Tenuta dell' Ornellaia
Tenuta dell’Ornellaia is one of Italy’s most renowned wine estates, having earned an exceptional reputation over the past few decades.
Tenuta dell’Ornellaia was founded in 1981 by Marquis Lodovico Antinori. Born into one of the world’s most distinguished wine-making families, Lodovico is also the younger brother of Piero Antinori, the visionary behind the creation of one of the first ‘Super Tuscan’ wines, Tignanello.
The estate is situated in the stunning coastal region of Bolgheri, in Castagneto Carducci (province of Livorno). Its location between the Tyrrhenian Sea, the historic village of Bolgheri and Castagneto Carducci is no coincidence. This unique location plays a decisive role in shaping the distinctive character of Ornellaia’s wines.
The estate’s history has been eventful. In November 1999, Lodovico Antinori sold a minority stake to the Californian winery ‘Robert Mondavi’, and in 2002, Mondavi acquired the remaining stake, immediately selling half of it to the Frescobaldi family, one of Tuscany’s other historic winemaking dynasties and a rival of the Antinori family for some seven hundred years. When Constellation Brands acquired the Mondavi Group in late 2004, Frescobaldi bought the remaining fifty per cent from them in April 2005, becoming the sole owner of the estate.
Ornellaia’s first vintage was released in 1985. Over the years it has become from a simple vino di tavola to one of Italy’s most renowned and sought-after wines, known as one of the leading super tuscans, made from typical Bordeaux grapes.
Ornellaia produces a range of world-class wines:
- Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore, the flagship wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
- Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia, the estate’s second wine, often considered an accessible introduction to the world of Ornellaia wines.
- Le Volte dell’Ornellaia, a more accessible style that continues to enjoy great international acclaim.
- Poggio alle Gazze dell’Ornellaia, a white wine that highlights the estate’s versatility.
- Ornellaia Bianco, the white Ornellaia.
- Ornus dell'Ornellaia, the sweet Ornellaia.
Masseto was once part of Tenuta dell’Ornellaia. When the first vintage of Masseto, often referred to as the ‘Italian Pétrus’, was released in 1986, it was part of the Ornellaia estate. However, in 2019, the Frescobaldi family established Masseto as a separate winery with its own production team, with the first vintage being Masseto 2018. Nevertheless, a close connection remains: production manager Marco Balsimelli oversees both projects (consulting oenologist Michel Rolland). Unlike Ornellaia, Masseto is made exclusively from Merlot, which gives it a completely different character, despite the proximity of the vineyards.
Ornellaia focuses primarily on classic Bordeaux varieties, ideally suited to the Bolgheri terroir: in addition, Sauvignon Blanc is grown for the Poggio alle Gazze wine. Each variety is carefully matched to the most suitable plots to ensure it reaches its full potential.
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Cabernet Franc
- Petit Verdot
The terroir plays a fundamental role in the excellence of Ornellaia’s wines. The winery is situated by the Tyrrhenian Sea, at the foot of gentle hills, where cool sea breezes blow in summer and the vineyards are sheltered from cold winds in winter. The soils are a complex mixture of marine and alluvial elements. This creates a microclimate that is a rare combination of sea, hills and diverse soils. Together, these elements create ideal conditions for producing wines with remarkable balance and depth.
The best of Ornellaia’s flagship wine’s recent vintages: 1997, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2023.
Read moreGrapes in wines from Tenuta dell' Ornellaia
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