Tenuta di Trinoro is one of Italy's most exciting wineries to open in the last 30 years, quickly establishing itself as a Super Tuscan icon with Merlot and Cabernet blends. The estate was founded by Andrea Franchetti, an eccentric winemaker whose Bordeaux techniques worked beautifully on the blue clay and gravel soils of the Val d'Orcia's deep valleys. Now led by his four children— Baldassara, Cody, Giordano, and Benjamin— Tenuta di Trinoro continues to expand its portfolio each year, crafting new blends from pristine sites across Italy.
Tenuta di Trinoro: "Garagiste" Beginnings
In the mid-1990s, Italian winemaker Andrea Franchetti returned to his home country after years of travelling the world. Often known as a free spirit, Franchetti spent most of his time in New York importing northern Italian wines, acting in small noir films, and writing about his world travels. Around the age of 32, he decided to make a serious career out of wine, purchasing a 100-acre farm in the hills of Val d'Orcia. Many around him warned of the region's impermeable blue clay soils, vast rainfall, and intense heat, which deterred many winemakers. However, Franchetti, ever the innovator, understood the mixture of soils would perfectly enhance Merlot and Cabernet Franc soils and consequently planted original Bordeaux cuttings (including those taken from Vieux Chateau Certan).
Franchetti then crafted Tenuta di Trinoro's wines from his small farmhouse, inspired by the "garagiste" movement led by fellow friends Peter Sisseck of Dominio de Pingus and Jean-Luc Thunevin of Chateau Valandraud. The wines instantly burst onto Europe's main stage, with the low production causing high demand among collectors and effortlessly collecting high scores from top critics.
Tenuta di Trinoro Winery: Terroir and Winemaking
Today, Tenuta di Trinoro owns nearly 100 hectares of land across Tuscany, with its primary vineyard situated in the Val d'Orcia. The vineyard is set in a natural amphitheater protected by the surrounding hills; a warm climate litters the site throughout the year, though the region does experience heavy rainfall in the winter. Blue clay and gravel soils are prevalent throughout, creating the ideal environment for producing intensely concentrated Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
When first planted, Franchetti infused Bordeaux winemaking principles such as high-density planting, heavy pruning, and low yields. Approximately 10,000 vines are planted per acre, making this site one of the most densely planted in all of Val d'Orcia. Furthermore, a Bordeaux philosophy is also applied to the vinification process, which sees plot-by-plot picking, gentle pressing, and micro vinifications in small stainless steel tanks. Next, malolactic fermentation and 6-8 months of aging in 100% French oak is completed. The result is a blend displaying expressive aromas, a super-ripe fruit profile, and fine tannins on the palate.
Tenuta di Trinoro Wine: Super Tuscan Portfolio
Tenuta di Trinoro produces around 800 cases of each vintage, making every label in its portfolio a high-demand wine. Each label is crafted as a Merlot or Cabernet Franc-dominant blend, while a few of the labels contain hints of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.
Tenuta di Trinoro Le Cupole
Trinoro Le Cupole is the estate's second wine, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The label is crafted to be approachable in its youth and is celebrated for its bright fruit notes, velvety mouthfeel, and deep, rich hues.
Tenuta di Trinoro Palazzi
Tenuta di Trinoro Palazzi is the estate's Merlot-dominant blend and is consistently regarded among Italy's greatest Merlots. Only crafted in extremely limited batches, the wine displays dark berry aromas, a medium-bodied mouthfeel, and refined texture. Though the wine was always beloved by wine enthusiasts, Andrea Franchetti stopped producing Palazzi for nearly a decade before deciding to reintroduce the wine in 2009 after being inspired by the excellent Merlot crop that vintage.
Campo di Camagi
Campo di Camagi is Tenuta di Trinoro's 100% Cabernet Franc label, produced from a 1.5-hectare vineyard of broken quartz and limestone. The vines were planted in the early 2000s, though Franchetti did not opt to use these for a unique blend until 2013. Since then, the wine has gained a favorable reputation as a rich and dense offering in the Super Tuscan's portfolio.
