Ornellaia

Tenuta dell’Ornellaia was founded by Lodovico Antinori in 1981. Brother of Piero Antinori, the owner of Marchesi Antinori. Ornellaia released their first wine in 1985. The Ornellaia Superiore. A blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Ornellaia is considered one of Italy’s leading Bordeaux-style red wines. Ornellaia also produces a few white wines, grappa, and olive oil.

The estate’s second red wine, Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia, contains the same varieties as the Ornellaia superiore, but the grapes comes from younger vines. The estate’s third red wine, Le Volte dell’Ornellaia, is the estate’s only red wine that features an Italian grape variety, blending Sangiovese with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The estate is located at the Maremma coast in Bolgheri. Being one of the early settlers in the region. A well-known place for Super Tuscan producers. Ornellaia also runs a one Michelin star restaurant in Zurich, Ristorante Ornellaia.

The winery changed their name in 2012 from "Tenuta dell'Ornellaia" to "Ornellaia e Masseto", in recognition of the importance of the Merlot-based wine. They own the iconic Tuscan neighbouring property Masseto, Italy’s top Merlot, which up until 2019 was also produced at Ornellaia but now is produced at their own estate.

In 2001, Lodovico Antinori sold the property to US winemaker Robert Mondavi, who then sold a 50% share to Frescobaldi in 2002. In 2005 Frescobaldi took complete control of Ornellaia.

The Ornellaia Superiore production is around 140.000 bottles a year. Le Serre Nuove is around 190.000 bottles and Le Volte around 450.000 bottles a year.

Top Ornellaia vintages are: 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2019.


FACTS

Year Founded: 1981
Owner: Frescobaldi family
Annual production: approx. 1,000,000 bottles
Vineyard: approx. 100 hectares
Natural Viticulture