Ornellaia
Tenuta dell’Ornellaia is located in one of the world’s most exciting wine regions: Bolgheri. A breathtaking avenue lined by towering cypress trees leads inland from the Aurelia, the old Roman coastal road, up to the walls of Bolgheri’s medieval hamlet. From the village the view extends far out to sea and on a clear day the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago and Corsica can be seen.
The History of the Estate:
Ornellaia has always been an expression of the close bond between humans and nature.
Owned by the Frescobaldi family, many men and women have defined the Ornellaia story. Some are no longer with us, while many others are essential parts of Ornellaia’s current incarnation and working towards its future. Marchese Ferdinando Frescobaldi is President of Ornellaia alongside Giovanni Geddes da Filicaja, CEO since 1999.
Winemakers for 700 years, the Frescobaldi family bring together a creative mindset, pursuit of excellence and a deep respect for tradition. Cultivating and celebrating local diversity has always been their philosophy, respecting the identity and independence of each wine estate.
Every vintage is a new page in the story of Ornellaia. Forty years since its founding, the Ornellaia name is synonymous with the Italian lifestyle and represents a timeless elegance.
The Terroir:
In the past, parts of the Ornellaia estate were covered by the Mediterranean Sea, leaving behind sand, marl and marine fossils. Clay emerges at a slightly higher altitude, dotted with limestone pebbles of varying sizes.
The soil at Ornellaia is marine, alluvial and volcanic in origin. The vineyards are separated into dozens of parcels: each is a microcosm with its own unique identity and expression. All around the vines, the Mediterranean bush and forest reigns supreme.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are the main varieties planted on the estate, followed by Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, while Sauvignon Blanc, Petit Manseng, Viognier, Verdicchio and Vermentino are the grapes used to make the white wines. The vineyards are mainly southwest facing to embrace the last ray of sunshine that sets over the sea.
Discovering the land’s potential for winemaking was the starting point, but without vision and sheer there would be no Ornellaia. Nature is a generous friend to Ornellaia and we strive to respect its resources. This is the essence of Ornellaia, its past and its future.
The Wines:
Ornellaia is a blend of nature and musing. Complex ancient soils converse through human wisdom with a delicate microclimate that is echoed and reflected in the Mediterranean Sea. Prolonged ageing accompanies the estate’s fine wine in achieving its utmost expression, revealing finesse and generosity over time.
Ornellaia is a Cabernet/Merlot wine blend. It is a model of rich, silky elegance and has rapidly become a modern classic.
