Our Story
ROBERTO FREGNAN
From a simple passion of wine to a small company crafting
sparkling wine through a vision told by our eyes and our
hands.
2009
Metodo Classico as a Passion
Roberto Fregnan has always been a fan of bubby wines, but it was
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 just a few bottles for friends and family
were made thanks to a vineyard in concession 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.
2013
Vigna del Patriota
During the long wait of 36 months, Roberto began to imagine his own
vineyard in Casentino completely dedicated to Metodo Classico. Once
he tasted the first bottles, he was convinced that the first wine
company completely dedicated to sparkling wine production in
Casentino could become a reality. 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.
2013
The Cellar
At the same time, Roberto planned 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. Juggling
between difficulties, huge investments and intuitions, Cantina
Fregnan found its shape, a small jewel in the beating heart of the
greenest Casentino
2015
The Organic Certificate
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.
2017
The first “real harvest”
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 yearwas, however, difficult, the frost that hit
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.
2019
The first bottle
The path started just as a passion in 2009 finally finds its true
dimension: the bottle 2019 will bring 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.