Departures of note

Vittorio Frescobaldi was born in Florence in 1928 into the historic Frescobaldi family, one of Tuscany's most prominent noble houses with a winemaking tradition dating back to 1308. After graduating in agricultural sciences, he took over the leadership of the family estates following the death of his father Lamberto, launching a deep process of modernization that transformed the family business into a leading international wine producer.

Under his guidance, the Frescobaldi company focused on valorizing its territories and opening up to international markets. Among the most significant operations of his long career was the partnership with American winemaker Robert Mondavi in the early 1990s, which led to the creation of Tenuta Luce in Montalcino, a project uniting two historic wine families and contributing to the international renown of Tuscan wines.

Alongside his brothers Ferdinando and Leonardo, Vittorio played a central role in elevating Tuscany to a territory of excellence in viticulture, helping bring the region's wines to tables around the world. He was recognized as a leading figure of Tuscan wine and a protagonist of its affirmation on global markets, and in 2000 he received the Premio Columbus for agriculture. He died in 2026 at the age of 97.