One of the happiest moments in Italian viticulture occurred when Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, an enthusiastic convert to the great wines of Bordeaux, decided to plant Bordelaise varietals at Tenuta San Guido, his property in Bolgheri, Italy. The eventual fruit of his labors was Sassicaia, one of the first SuperTuscans. In the early 1980s, Incisa della Rocchetta’s nephew Marchese Lodovico Antinori also decided to try his hand at making this style of wine, and thus began the story of Tenuta dell’Ornellaia. Now owned by Mar¬chesi de’ Frescobaldi and operated under the supervision of winemaker Axel Heinz, the estate continues to deliver some of the world’s most brilliantly articulated red wines. Semi-concealed in the foothills near Bolgheri, Ornellaia lies just a few kilometres from the Mediterranean coast

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During the summer months, the cool sea breeze caresses the vineyards and nearby olive groves, while during the winter the hills provide protection from the cold north winds. Ornellaia believes that a wine should be the most authentic expression of the terroir from which it originates and it is right here that, together with the maritime climate, the heterogeneous nature of the land and the estate – of marine, alluvial and volcanic origin – creates a distinct environment where red and white varieties can best express themselves.
The endless parcels of vineyards fit well into this unspoilt landscape like tesserae in a large mosaic, creating a work of extraordinary beauty, complexity and elegance in a truly unique place. Experience, expertise and determination have played their part in enhancing Ornellaia’s quality and reputation, but it is the estate itself that is a constant source of inspiration and which constantly suggests new and exclusive ways to capture its great generosity. 2002’s weather report can be neatly divided into two halves: before and after the 10th of August, including the harvest. The early part of the vines’ vegetative cycle was precocious and positive, with normal flower and fruit setting despite the alternating spells of hot and cold weather. From 10th August there were abundant rains. The harvest began the 14th September, and ended on 10th October, amidst good days and bad. Due to this weather pattern it was necessary to carry out a severe selection. In the winery, a further selection process was installed: a second sorting table was added after the destemmer in order to remove any damaged grapes and to ensure that only perfectly healthy grapes went to the presses.