Description
History
Established in 1981 by Lodovico Antinori and now part of the Frescobaldi family, Ornellaia was conceived as Bolgheri’s answer to Bordeaux. Its vineyards, planted in the ’80s across the estate and Bellaria hill, thrive on fertile coastal soils. The philosophy balances terroir respect and sustainability, with steel fermentations, strict selection and careful aging programs.
Grape varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon 55%, Merlot 25%, Cabernet Franc 10%, Petit Verdot 10%
Vinification
Steel fermentation at controlled temperatures, malolactic in barrel, followed by 18‑month ageing in French oak (up to 70% new), and further bottle maturation
Alcohol content
14%
Tasting notes
Color: deep ruby red, nearly purple
Nose: blackcurrant, blackberry, cherry, baking spices, toasted oak, tobacco, Mediterranean herbs, cedar and graphite
Palate: full-bodied and structured, silky integrated tannins, vibrant acidity, enduring finish with salinity and mineral nuances
Food pairings
Perfect with red meats, braised dishes, game, truffle dishes, aged cheeses or any richly flavored fare.
Brand
Frescobaldi
The history of the Frescobaldi family in Tuscany is often the story of Tuscany itself; tradition and roots date back as far as the 1300s, when Dino Frescobaldi, a poet friend of Dante Alighieri, returned to him the first seven cantos of the Divine Comedy, allowing him to complete the work. Around the same time, the family acquired some estates in the Chianti area and began producing and selling wine. Many centuries later, in about 1855, they were the ones to plant some international grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay right here in Tuscany. The 1900s was a century of great revolution for Italian agriculture and therefore for the company as well; production methods were innovated and new possessions were acquired thanks to the wise guidance of Vittorio, Ferdinando, and Leonardo Frescobaldi. Today, the baton has been passed to Lamberto Frescobaldi, a member of the thirtieth generation of the family, who, armed with the knowledge he has acquired, manages the family heritage. The company boasts among its estates Castello di Nipozzano and Castello di Pomino in the Chianti Rufina area, Rémole alle Sieci, Tenuta di Perano in Gaiole in Chianti, one of the family's most recent acquisitions, Gorgona on the homonymous penitentiary island, Tenuta Castiglioni in Montespertoli, Tenuta Castelgiocondo in Montalcino, Tenuta Ammiraglia in the Maremma, and the latest addition Tenuta Calimaia in Montepulciano. The Frescobaldi family manages and owns Ornellaia in Bolgheri.