Quaranta Altari
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed from 3 to 15 years after the vintage release, though its oxidative style and high sugar concentration allow well-stored bottles to develop beautifully for decades.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Classic Tuscan cantucci (almond biscotti) for dipping, matured cheeses such as Pecorino Toscano, and rustic fruit tarts or honey-based desserts.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Frescobaldi's Quaranta Altari is a tribute to the ancient Tuscan tradition of Vin Santo, the legendary 'Holy Wine' deeply woven into the region's cultural and spiritual history. The name 'Quaranta Altari' (Forty Altars) evokes the historical connection between this sweet elixir and its sacred use in chapel services across the historic estates of the Frescobaldi family, who have championed Tuscan viticulture for over thirty generations. Crafted primarily from classic white varieties Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia Bianca, the grapes undergo a traditional 'appassimento' process, drying naturally on straw mats to concentrate their sugars and aromatic complexity. The must is then slowly fermented and matured over several years in 'caratelli'—small, traditional wooden casks stored in the estate's warm lofts—resulting in a luscious, amber-hued dessert wine rich with notes of dried apricot, honey, toasted hazelnut, and warm spice.
🍾 wine.about_producer
With a legendary winemaking heritage spanning over 700 years and thirty generations, the Frescobaldi family stands as one of Tuscany's most prestigious and historic wine dynasties. Headquartered in Florence, the family manages an extraordinary portfolio of historic estates across Tuscany's finest terroirs, including Castello Nipozzano in Chianti Rufina, Tenuta Castiglioni, and CastelGiocondo in Montalcino. Their production philosophy seamlessly blends deep-rooted Tuscan traditions with modern viticultural innovation, focusing on expressing the unique microclimates of each estate. Frescobaldi is globally celebrated for its diverse and elegant portfolio, ranging from classic Sangiovese-based expressions like Nipozzano Riserva and Montesodi to opulent, internationally styled Super Tuscans such as Giramonte, Lamaione, and the iconic Luce.