Bolgheri

Bolgheri: home of legendary Super Tuscans. Wine names such as Sassicaia, Ornellaia and Masseto make wine lovers' hearts beat faster. And with good reason. These icons from Tuscany turned a subregion into a superstar of Italian wines virtually overnight in the 1980s. Instead of the conventional Sangiovese, it mostly incorporates Bordeaux grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

Where exactly is Bolgheri?

Let's head to Italy! Let's head to Tuscany! Because that's where Bolgheri is located. The wine-growing region is about 100 kilometres southwest of Florence in the province of Livorno. The 1,220-hectare vineyard stretches along the northern Maremma coast and is nestled between the Mediterranean Sea and the rolling foothills of the hinterland. This geographical location gives Bolgheri its special climatic conditions, which are ideal for winegrowing.

Nevertheless, winegrowing began there very late. While the rest of Tuscany had been actively cultivating wine since the Middle Ages, Bolgheri was fallow land. This was because the soil there was only partially suitable for Tuscany's quintessential grape variety: Sangiovese. It was not until the 1940s that Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta recognised Bolgheri's potential and planted Bordeaux grape varieties there. However, he preferred to drink the wine that was produced there himself. It was not until 1968 that he was persuaded by his nephew Piero Antinori to market his red wine under the name Sassicaia. The rest is history.

The success of Sassicaia quickly attracted other winemakers to Bolgheri, who created other great wines from Bordeaux grape varieties. This marked the beginning of the legendary Super Tuscans, as wines that are not mainly made from Sangiovese but from international varieties are still called today. In 1983, Bolgheri was awarded DOC status (Denominazione di Origine Controllata - protected designation of origin). Further recognition came in 1994 with new production regulations that officially allowed Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to be used in the production of Bolgheri Rosso DOC. And in the same year, Sassicaia was awarded its own DOC - a unique achievement in Italy!

Climate and soils in Bolgheri

We've already given it away: the climate in Bolgheri is Mediterranean. Mild winters, warm summers and a constant breeze from the sea provide ideal conditions for the grapes. The proximity to the Mediterranean protects the vines from extreme temperatures and promotes even ripening. Added to this are the diverse microclimates in the different locations. As a result, the climatic conditions for a Bolgheri wine can change considerably every few metres.

The soils are as diverse as the climate, ranging from sandy loam to calcareous clay and containing pebbles, slate and marine and aeolian sediments. This mixture provides ideal conditions for viticulture, as it allows for good drainage while retaining moisture that remains available during dry periods. Much of the soil is alluvial, meaning that it was formed by rivers and ancient watercourses. These soils often contain round pebbles and are particularly well aerated. At higher altitudes, there are clay soils with a higher proportion of limestone and sand, which give the vines additional minerality.

Super Tuscans and Prominent Producers

Bolgheri is the home of the Super Tuscans, produced by wine producers like Tenuta San Guido (Sassicaia), Tenuta dell Ornellaia, Masseto, Grattamacco and many more. 

But in fact there are too many to list. Below some examples of these wine producers, many more can be find in our stocklist.

What does a wine from Bolgheri taste like?

Let's not beat around the bush: there is no such thing as THE Bolgheri style of wine. Not only are the colours too different, but above all the characters of the wines are too varied. Of course, the red wines shine with elegance, power and finesse. They are generally long-lived and have an astonishing depth of complexity. But the souls of the wines are consistently different and highly individual. This is naturally due to the choice of grape varieties. But it is also due to the soils in which the vines thrive, the respective microclimate and, ultimately, the different vinification methods. However, this does not change the one thing they all have in common: these are wines with enormous ageing potential that improve with additional maturation. Immortal icons, in other words.

Nevertheless, let's try to define a taste. A typical red wine from Bolgheri impresses with aromas of ripe berries such as currants or blackberries, as well as notes of spices, herbs and sometimes leather or tobacco. On the palate, these wines are full-bodied, smooth and elegant with a long finish. White wines, on the other hand, offer fresh citrus notes, floral accents and lively acidity. This should give you a rough idea.

What food goes well with wines from Bolgheri?

Red wines from Bolgheri are excellent with braised meat, beef fillet or game dishes. Since this information is not really useful on its own, let's go into a little more detail. When we think of braised meat, we think primarily of beef – and thus automatically of the Italian classic Brasato di Manzo al Vino Rosso. Its complex and powerful notes go perfectly with the red Bolgheri wines. Another classic dish of Tuscan cuisine is grilled T-bone steak, Bistecca alla Fiorentina, which is best accompanied by red wines with well-structured tannins. Or how about pappardelle with wild boar ragout? In Italy, this dish is called Pappardelle con Ragù di Cinghiale – and it loves Bolgheri wines as an accompaniment.

If you would like to enjoy a white Bolgheri, we recommend pairing it with Mediterranean fish dishes. White wines such as Vermentino from Bolgheri go well with dishes such as Müritz perch with baked tomatoes and potato and vegetable mash. These wines also pair very well with fresh goat's cheese. Why not take inspiration from the selection of Bolgheri wines at Best of Wines?