When the Ornellaia winery’s founder Marchese Lodovico Antinori planned to start his own wine estate, he had an impressive example to follow within his own family. His brother Piero had helped their cousin Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta to transform Tenuta San Guido from a limited producer of Bordeaux-style red wine into the winemaker behind the first great Super-Tuscan, Sassicaia. From the start, the plan was based on not deviating too far from a winning formula. The Marchese acquired property adjoining the San Guido estate to the south, in the coastal hills of Bolgeri, west of Siena. Like his familial neighbours, he eschewed Tuscany’s favourite grape, Sangiovese, in favour of planting Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc, and Merlot. However, he did stray from the recipe a little by planting Sauvignon Blanc too.

At the turn of the century, the reigns were taken by the combined expertise of the Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi and Robert Mondavi Winery (and later Tenute di Toscana under the control of the Frescobaldi, with Giovanni Geddes da Filicaja at the helm), which provided fresh impetus and serious investment to ensure the growing reputation of Ornellaia would meet its full potential. Armit Wines has been proud to be...

When the Ornellaia winery’s founder Marchese Lodovico Antinori planned to start his own wine estate, he had an impressive example to follow within his own family. His brother Piero had helped their cousin Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta to transform Tenuta San Guido from a limited producer of Bordeaux-style red wine...