The silence of the Casentino valley tells us a lot about those who have the patience to listen. On these hills, life flows slowly and nature marks the passing of time again like the old days following the seasons. This ancient territory gives birth to a Metodo Classico that finds in the terroir after waiting for so long, its identity, 36 months of work, dreams and expectations have lead to “Il Patriota”, The Metodo Classico in Casentino.
Our Story
From a simple passion for wine to a small company crafting sparkling wine through a vision told by our eyes and our hands.
Metodo Classico as a passion
2009
Roberto Fregnan has always been a fan of bubby wines, but it is during a car trip with a friend that he decided to start a small production as a ``game`` in one of the most suitable territories in Italy. At the beginning he made just a few bottles for friends and family thanks to a vineyard in one of Italy’s most suitable areas. Roberto started in Northern Italy where some terroir features are well linked to the much loved Casentino area.
Vigna del Patriota
2013
During the long wait of 36 months, Roberto begins to imagine his own vineyard in Casentino completely dedicated to Metodo Classico. Once he tastes the first bottles, he is convinced that the first wine company completely dedicated to sparkling wine production in Casentino can become a reality. Thus he began to plant 7,000 vines of Chardonnay and 3,000 of Pinot Noir in Buiano, a small hamlet near Poppi at an altitude between 430 meters above sea level and 485 meters above sea level.
The Celler
2013
At the same time, Roberto planed a splendid wine-cellar seeing the opportunity to use the rocks of the vineyard as a ``dress`` to the liquid gold that will rest in it for at least 36 months. Between difficulties, huge investments and intuitions, Cantina Fregnan found its shape, a small jewel in the beating heart of the greenest Casentino
The Organic Certification
2015
With the 2018 harvest the organic certification appeared on the label, but the company was actually under the organic management from the very beginning, in full respect of the marvelous valley that embraces and guards Cantina Fregnan and Vigna del Patriota.
The first real harvest
2017
With the harvest of 2017, the ``game`` finally turned into a real activity, Roberto abandoned the vineyard he had in concession in Northern Italy to devote himself completely to the Vigna del Patriota. The year, however, was difficult, the frost that hit the Casentino on April the 22nd reduced the production to only 20 quintals, shaking the certainties of a man accustomed to success that has transformed his passion in work.
The first bottle
2019
The path started just as a passion in 2009 and has finally found its true dimension: the bottle of 2019 brings the first wine fully produced in Casentino, starting from the Vigna del Patriota ``passing” through the beautiful cellar. The real beginning of the activity of Cantina Fregnan, the moment that Roberto and his wife Maria Grazia have been waiting for almost 10 years.
The Story
Born in Veneto, his Mother was from the Casentino Valley, Roberto Fregnan carried on the family industrial / entrepreneurial tradition that started in the first years of last century with the creation of Fregnan Group that was able to “reach the stars” thanks to the partnership with N.A.S.A. in 1997.
Roberto is a successful industrialist who fell in love at first sight with Maria Grazia and Casentino, the mother land of origin, deciding at the end to return to the source of his passion for wine.
It is among the green Casentinesi forests that Roberto discovered that he is closer than ever to those dreams that he had pursued with his work successes, it is on the hills surrounding Poppi, in Loc. Buiano that Roberto decided to plant “Vigna del Patriota “and start the project of Cantina Fregnan
At night, walking among the company’s organic rows of vines, one almost has the impression that the stars were aligned, ready to be tasted by those who have the patience to wait for the first sip, of a wine that has been dreamed of for fun and which today it represents the activity of Roberto and Maria Grazia, from passion to life.
7000
Vines of Chardonnay
3000
Vines of Pinot Noir
1
Wine
6000
Bottles
2015
Il Patriota
Il Patriota is the Metodo Classico, born from the first company in this area completely dedicated to sparkling wine made with the champenoise method.
It is a wine that has in its DNA the history and folklore of the Casentino hills, representing perfectly the terroir, the difficult climate, the people and the dream of Roberto Fregnan.
Pinot Noir is now at home in the Casentinesi vineyards and the Chardonnay had already made its first appearances in the Aretine territory brought by Napoleon.
Two international vines that in some way, just like Roberto Fregnan found comfort under a sky so pure and with little contamination by the light pollution of the city.
Il Patriota is a wine that requires patience for over 36 months in order to bring the maximum expression of the winery’s vision and the the vineyard, 36 months to wait in order to taste one of the few bottles produced.
Details
Our Team
Cantina Fregnan was born from the love of Roberto and Maria Grazia for Casentino, in this wonderful valley of Arezzo other professionals joined the team to finally give life to the wine Il Patriota - The Metodo Classico in Casentino
Roberto Fregnan
Founder
The real deus ex machina behind ``Il Patriota`` wine
Maria Grazia
Owner
An energetic woman who perfectly balances Roberto's exuberance
Marco Pierucci
Agronomist
Professional known for his skills and for the minimally invasive approach
Marco Nasca
Winemaker
Marco and Roberto found each other and got a long right away. Marco has the difficult task of bottling the `Vigna del Patriota`