Bolgheri DOC

DOC-Area for white, red, and rosé wines in the central west of the Italian region Tuscany, named after the municipality on the Livorno coast. The vineyard area, which was only 200 hectares in the late 1990s, now encompasses around 900 hectares around the municipality of Castagneto Carducci in the province of Livorno in the west of the region. This was named after the literary historian Giosuè Carducci (1835-1907), who spent his childhood there. Bolgheri is a district located eight kilometers north of it, which includes the approximately 500-hectare nature reserve Oasi di Bolgheri. Among the most famous and largest producers are Antinori with the winery Guado al Tasso and Gaja with the winery Ca’ Marcanda. The image shows the Bellaria Alta vineyard of the winery Ornellaia with a view of the sea and the coastal municipality of Marina di Bibbona.

The Bianco is blended from Vermentino (max. 70%), Sauvignon Blanc (max. 70%), Trebbiano Toscano (max. 40%), as well as other approved varieties (max. 30%). Rosso and Rosato are blended in any combination of Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Merlot and/or Cabernet Franc (up to 100%), Syrah (max. 50%), Sangiovese (max. 50%) as well as other approved red varieties (max. 30%). The Rosso Superiore must age for 26 months, of which at least 12 months in oak barrels. The two single-varietal white wines Sauvignon Blanc and Vermentino must contain at least 85% of the respective variety, the rest can be approved white varieties.

DOC Bolgheri Sassicaia

The DOC area Bolgheri Sassicaia, named after the location Sassicaia (named after the stony soil, sassi = stones), is owned by a single winery, the Tenuta San Guido. The red wine became famous in the late 1960s and contributed to the success of the so-called Super-Tuscans. However, this wine is mostly referred to simply as Sassicaia (see there) and is also a kind of synonym or designation for the winery itself.

Image: © Jobst von Volckamer