Leading Tuscan producer continues to invest in Gorgona project and expands program to support newly released inmates
New York, July 13, 2015 – Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi, the legendary 700-year old Tuscan winemaking company, announces the release of Gorgona 2014, the third vintage of the Vermentino and Ansonica blend produced by prisoners on the penitentiary island. Following partnerships with Enoteca Pinchiorri and world-famous tenor Andrea Bocelli for the first two vintages, this year’s project sees the involvement of Cescot, an agency that focuses on professional development in the hospitality sector in Italy. The goal of the partnership is to provide a full scholarship in professional food studies and secure a related paid internship for an inmate who has demonstrated a pronounced passion for the industry through his work with the Gorgona project.
Father of the project and President of Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi, Lamberto Frescobaldi is extremely committed to the success of the program and is passionate about the importance of job-training for convicted persons. He visits with the prisoners regularly, and has often mentioned that he would be willing to hire some of the workers once they are released. Frescobaldi comments on the progression of the Gorgona project: “I’m very happy to see how the Gorgona project is growing from year to year. Our family is very proud of what we’re achieving: providing practical training for the inmates on the island that will lead to employment opportunities after incarceration. Thanks again to our team of winemakers and agronomists, and our partner for this year, Cescot.”
Fundamentally, the Gorgona project believes in professional education as a way to rehabilitate convicted persons and lead them towards better societal integration after prison. The project understands the challenges that ex-convicts face after incarceration, and the importance of providing them with useful skills for reentering the work force after serving their sentence. The expanded Gorgona project is now helping released inmates gain employment by supporting programs that help ex-convicts find work using their newly acquired winemaking skills.
As a result of the Gorgona winemaking project, the prison island is currently a model of excellence for the justice system in Italy, boasting the lowest rate of repeat offenders compared to any other penitentiary in the country. Frescobaldi has been a firm believer in this project since August 2012, and this past February expanded the vineyard by an additional hectare. Since the start of the program three years ago, Frescobaldi has invested over $130,000 between education and materials, proving the commitment of the company and the family to the Gorgona project.
Cinzia Caraviello, Director of Cescot in Florence, discusses the agency’s involvement with Gorgona: “We thank Lamberto Frescobaldi for giving us the opportunity to take part in this fantastic project. Our organization has always been conscious of social causes and we’re honored to take part in this project.” Cescot is an important addition to the Gorgona project and will help create a more sustainable, successful program.
There are 3,000 bottles of the 2014 vintage of Gorgona, and about one third will be available on the wine lists of the top on-premise accounts in the United States. Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi is represented in the U.S. by Folio Fine Wine Partners, based in Napa, CA.
About Marchesi de Frescobaldi – www.frescobaldi.it
Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi, the leading wine producer of Tuscany and one of the most historic and respected wine companies in the world, combines centuries of tradition with progressive winemaking techniques and practices. Founded in the 14th century and a supplier of wines to the royal courts of Europe for generations, Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi is still a family-owned company today. Comprised of nine distinct estates totaling approximately 1,100 hectares, Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi produces wines utilizing only the grapes grown in its own vineyards. The company continually upgrades and modernizes its grape growing and winemaking operations, maintaining a relentless focus on producing unique wines that express the individuality of each unique terroir from which they are produced.
About Folio Fine Wine Partners – www.foliowine.com
Folio Fine Wine Partners was founded in 2004 by Michael Mondavi and his wife, Isabel, with their children, Dina and Rob Jr. Folio is an importer, fine wine agency and producer of quality wines from the world’s premiere and emerging wine regions, providing sales, marketing and public relations services to wine brands from California, Italy, France, Austria, Germany and Spain. Wines under the Michael Mondavi Family Estate include Emblem, Hangtime, Isabel Mondavi, M by Michael Mondavi, Oberon, and Spellbound. From Italy, are the wines of Arnaldo Caprai, Attems, Bruno Giacosa, Coppo, Dal FornoRomano, Danzante, Donnafugata, Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi, Luce della Vite, Ornellaia and Villa Sandi. The Spanish portfolio includes Artadi, Capafons-Ossó, Fillaboa, Leda, Nita, Palacios Remondo and Vall Llach, with Charles Heidsieck (France), Laurenz V (Austria), and Prinz von Hessen (Germany) completing the portfolio.
