Ornellaia
The Ornellaia story showcases vision, passion, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, beginning in 1981 with its founding by Marchese Lodovico Antinori. A member of the renowned Antinori family, Lodovico was the nephew of Sassicaia’s creator and brother of Piero Antinori. Although he established the estate, the Frescobaldi group has owned Tenuta dell’Ornellaia for nearly two decades.
A Quest for Excellence
For 700 years, the Frescobaldi family has crafted wine with creativity, excellence, and a deep respect for tradition. They embrace and celebrate local diversity, always honoring the identity and independence of each wine estate. Since launching its flagship wine, Ornellaia, in 1985, the estate has demonstrated meticulous attention to detail. This journey includes creating Italy’s first second
From the Earth to the Sea
Getting its name from the grove of flowering ash trees surrounding the winery, Tenuta dell’Ornellaia is on the Tuscan Coast, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the section of the Northern Maremma between Livorno and the island of Elba.
The vineyards extend over two adjacent areas that are separated by Bolgheri’s famed Cypress Avenue. There are 99 ha of vineyards in all, 41 surrounding the Tenuta, and the remaining 58 in an area known as Bellaria, which is closer to the sea.
Under the guidance of renowned winemaker Axel Heinz, Ornellaia has
earned a reputation for consistent excellence, producing arange of wines that showcase the full potential of the Bolgheri terroir.
Ornellaia’s vineyards, spanning 244 acres of clay, gravel, and loam soils, provide an ideal canvas for crafting world-class Super Tuscan wines.
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.
A Tangible Commitment to the Future
Sustainability is a way of life that looks to the future. They see it as their duty to society as well as to the area where their vines grown, the people work and their families live. Since 2021 they have held the ‘Sustainable Organization certification in compliance with the SODP Equalitas standard.
Ornellaia’s enduring allure extends far beyond the vineyards of Bolgheri, captivating wine connoisseurs worldwide with each new vintage.
In 2007, a Salmanazar (9 L bottle) of Ornellaia 2005 was sold for USD$33,600 at Christie’s of New York.
The Ornellaia Range
For further details, we invite you to explore additional information on the Ornellaia website.
