It was in 1981 that the Marquis Lodovico Antinori, cousin of Piero Antinori, founded the Tenuta Ornellaia estate, in the heart of the Bolgheri area, a few kilometers from the Mediterranean coast.
With the first harvest in 1985, what would become an icon among Super Tuscans was born: "Ornellaia," released for sale three years later, in 1988. With the inauguration of the winery, world-renowned winemaker Michel Rolland began overseeing the technical aspects of the cellar. Subsequently, in the 1990s, two other labels were born: "Le Volte" and "Le Serre Nuove."
In early 2000, Robert Mondavi, the prominent Californian producer, acquired the estate, subsequently selling 50% to Marchesi de' Frescobaldi, which acquired the remaining 50% just three years later. The late 2000s also saw the launch of the "Poggio alle Gazze" label, followed by the highly select late-harvest wine "Ornus," made from pure Petit Manseng grapes.
A legendary winery, therefore, credited with writing the history of Bolgheri. With nearly one hundred hectares of vineyards, plus another thirteen leased, Tenuta Ornellaia has always focused on one single objective: quality. Every decision, every choice, takes into account every minute detail, and from the vineyard to the final bottling, no shortcuts are allowed. During the harvest, only the finest and most balanced bunches are selected and picked, subsequently processed separately in the cellar, based on their cru of origin. A year of ageing in barrels is then followed by the composition of the blend: everything is aimed at enhancing every nuance of the terroir and enhancing the expression of each individual vintage, always respecting the continuity of what can be considered the "Ornellaia style," synonymous with experience, expertise, and determination, which in the glass translate into a complexity and elegance that are difficult to match.