Heritage

A defining estate of Bolgheri

Today, Ornellaia is owned by the Frescobaldi family and continues to be recognised as one of Italy’s great wine estates. Its reputation has been built not only through the flagship Ornellaia Bolgheri DOC Superiore, but also through a coherent range that includes Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia, Le Volte dell’Ornellaia, Poggio alle Gazze dell’Ornellaia and Ornellaia Bianco. The Vendemmia d’Artista project has also given the estate a distinctive cultural identity, linking each vintage of Ornellaia with contemporary art.

Region and Vineyards

Bolgheri and the Tuscan coast

Ornellaia lies near Bolgheri, in coastal Tuscany, where the influence of the Tyrrhenian Sea is central to the character of the wines. Sea breezes moderate warm growing conditions, while the estate’s varied soils and exposures allow Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot to ripen with depth, aromatic complexity and freshness.

Bolgheri is now one of Italy’s most prestigious fine wine regions, but its modern reputation was built relatively recently compared with historic inland appellations. Ornellaia helped demonstrate that Tuscany’s coast could produce structured, age-worthy wines with both Mediterranean character and international appeal. The estate’s vineyards are managed parcel by parcel, allowing each component to contribute its own texture, fruit profile and structural role to the final wines.

Viticulture and Winemaking

Sustainability and detailed selection

Ornellaia’s vineyard work is based on respect for the estate’s natural resources and long-term sustainability. In 2021, the estate obtained Equalitas Sustainable Organisation certification, a formal recognition of work across environmental, social and economic responsibility. In practice, this sits alongside detailed vineyard observation, biodiversity measures and careful management of water, soil and plant health.

In the cellar, precision is essential. Grapes from individual vineyard parcels are vinified separately, allowing the winemaking team to understand the character and quality of each lot before blending. French oak ageing supports structure and complexity, while the final blends are built to express the identity of each vintage. This approach is central to the consistency of Ornellaia, where power, polish and terroir definition need to work together.

Style of Wine

Ornellaia produces still red and white wines. The flagship Ornellaia is a Bolgheri DOC Superiore red wine known for depth, concentration, refined tannins and long ageing potential. It typically brings together Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot in a layered, structured and polished style.

Le Serre Nuove offers a second-wine expression from the same estate philosophy, while Le Volte provides a more accessible introduction to the Ornellaia style. Poggio alle Gazze and Ornellaia Bianco show the estate’s white wine dimension, combining aromatic intensity, texture and Mediterranean freshness. Across the range, Ornellaia offers prestige, recognition and consistent fine wine credibility.

Ornellaia provides a familiar reference point for Bolgheri, while the wider range allows the estate story to be expressed across more than one price level or occasion.

A Bolgheri benchmark in the UK wine trade

Ornellaia anchors the premium Bolgheri category. Le Volte and Le Serre Nuove support Italian fine wine lists at different price points, while Ornellaia and Ornellaia Bianco strengthen allocation, collector and private-client offers with global recognition.

Visit Ornellaia’s website.