Ornellaia is one of the original Super Tuscans , making some of Italy’s finest Cabernet blends. Located in the foothills of Bolgheri, the estate is owned by the Frescobaldi family, which also owns the neighbouring Masseto (and was originally part of the same property).
The estate was founded in 1981 by Lodovico Antinori, brother of Piero Antinori. The vines were planted in 1981, with the first wine made in 1985 and released in 1988. In 2002 Robert Mondavi bought the entire estate from Antinori, later selling 50% to Frescobaldi. By 2005 Frescobaldi had taken complete ownership, and Axel Heinz joined as winemaker who remains the Estate Director for both Ornellaia and Masseto today.
Ornellaia produces seven wines in total, one grappa and an olive oil. The flagship Ornellaia cuvée is a Cabernet Sauvignon-led Bordeaux blend. Their white wine Ornellaia Bianco was first produced in 2013 and is a Sauvignon Blanc dominant blend with Viognier. Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia is the second wine, while there are three earlier-drinking wines also produced: Le Volte dell’Ornellaia, Poggio alle Gazze dell’Ornellaia and Variazioni in Rosso dell’Ornellaia. Ornus dell’Ornellaia, first produced in 2011, is a rare sweet wine made from 100% Petit Manseng.
