Ornellaia

History

Ornellaia was founded in 1981 by Marchese Lodovico Antinori, a member of the prominent Antinori family, which has been involved in winemaking for over 600 years. The vineyards were planted in 1981, and the first vintage was released in 1985. Initially, the winery was established with the help of winemaker Tibor Gál and consultant André Tchelitscheff. A modern winery was built in 1987, and a second property, Bellaria, was later added.

In 1999, Robert Mondavi Winery acquired a minority interest in Ornellaia, and by 2002, they had full ownership. However, Frescobaldi family bought out Mondavi's share in 2005, becoming the sole owners of the estate. Axel Heinz was appointed as the winemaker, while Michel Rolland, who has been involved with the estate since its beginning, retained his role as consultant oenologist. This sequence of ownership is documented in Jonathan Nossiter's film *Mondovino*. A notable sale of a Salmanazar (9 L bottle) of Ornellaia 2005 for USD$33,600 at Christie's of New York highlights the wine's prestige[1][2][4].

Terroir

Ornellaia's terroir is characterized by its unique combination of soils and microclimate. The vineyards are situated in the Bolgheri region of Tuscany, where a complex mosaic of soils ranging from marine, alluvial, and volcanic origins provides an ideal foundation for the grape varieties. The proximity to the Tyrrhenian Sea moderates the temperatures significantly during summer months, creating a hybrid maritime-Mediterranean climate. This climate, combined with the vineyard's altitude on rocky hill sides, contributes to balanced wines even in hot vintages. The soils, dominated by limestone and clay, further enhance the terroir's distinctiveness. The estate's meticulous intraplot management ensures that every plot is individually assessed, picked, and matured in oak, adding to the complexity of the wines produced[1][2][5].