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Tenuta dell'Ornellaia is one of Italy's most prestigious wineries and has earned an outstanding reputation in the wine world over the past few decades. Started as a Tuscan wine with a vino di tavola appleation because of the use cabernet sauvignon, it is now one of the leading Super Tuscans.
But why is that? And why should you have actually drunk the prestigious Ornellaia wine at least once in your life? Let's take a little trip to Tuscany, Italy. To Bolgheri, to be precise.
The Tenuta dell'Ornellaia was founded in 1981 by Marchese Lodovico Antinori. Incidentally, Lodovico not only comes from one of the most famous wine families in the world, but is also the younger brother of Pietro Antinori, who created one of the first Super Tuscans, Tignanello.
The Tenuta dell'Ornellaia is located in the picturesque Tuscan region of Bolgheri, more precisely in Castagneto Carducci in the province of Livorno. The location of the winery is strategically chosen, as it is situated in a triangle between the Tyrrhenian Sea, the old centre of Bolgheri and Castagneto Carducci. This unique geographical position contributes significantly to the special character of Ornellaia wines. But we will tell you more about that later.
No, the estate has not been owned by the Marchese for a long time. The ownership of the estate is a rather chequered history. After it was founded by Lodovico Antinori, ownership changed hands and was acquired by Robert Mondavi. That was in 1999. But in 2005, all of Mondavi's property was sold to Constellation Brands. They in turn sold Tenuta dell'Ornellaia to the great Antinori competitor, Frescobaldi, the other great wine family in Tuscany.
The first vintage of the flagship Ornellaia wine was released in 1985. This marked the beginning of a successful long-standing tradition of enjoyment. In the nearly four decades since, Ornellaia has become one of Italy's most sought-after and respected wines. The decision to focus on Bordeaux grape varieties proved to be a guiding light for the estate's success.
Ornellaia produces a range of high-quality wines that are appreciated worldwide:
Each of these wines reflects the philosophy and terroir of Ornellaia in its own way. The wines are made with the utmost care and precision, with each grape variety and each plot being vinified individually to ensure the best possible quality.
Strictly speaking, this question must be answered with yes and no. When the first vintage of the ‘Petrus of Italy’, as the Masseto is often called, came onto the market in 1986, it actually belonged to the Ornellaia vineyard. However, in 2007, Frescobadi founded a separate vineyard for the Masseto and also has the wine made by a separate team. Whereby the oenologist Marco Balsimelli actually supervises both Masseto and Ornellaia. Incidentally, unlike Ornellaia, Masseto is a pure Merlot. Which also explains its completely different character, although the grapes thrive in the immediate vicinity of the Ornellaia vineyards.
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia focuses mainly on classic Bordeaux varieties, which have proven to be ideal for the terroir of Bolgheri. The main grape varieties grown are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
In addition, Sauvignon Blanc is also grown and used for the white wine Poggio alle Gazze. The decision to focus on these grape varieties was made after careful analysis of the soil and climate. Each grape variety is grown in the most suitable plots for optimal results.
The terroir of Ornellaia is a key factor in the exceptional quality of its wines. Several elements contribute to its uniqueness:
These factors combine to create a terroir that is ideal for growing Bordeaux grape varieties and allows Ornellaia to produce world-class wines.
Ornellaia wines are characterised by a distinctive style that is often considered the epitome of ‘Supertuscan’. The wines impressively combine elegance with power. They are structured and complex without losing their finesse. Despite their power and concentration, Ornellaia's wines retain a remarkable freshness. In addition, Ornellaia's wines are known for their complexity. They only slowly open up in the glass and are predestined for a very long additional maturation and storage over several decades.
At the same time, all the plants are a modern interpretation of the classic Bordeaux – with an Italian soul and warmth of heart. You rarely get to taste a combination like this.
From 2006 onwards, the German oenologist Axel Heintz was responsible for the Ornellaia and Masseto wines. He was supported by the star oenologist Michel Rolland, who is responsible for numerous wines rated at 100 Parker points all over the world. In 2022, Axel Heintz went into well-deserved retirement and handed over the wine sceptre to his successor Marco Balsimelli. The Italian with the sunny disposition is virtually predestined for this job, having worked alongside Eric Boissenot from 2010. Together, they were among the most important advisors to the top châteaux in Bordeaux.
There are several compelling reasons why wine lovers should definitely try Ornellaia at least once. First of all, there is the quality, of course. Ornellaia is considered one of the best wines in Italy – and the world. On the other hand, few wines reflect the Bolgheri terroir as purely and as concentratedly as Ornellaia. In addition, there is the phenomenal aging potential of several decades. This impressive longevity can be observed particularly well in a vertical with different Ornellaia vintages.
To summarise, Ornellaia is more than just a wine – it is an expression of terroir, history, craftsmanship and culture. Experiencing this wine offers a unique insight into the world of top-quality wines and is a must for any serious wine lover.
