Ornellaia

Among the three most renowned wine estates in Bolgheri – which were instrumental in establishing the appellation and the prestige of Tuscan ‘Bordeaux blends’ – Tenuta dell’Ornellaia is a benchmark for wine lovers worldwide. Synonymous with fine wine in Tuscany, Italy and far beyond, Ornellaia wine is, without a doubt – and even more so as the years go by – a guarantee of quality and exclusivity.

In the early 1980s, as the international grape varieties (Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, etc.) planted on the Tuscan coast were giving rise to new fine red wines, the famous Super Tuscans, the Tenuta dell’Ornellaia was established in Castagneto Carducci, near the small village of Bolgheri, in the province of Livorno. Founded by one of Tuscany’s oldest wine-producing families, the Ornellaia estate quickly became one of the region’s leading estates, at the forefront of the revival of Italian winemaking.

Marchesi Antinori and Frescobaldi: TWO GREAT WINEMAKING FAMILIES, FOUNDERS OF Ornellaia

Founded by Marquis Ludovic Antinori in 1981 and passed on to the Frescobaldi family in 2005, the Ornellaia benefits from the expertise of two of Italy’s great wine-making dynasties. Based in Florence since the 14th century, the aristocratic Antinori and Frescobaldi families made their name producing quality wines, particularly Chianti, before setting their sights on Bolgheri. Combining tradition and innovation, modernising production methods and grape varieties (the Frescobaldi family introduced several international varieties to Tuscany as early as 1855), these leading figures in Italian wine found the coast to be the ideal setting for creating exceptional new red wines.

SoIls, climatE AND GRAPE VARIETIES: THE UNIQUE terroir OF Bolgheri

Once covered by the Mediterranean Sea, which left behind sand, marl and marine fossils, the Tuscan coastline forms a unique microcosm for the Ornellaia vineyards. Surrounded by Mediterranean woodland and planted on the former marshlands of the Maremma, over 130 hectares are divided into a dozen small plots, set amidst a rich and well-preserved biodiversity. Facing mainly south-west, the vines benefit from the maritime influence and the last rays of the sun, each expressing a unique interpretation of the terroir. This is an ideal environment for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the estate’s main grape varieties, which thrive alongside Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, as well as Sauvignon Blanc, Petit Manseng, Viognier, Verdicchio and Vermentino, the vineyard’s white grape varieties.

Renowned for its exceptional red wines – complex, intense and with great ageing potential – Tenuta dell’Ornellaia produces two flagship wines, available to buy from Vinatis: the Ornellaia Bolgheri DOC Superiore and Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia, a Bolgheri DOC Rosso. Its entry-level wine, the Volte dell’Ornellaia IGT Toscana, also offers a chance to discover the estate’s style at an affordable price. As for olive oil enthusiasts, they appreciate the powerful, fruity flavours of Olio dell’Ornellaia.

Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore DOC: ONE OF THE GREATEST TUSCAN RED WINES

World-renowned, the Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore DOC is a complex, powerful, full-bodied and intense red wine. Dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Merlot, a touch of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, and aged for many months predominantly in new oak barrels (the cooperage plays a vital role in revealing the wine’s identity), Ornellaia stands out for its concentrated fruit, the balanced expression of oak and its pleasant freshness. Long and very persistent on the palate, with elegantly integrated tannins, this great Tuscan wine asserts its Bordeaux influence in a vibrant Mediterranean style, with distinctive elegance.

Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia: ITALY'S LEADING SECOND WINE

Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia is the second wine of the Tuscan estate, and the first second wine produced in Italy, modelled on the Grands Crus of Bordeaux. Made predominantly from Merlot, blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, this barrel-aged Bolgheri DOC Rosso stands out for its richness and supple structure, with soft tannins. The wine, with its remarkable purity, freshness and balance, reveals the unique character of this corner of Tuscany and the fascinating style of one of the world’s greatest wine houses.

Committed to producing excellence, Tenuta dell’Ornellaia is keen to convey and share its enthusiasm for the Bolgheri terroir, its land and vineyards, its origins and its future. “Dare piacere” could sum up this ethos: entering the world of Ornellaia means discovering the quintessence of Mediterranean Tuscany through a holistic experience where taste, style and nature come together. The estate therefore offers a varied programme combining Wine, Art and Hospitality: a tour of the estate and the contemporary artworks from the Vendemmia d’Artista project (which celebrates the unique character of each vintage by inviting visitors to discover a collection of artworks created specifically for the site); a tour of the cellar where Ornellaia’s blended wines are aged; a detailed tasting of the various vintages; a gourmet picnic and tasting amongst the vineyards; and a food and wine dinner at the Tenuta dell’Ornellaia at sunset.

Established in 1994, the Bolgheri Rosso Denomination of Controlled Origin (DOC) marks the emergence of a new type of wine, the ‘Tuscan Bordeaux’, which first appeared in the 1970s on the coast south of Livorno. Nestled on the Etruscan Coast, between the wild countryside of the Maremma and the Tyrrhenian Sea, the small village of Bolgheri is at the heart of a genuine revolution, driven by innovation and a revival in winemaking.

Super Toscans FROM THE Bolgheri DOC

The history of Bolgheri begins with Sassicaia, the first red wine made from two Cabernet varieties, created by the Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta in the 1940s for his own personal use. Favouring low yields, this great lover of French wines cultivated several international grape varieties on his estate, giving rise to a new Italian wine that would soon enjoy phenomenal success.

Released in 1968 and quickly acclaimed by the renowned critic Robert Parker, the first Sassicaia found an audience outside Italy, particularly in America. Named Super Tuscans, these Bordeaux-style blends with a Mediterranean flavour are bold, contemporary wines, in tune with international tastes. Within a few decades, Bolgheri thus became one of the most prestigious wine-growing regions in Tuscany and Italy.

THE RISE OF Bordeaux blends IN ItalY

Marketed outside the appellation for several decades (as a table wine), Bolgheri wine is breaking free from tradition by focusing on international grape varieties, to the detriment of local ones. Combining Bordeaux grape varieties and winemaking techniques (notably blending and barrel ageing), Bolgheri red wines reveal the unique character of their terroir. A small area with great diversity and immense potential, the Bolgheri wine-growing region spans the entire municipality of Castagneto Carducci, nestled amongst the hills, forests and beaches of the Maremma Nature Park.

Characterised by a microclimate influenced by the sea – bright and well-ventilated – and a rich variety of soils, the grape varieties Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot find a welcoming home here, particularly in the southern part between Bolgheri and Castagneto. Syrah, Petit Verlot and the local Sangiovese variety complete the region’s new wine-growing landscape, giving rise to a new generation of Bordeaux blends. These red wines are distinguished by their excellent ageing potential, their power, their intensity and their well-balanced structure, displaying rich flavours of ripe black fruits, with a balsamic note typical of Mediterranean vegetation.

Elegant and versatile, Bolgheri red wines are perfect with simple, flavourful dishes, such as Florentine steak and Pecorino Toscano cheese, accompanied by pasta with sauce, seasonal vegetables, jam and fresh fruit. More generally, they pair beautifully with rare meats, game and stews, as well as seafood, freshwater and saltwater fish, pasta with sauce, and white meats.