Salvatore Ferragamo Jr. Cultivates a New Legacy at Il Borro
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Salvatore Ferragamo Jr. carries one of the most storied names in fashion, and with it, a legacy nearly a century in the making. His grandfather, Salvatore Ferragamo, built a small Florentine shoemaking business into a global luxury house synonymous with craftsmanship, innovation, and enduring glamour. Defined by meticulous artistry and an uncompromising commitment to quality, the Ferragamo name became emblematic of Italian excellence. Across generations, the family has carefully upheld that standard, balancing heritage with reinvention and tradition with forward-thinking, not only in fashion, but far beyond it.
Today, Salvatore, alongside his sister Vittoria, is shaping the next chapter of that evolution. Since 1993, when Ferruccio Ferragamo, their father and the eldest son of Salvatore and Wanda Ferragamo, purchased Il Borro, a new family venture began – one marked in the surrounding terrain.
Il Borro, which is a short distance from Arezzo in the Tuscan hills, stands as a natural evolution of the Ferragamo ethos: excellence rooted in craftsmanship. The 1,100-hectare estate, a Relais & Châteaux property, encompasses a fully restored medieval village with 38 stylish suites, three prestigious villas, 20 suites of Le Aie del Borro and three farmhouses. Staying on property offers a glimpse into this Ferragamo family’s life. They personally see to every detail and make sure the guest experience is elevated but also familial. It is no wonder why Il Borro was awarded two Michelin Keys in 2025.
“From the Ferragamo legacy I carry a devotion to craftsmanship, attention to detail and an international sensibility,” Salvatore, who is the Vice President of Il Borro, says. “I aim to keep those values while redefining them through agriculture and hospitality, applying that same dedication to growing, making and welcoming, rather than fashion alone.”
It is perhaps in the vineyards, however, where that philosophy finds its most expressive form. While hospitality welcomes guests into the Ferragamo world, wine allows them to taste it. The rolling hills surrounding Il Borro are cultivated with the same precision and reverence that once shaped handcrafted shoes in Florence. Here, sustainability and innovation work hand in hand, with organic farming practices guiding every stage from vine to bottle.
“Fashion taught me the importance of detail and storytelling but returning to Il Borro felt like returning to my roots,” he explains. “Hospitality and wine allow me to create tangible, sensory experiences that connect people to place, memory and family. Wine was always part of daily life, not just a product, but a way to read the land and its seasons.”
Il Borro Wines have emerged as a respected force in Tuscan viticulture, producing elegant, terroir-driven expressions that reflect both the land and the family’s meticulous standards. Structured yet refined, each vintage tells a story of patience, stewardship, and generational vision. “Early on I learned that quality begins in the vineyard. Careful attention to soil, vine balance, and respectful harvesting will always outlast short-term tricks in the cellar,” he notes. “The best wines are honest expressions of place and care, not clever manipulation.”
Under Salvatore’s leadership, the winery continues to expand with its most recent acquisition of Pinino Brunello di Montalcino. “Pinino allowed us to explore different terroirs and styles while maintaining our standards,” he shares. “It broadened our portfolio and gave us creative room to experiment while staying true to quality.”
Sangiovese will always be closest to his heart, especially during his perfect meal of “a long, simple lunch with fresh tomatoes and basil, a plate of hand-rolled pasta with ragù, roasted seasonal vegetables, and a bottle of Il Borro Petruna Amphorae Sangiovese finished with local cheese, dark chocolate and decaf espresso.”
Spoken like a true Italian, wine, food, family and time at the table are inseparable, and where the simplest ingredients, handled with care, become the ultimate expression of luxury. The culinary offerings at Il Borro complement this sentiment. “Our restaurants focus on seasonal, local ingredients and traditional Tuscan farm to table techniques with contemporary refinement,” Salvatore adds. “From the casual Tuscan bistro to fine dining at the estate, we pair field-to-table produce, estate olive oil and our wines to honor local flavors while offering a memorable culinary experience.”
When he is not traveling around the world bringing a piece of Il Borro internationally, he finds himself relishing in the town that built him. “It’s the sense of continuity, the landscape, the slow seasonal changes, the people who have worked these lands for generations,” he concludes. “There’s a calm, an authenticity that keeps drawing me back and keeps inspiring our work.”
