Franci

Founded in 1958, Frantoio Franci is set in Montenero d’Orcia (Tuscany), a small hilltop town on the slopes of the Amiata Mountains, overlooking the splendid valley of the River Orcia. The year 1995 marked a turning-point in the history of the family firm; it sees the beginning of the precious collaboration between Fernando, with his lifetime of experience, and his son Giorgio, who was to bring a new lease of energy and his modern business skills.

From a philosophy focused on quality without compromise, emerged their first extra virgin olive oil, Villa Magra dei Franci in 1996. The idea of absolute quality was developed and accompanied by the concepts of selection, interpretation and terroir, and Villa Magra, its intense fruit flavour, became the firm’s flagship. It was followed by the light fruit flavour of Olivastra Seggianese in 1997 and by Le Trebbiane a medium fruit extra virgin in 1999.

Around the concept of ‘Cru’, in 2000, Villa Magra Gran Cru was born, the best of the olives from the Chiusello grove, a micro-area where terrain and vegetation have very special features. It is singled out for its elegance, smoothness and aroma, together with its exceptional chemical spectrum: more than 540 mg/kg of polyphenols guarantee an outstanding antioxidant content. Villa Magra Gran Cru is produced only in the best years and every single bottle is numbered up to a maximum of 2.100 liters. In June 2003 Villa Magra Gran Cru won the international oil tasting prize awarded to the best extra virgin olive oils in the world, organized by the Grand Jury Européen in the Château Branire. Following this event, in October 2003, the jury’s President, François Mauss, proposed and went on to organize an exchange: 100 bottles of “Villa Magra Gran Cru” with 100 bottles of great Bordeaux wines.