Rocca di Frassinello is a joint venture between Paolo Panerai, an Italian editor and publishing executive, and Domain Baron de Rothschild-Lafite. Panerai also owns and operates other Italian wine estates, including Castellare di Castellina in Chianti. Rocca di Frassinello’s first vineyards were planted in 2000 and the idea from the beginning has been to grow French and Italian grapes. The estate is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and other Bordeaux grapes, as well as Sangiovese and Vermentino. French and Italian viticulturists consult together at the estate, and 350,000 bottles are produced annually. The flagship wine is the Rocca di Frassinello, generally a mix of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate makes several blends, a pure Merlot, and a Vermentino. The wines consistently win 3 Glass awards from Gambero Rosso. In 2015 Vinous complimented the 2013 vintage and noted that “as usual, the Rocca di Frassinello wines are made in a forward, modern Maremma style with plenty of up-front appeal.”