Gorgona Prigione | Unique Heritage Wine

A case of six bottles of wine produced on the prison island of Gorgona is currently up for sale at Sworders. Estimated at £200 - 300, the bottles form part of our Fine Wine and Spirits timed auction, drawing to a close on Sunday 8th November. 

The Tuscan island of Gorgona was established as a penal colony in 1869 and today still houses 70 inmates in the final stages of long prison sentences. 

In July 2012 the Frescobaldi winemaking dynasty responded to an email from the prison director asking for help in making something drinkable from the existing hectares of vineyards on the island. The prisoners had tried to produce wine for government employees but soon realised substantial oenological knowledge was required. The prison director emailed more than a hundred wineries asking for help but it was only Lamberto Frescobaldi who answered. Three days later, he was on a boat to Gorgona and soon became the driving force of a project that helped inmates gain new skills.

Today the organically-made wine has has an international following, from the US to Japan – not only because it has a heartwarming story to tell but also because it is an excellent organic wine.