and 500 meters above sea level, among the highest plantings in the Chianti Rufina sub-zone, which gives the wines a notable cool-climate character within Tuscany. The vineyards face south and southwest at approximately 400 meters average elevation. Soils combine macigno sandstone (the Rufina sub-zone's signature substrate) with clay and limestone fragments, providing well-draining yet structured ground for Sangiovese expression.

• 100-hectare property: 15 hectares of vineyard, 9 hectares of olive trees
• Vineyards at 350 to 500 meters elevation, among the highest in Chianti Rufina
• Vineyards face south and southwest at approximately 400 meters average elevation
• Macigno sandstone soils characteristic of the Rufina sub-zone, with clay and limestone fragments

Sangiovese dominates the estate plantings, complemented by Colorino and Canaiolo for traditional Rufina blends. The Chianti Rufina DOCG bottling is approximately 90% Sangiovese, 5% Colorino, and 5% Canaiolo, selected from south and southwest-facing vineyards at 400 meters. The Chianti Rufina Riserva uses more concentrated Sangiovese with extended aging. Winemaking emphasizes minimal intervention, indigenous yeasts, and longer maturation in larger-format Slavonian oak, preserving Sangiovese's bright acidity and aromatic precision that the high elevation supports.

• Sangiovese-dominant plantings; Colorino and Canaiolo for traditional blending
• Chianti Rufina DOCG: approximately 90% Sangiovese, 5% Colorino, 5% Canaiolo
• Fruit selected from south and southwest-facing vineyards at 400 meters average
• Minimal-intervention winemaking with indigenous yeasts and larger-format Slavonian oak aging

Chianti Rufina DOCG is the estate's main wine, expressing the high-elevation, organic Rufina character with bright cherry, dried herbs, and notable freshness. Chianti Rufina Riserva offers a deeper, longer-aged version from more concentrated Sangiovese parcels. The estate also produces a Toscana IGT bottling and a Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina alongside extra-virgin olive oil. Allocations are modest given the small 15-hectare vineyard surface, with strong international distribution among organic-focused importers.

• Chianti Rufina DOCG: main wine; expresses high-elevation, organic Rufina character
• Chianti Rufina Riserva: deeper, longer-aged version from concentrated Sangiovese parcels
• Toscana IGT bottling and Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina round out the wine range
• Olive oil from 9 hectares of organic groves alongside the wine portfolio

Frascole represents the small-scale, high-elevation, organic Chianti Rufina estate model: family ownership across multiple generations, early organic certification, traditional winemaking, and a focused portfolio centered on the Chianti Rufina sub-zone's distinctive character. The estate's 400-meter elevation positions it among the highest vineyards in the sub-zone, giving wines greater freshness and aromatic lift than the lower-elevation Rufina valleys. Frascole's longstanding organic commitment and minimal-intervention approach align with the broader return-to-tradition movement in Tuscan winemaking.

• Small-scale, family-owned organic Chianti Rufina estate model
• Among the highest-elevation vineyards in the Chianti Rufina sub-zone (350 to 500 meters)
• Early organic certification (1999) places Frascole among Rufina pioneers
• Minimal-intervention winemaking aligns with broader return-to-tradition movement