Located in the DOC Bolgheri in Toscana, Ornellaia is situated on the estate of Isole e Olena. The winery has produced wine for over thirty years, with the goal being to produce wines that are at least as good Рif not better than РCh̢teau Cheval Blanc in Saint Emilion, France.
The soil here is unique and somewhat different from other Tuscan vineyards; it consists of sandstone overlaying clay-chalk soils. This soil structure contributes largely to the exceptional quality of these wines which have been described by Robert Parker as ‘superb’.
A significant amount of Merlot grapes grown within this region also contribute to their richness and fruit flavours.
Established by Marchese Lodovico Antinori of the Antinori family, a leading wine producer in Tuscany for many generations, the estate was first planted with vines back in 1979 and currently consists of more than 200 hectares (494 acres) across four communes: Bolgheri, Castagneto Carducci, Livorno Ferraris and San Guido.
Today Ornellaia is managed by Marchese Piero Antinori along with his brother Andrea. The wines are now exported to over thirty countries worldwide including Austria, Canada, China, France, Japan and Switzerland among others.
The vineyard is divided into 50 parcels planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The other grapes grown on the estate include Petit Verdot, Sangiovese and Canaiolo Nero as well as small amounts of Syrah, Viognier and Malvasia Nera.
These grapes are turned into three wines, Ornellaia, Masseto, and Le Serre Nuove, all of which are noted for their characteristic deep red-ruby colour and complex aromas of sweet fruit, typically blackcurrant followed by toasty notes.
The winery is located in the municipality of Bolgheri, on a hill facing south overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea between Punta Ala and Castiglione Della Pescaia. The estate has 91 ha (220-acre) of vineyards, of which about 75% are situated at elevations between 100 and 250 meters (330-820 ft) above sea level.
The wine cellar was designed by architect Mario Botta who is known for his work with UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as San Francisco’s De Young Museum in California among many others around the world.
Botta won a competition to design both buildings back in 2003 before construction began two years later. In addition to housing thousands of oak barrels where the wines are aged from 15-18 months prior to bottling, it also features an elegant restaurant that serves lunch daily and a bar/lounge with an open fireplace where visitors can taste wines from the estate’s cellars.
