Tignanello – Antinori family
The family estate’s two signature wines, Solaia and Tignanello, are produced from these vineyards and have been defined by the international press as “among the most influential wines in the history of Italian viticulture”. According to Marchesi Antinori, Solaia and Tignanello are an ongoing challenge and a never-ending passion.
The History of the Estate:
Antinori is the most famous name in Italian wine and the influence of Piero Antinori in the last 25 years has been nothing short of revolutionary. Antinori’s flagship wine, Tignanello, first appeared in 1971 and caused a sensation by its use of Cabernet Sauvignon in a Sangiovese blend and with its practice of ageing in small French barriques. Antinori was accused of vinous treachery and treason but soon barrique-aged blends of Sangiovese and Cabernet began appearing all across Tuscany.
Tignanello was created by Giacomo Tachis and Piero Antinori in 1970, then it was called Podere Tignanello Chianti Classico Riserva, becoming Tignanello, Vino da Tavola in 1971 when it was made as a pure Sangiovese. In 1975 the Cabernet Sauvignon arrived which in recent years is leaning towards Cabernet Franc under the guidance of Renzo Cotarella.
The Terroir:
Within the boundaries of Tenuta Tignanello’s about 130 hectares of vineyards, divided into smaller individual parcels, are two of the finest pearls: the Tignanello vineyard and the Solaia vineyard.
The soils, originating in the Pliocene period, are rich in calcareous rock and marl and sit at an altitude of 350-400 meters above sea level with considerable temperature fluctuation between day and night; all of these factors combined give the grapes their unique characteristics.
Grape varieties grown include the indigenous Sangiovese and untraditional varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc that are able to fully express the territory’s distinctive characteristics.
The Wines:
Tignanello was the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques, the first contemporary red wine blended with untraditional varieties (specifically Cabernet) and one of the first red wines in the Chianti Classico region that didn’t use white grapes. Tignanello is a milestone. It’s produced with a selection of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
