il Molino di Grace

The vineyard of “il Molino di Grace” is located in the village of Panzano, in the heart of the original Chianti Classico district. Through the estate runs the administrative border between the ancient cities of Florence and Siena. The altitude of the vineyard varies between 280 and 400 metres above sea level, on mostly south and south-west facing slopes. The soil is known as “Galestro” a combination of marl and limestone; it provides excellent drainage. This combination of climate, soil and altitude provides a unique microclimate, perfect fot the creation of top quality grapes. Much work has been carried out in the vineyard; increasing plant densities and matching varieties to individual slopes. These endeavours are complemented by the attention given the fermentation and maturation of the wine. The winery is housed inside a historical mill building, complete with state of the art equipment. For the maturation of the wine, there is a 200 barrel cellar. Unusually for Chianti, and a local landmark, there is a restored Windmill adjacent to the property, from which the property gets its name “il Molino di Grace” the “Windmill of Grace”.

Frank Grace

In 1996 Frank Grace, an American who settled in England in 1968, acquired Villa Castagnoli near Panzano, one of the most unique and historical villas in the Chianti region, which included 26 hectars of magnificent vineyard and woodlands. In 1997 the opportunity arose to purchase the adjacent 27 hectars, which included 12 hectares of excellent producing Chianti Classico along with fields situated perfectly for additional vineyard planting.
Having founded a successful worldwide logistics and relocation company, Frank, along with his Estate Manager Gerhard Hirmer, enthusiastically set about creating an exceptional winery, fusing traditional methods with modern technology. By capturing the unique mixture and flavours of the Chianti area for cusine, art, tradition and passion for wine, this team has been able to produce an outstanding wine of quality – with a depth and richness of flavour, obvious to those who have tasted it.
This stanning Tuscan estate captures the true essence and heart of the region and is surrounded by the breathaking vistas of the area. Frank is a patron of the arts and has commissioned many artists throughout the world, as well as local artists, to produce some of the most extraordinary sculpures and painting which embrace the ambiance, people and culture of the whole estate.
A trully unique Tuscan experience – a truly unique wine.
Frank Grace resides in London and San Francisco but his heart is in Panzano.

Gerhard Hirmer

Gerhard Hirmer was a high ranking international banker who had lived in places like Theheran, New York Chicago and Dusseldorf. Not finding anymore complete satisfation in banking he successfully reorganized a near bankrupt company in Germany and then decided at age 40 to leave the financial world and settle in the quiet and peaceful Chainti Classico area near Florence.
In Chianti he was active in the real estate businness but also, toghether with his wife Marianne, was operating for five years an art gallery for contemporary art exhibiting major italian and international artists. All this time he took care of his own veneyards and perfected his pratical and theoretical knowledge about wine making, helping many foreign purchasers of wineries in establishing themselves as wine producers.
When Frank Grace and Gerhard met in 1996 they both saw the opportunity to do something interesting together; the idea of il Molino di Grace was born.
Restoring and replainting vineyards, planting new vineyards, restoring the old building next to the old windmill at Lucarelli and finding the right equipement to make sure that great efforts would bear fruit in producing grat wines were the major steps to arrive at today’s Il Molino di Grace. Important in reaching so rapidly the very high quality level the wines of Il Molino di Grace are showing already was Gerhard’s continuig great frienship with the famous enologist Franco Bernabei.