Meeting with a legendary Tuscany winery
Founded in 1981, Ornellaia was born in the heart of Bolgheri, along Tuscany’s Tyrrhenian coast—a territory that, in just a few decades, has become synonymous with some of the world’s finest wines. From the very beginning, the estate has pursued a singular goal: excellence.
This estate is extended on 134 hectares of vineyard but also have forest and olive trees. Ornellaia benefits from a unique microclimate shaped by the nearby Tyrrhenian Sea and soils of marine, alluvial, and volcanic origin. Here, grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot reach their fullest expression.
Since 2002, the wine estate has been part of the Frescobaldi Group, one of the most famous names in Italian winemaking. Ornellaia Bolgheri DOC Superiore and Ornellaia Bianco Bolgheri DOC Bianco are the estate’s top wines, ensued by Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia, Le Volte dell’Ornellaia and the white Poggio alle Gazze dell’Ornellaia. The team’s dedication, in addition to optimal geological characteristics and an exemplary microclimate, has resulted in critical acclaim and public success within Italy and internationally.
Vendemmia d’Artista
Each year, Ornellaia celebrates its identity through the “Vendemmia d’Artista” project, inviting internationally acclaimed artists to interpret the character of the vintage through limited-edition labels and original artworks. These unique creations, often auctioned by Sotheby’s, fetch extraordinary prices and have become highly sought-after collectors’ items.
The proceeds from the “Vendemmia d’Artista” project has been supporting the arts and individual projects developed by museums and foundations around the world, including the Friends of Florence Foundation, London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, the Beyeler Foundation in Basel and the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles or the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation to which Ornellaia has offered its support since 2019.
Focus on an exceptional terroir
The terroir of Ornellaia, located in the prestigious Bolgheri appellation, is a true mosaic of soils and microclimates that gives uniqueness and complexity to its wines.
Geological Diversity
The Ornellaia vineyard extends across various geographic areas, each with distinct pedoclimatic characteristics, but all sharing an extraordinary richness of soil types:
• Northern Area – Bellaria:
Situated at the northernmost edge of the appellation, near the village of Bolgheri, this area lies between 80 and 130 meters above sea level. Here, the soils are deep and well-draining, ideal for withstanding dry periods as the vines’ roots can search deep underground for water and nutrients.
The soils range from sandy to more skeletal-rich zones, with clay content reaching up to 25% mixed with sand, and a presence of friable limestone that can exceed 20%. This limestone is not active but rather integrated into the soil’s structure, providing minerality and freshness to the wines.
The more draining soils are best suited for Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, while the clay-rich areas favor Merlot and sometimes Petit Verdot.
• Historic Area – Ornellaia:
Surrounding the winery lies the historic core of the vineyard, where the soils are predominantly rich in clay, sometimes with high limestone content. These soils produce powerful, deep, and concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon, with an aromatic profile that is completely different from the wines of the northern area. The clay in this zone contributes to the wines’ structure and aging potential, giving rise to firm tannins and a distinctive minerality.
Bolgheri’s Mediterranean climate, moderated by winds from both the Tyrrhenian Sea and the surrounding hills, plays a fundamental role. The winds in Bellaria are fresh and elegant, encouraging the creation of more refined and aromatic wines. The winds in the Ornellaia zone, by contrast, contribute to wines that are more powerful and concentrated.