"Andrea Franchetti was unique in every way. He was an unpredictable person. But in wine, he was a true innovator. He is the person who put at least two prestigious wine regions on the world map." (British wine critic Jancis Robinson)
"Many people dream big, but few actually realize those dreams. However, Franchetti succeeded. His wine has become the benchmark for 'super Tuscan' wines and is currently sold at an incredibly high price." (Italian wine expert IAAN Dagata)
"His talent and vision left no room for compromise. He creates terroir-driven wines with depth, extreme elegance, and vibrancy. This has inspired producers across Italy." (U.S. magazine Wine Enthusiast)
World-renowned wine critics, experts, and media reflected on Andrea Franchetti, who passed away in 2021, saying this. Those who remember Franchetti, who became famous as a global winemaker, evaluate him as a 'maverick'. This is due to his repeated experiments and choices that deviated from the traditions and common sense of the wine industry.
Before becoming a winemaker, he operated a restaurant in Rome, then moved to the U.S. in the early 1980s, working in the distribution of high-end Italian wines in New York. In the early 1990s, he returned to Italy and began planting French Bordeaux grape varieties in the highlands near Val d'Orcia in southeastern Tuscany. This location is the Tenuta di Trinoro winery. Typically, Tuscan wines primarily consist of indigenous varieties such as Sangiovese, but he did not plant any Sangiovese here.
The first vintage of Tenuta di Trinoro, named after the winery itself (1997), caught worldwide attention upon its release. Usually, Italian indigenous wines have high acidity and strong tannins. However, Franchetti perfectly embodied the French Bordeaux style, showcasing grand cru-level concentration, complexity, and aging potential, surprising wine critics. In 1999, renowned wine critic Robert Parker even named Franchetti as the 'Person of the Year' in the wine industry.
Subsequently, he established 'Passopisciaro' in the volcanic area of Mount Etna in Sicily, previously overlooked by anyone. He is also regarded as a legendary figure who advanced Etna wines. Currently, Franchetti's son, Benjamin Franchetti, leads both wineries. He is an agricultural engineering expert with a Ph.D. in engineering. He is introducing modern techniques into winemaking, such as mapping and analyzing the entire soil of the vineyards to adapt to climate changes in Tuscany.
Tenuta di Trinoro is located in a highland area at an elevation of 450 to 600 meters. It is a relatively rare high region in Italy. The soil here was formed through the uplift and erosion of ancient seabed limestone and clay, which used to be land for raising livestock or cultivating crops. This area, planned for an ideal rural landscape during the Italian Renaissance in the 14th and 15th centuries, has been recognized for its preservation of original structure over centuries and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Bordeaux varieties planted by Franchetti here include Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot.
He introduced high-density planting of up to 10,000 vines per hectare. He pursued extremely low yields so that only the surviving vines could bear fruit. This maximized the flavor per grape. Currently, he only harvests grapes from 20 hectares of the total 200 hectares of vineyards. He also meticulously manages the area, dividing it into 50 sections.
Franchetti was also a relentless experimenter in blending. It is said that he sampled wines by barrel, attempting numerous combinations for each vintage, personally overseeing that process. In an interview during his lifetime, he said, "Wine is like a work of art that changes every year," and added, "People are influenced by the landscape of the place where the wine is made that year. Inspired by the ever-changing natural scenery of the seasons, they imbue that inspiration into the wine they create."
Le Cupole is the second wine of Tenuta di Trinoro, which has reflected the individuality of each vintage by varying the blending ratio every year since its first production in 1995. It combines Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. After fermentation in stainless steel tanks, it is aged for eight months in French oak barrels of 1, 2, and 3 years, followed by another 11 months in cement tanks.
Ripe black fruit flavors are dominant, complemented by herbal notes, tobacco, and sweet spice aromas. The tannins envelop the mouth with a firm structure, leading to a lengthy finish. It features a silky, smooth texture. The 2021 vintage received 93 points from Wine Spectator and 94 points from Robert Parker. In Korea, it won the grand prize in the red wine category at the 2025 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards. The domestic importer is Keumyang International.