THE GORGONA ISLAND
LOCATION AND STORY
Gorgona is a small island located in front of Livorno, the west coast of Tuscany. It consists of 220 hectares and is considered the smallest of the islands that make up the Tuscan Archipelago. The island houses a penitentiary (prison house) made up of 95 prisoners and its landscape is dominated by a vibrant vegetation that features coves, steep hills and wonderful promontories. These lands have a long history since they were occupied by the Etruscans, subsequently passed into the hands of hermit monks, and finally to the Carthusians in the period of Cosimo I de 'Medici (1560). After that, the island was inhabited by fishermen and peasants until 1870 when it became a criminal residence for prisoners sentenced to long or life sentences.
THE PROJECT
In 2012 the renowned company and wine producer Frescobaldi decided to undertake a collaborative project with the penal colony on the Island of Gorgona. Today we can say that Frescobaldi is writing a new page in the history of wine, which as always proves to be an exclusive product coming from the hands of man- whether they are free or not. In 1999 the agronomists and winemakers of Frescobaldi together with the prisoners planted the first cuttings in the island's soil. The positive impact on the prisoners was seen immediately! Much of the interest was sparked by the experts alongside the prisoners who offered a wide range of teachings regarding viticulture and wine. This skilled work and active learning provided the prisoners with a new sense of belonging and purpose. The Marquis of Frescobaldi, over time, recognized the interest and passion of some prisoners, and by 2016 accumulated a staff of 50 prisoners.
Lamberto Frescobaldi, owner of the company, defines this project "not a work of charity for good, but a collaboration to offer prisoners a second chance.” This program revives an extraordinary island that until recently had been forgotten and abandoned by many.
Some words and interviews of the prisoners present on the internet clearly show how the wine, and the work of man in contact with nature, can ennoble the soul of even those who in the past made mistakes or did not respect the law or society.
Nicola d’Afflitto, a winemaker from Frescobaldi, explains how the nature of the island manages to give unique characteristics to the wine of Gorgona, produced both in white and in red. The exposure, the wind, the sandstone soil, and the little amount of humidity contain some of the secrets of this extraordinary wine. But the only real seal of guarantee is the great potential created by teamwork between the Frescobaldi and the island's penitentiary.
THE WINE TASTING
The company produces approximately 4000 bottles of Gorgona Bianco (100% Vermentino) and between 600 and 1000 bottles of Gorgona Rosso (Sangiovese and Vermentino Nero in assembly). Gorgona Rosso has a more recent history, with the first harvest in 2015 and is a wine with intense characters and great personality.
The Gorgona Bianco is aged in steel and left to rest in French oak barriques. This wine releases aromas of lime peel, kumquat, mandarin, thyme, lemon verbena and faint hints of acacia honey. It is a dry wine, with a lashing acidity, attributable to the salinity conferred by the marine coasts of the island. It has a structured body and its balance is nothing short of perfect. It has a long and pleasant finish. You could describe it as a wine to drink immediately, or to be kept in the cellar for a time limit of 7-10 years. The evolution of this wine could surprise many fans!