Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
Ornellaia has established itself among the iconic wine estates in Italy (and beyond). The estate is dedicated to producing charming and opulent wines, full of Mediterranean character and finesse, reflecting the estate’s unique terroir in Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast. The combination of Bolgheri’s unique soils and growing conditions, and what can only be characterized as a total obsession with excellence, result in the world-class wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc that so many wine lovers across the world have come to cherish.
Ornellaia employs a full time team of 80 people whose passion and motivation make Ornellaia what it is today. No shortcuts in the part of the production are allowed and the details literally come down to a grape by grape basis. Wines are intently crafted to capture the character of each vintage, in all its complexity and facets. In fact, the character and intricacies of each individual vintage are so important to the estate that since vintage 2006, the estate has identified a single word that captures the character of each vintage, and that word is interpreted by a contemporary artist who produces special labels and a site-specific work of art that remains part of the estate’s permanent collection.
In addition to its place among Italy’s iconic wines, Ornellaia is also an ambassador for the Bolgheri region, leading it to be recognized as one of Italy’s greatest winegrowing regions. It is their belief, and it is hard to argue, that Bogheri’s mild maritime climate and diversity of soils create wines as distinct, complex and pleasurable as any in the world.
Learn more here.
Wines
Ornus dell'Ornellaia
Toscana Bianco IGT
Ornus dell’Ornellaia is a late harvest Petit Manseng produced in extremely limited quantities and gives yet another dimension to the Estate. In certain vintages conditions are perfect in the tiny “Palmetta” vineyard for the production of this exclusive dessert wine. The name Ornus dell’Ornellaia takes its inspiration from ‘Fraxinus Ornus’, the Latin name for the Manna or Flowering Ash (in Italian, Orniello), the tree which has given its name to the Ornellaia. The “Manna Ash” Orniello or ‘Fraxinus Ornus’ is a tree which is typical to the Mediterranean coastal area. Its precious sap has been used since Biblical times as a sweetener and acts as a perfect link to the sweetness of Ornus dell’Ornellaia.
Ornellaia Bianco
IGT Toscana
Ornellaia Bianco is Italy's most ambitious white wine. It is a result of the Estate’s desire to translate the exceptional properties of its terroir not only into red wines, but also into this magnificent white.
Le Volte dell’Ornellaia
Toscana IGT
Le Volte dell’Ornellaia combines a Mediterranean expression of generosity with structure and complexity, reflecting the philosophy of Ornellaia. It represents the first step into the Ornellaia family, and is an ideal wine for everyday enjoyment.
Poggio alle Gazze dell’Ornellaia
Toscana IGT Bianco
Poggio alle Gazze dell'Ornellaia is one of Italy's most innovative and progressive white wines, providing an altogether different experience of the Ornellaia estate and its Mediterranean influences.
Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia
Bolgheri DOC Rosso
Coming primarily from the Ornellaia's younger vineyard sites and made with the same passion and attention to detail as the estate's flagship wine, Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia combines generosity and depth of flavor with an engaging and vibrant personality.
Ornellaia
Bolgheri DOC Superiore
Ornellaia is the estate's "Grand Vin", with exceptional balance, power, elegance, and great aging potential. It faithfully reflects, in every vintage, its nature, site, and distinctive Mediterranean personality.
Reviews
Ornellaia 2016 (98 WA)
- "The 2016 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is a wine of extreme complexity and precision. It offers monumental depth with profound layers of black fruit, coffee, licorice and baking chocolate. I tasted this 2016 vintage beside the less-impactful 2015 vintage (which was reviewed last year). These two editions are very different when compared side to side, and this 2016 release is clearly superior in terms of the quality, clarity and intensity of its offerings. This Ornellaia delivers glossy shine and a polished texture that segues to important richness, concentration and textural fiber. It wraps thickly over the palate, imparting waves of sweet dark fruit and dark spice that linger for many long minutes. This beautiful wine is hitting the market now, but collectors will want to put it straight into their cellars for safekeeping."
More on Ornellaia
An Iconic Super Tuscan
January 18, 2019 - Forbes wine columnist Brian Freedman writes about Ornellaia and the estate's Vendemmia d'Artista project. Read all about it here.
People
Marco Balsimelli
Born in 1983, Marco Balsimelli grew up in Tuscany where wine is a part of life. Always passionate about flavors in both cuisine and wine, he spontaneously approached wine at a young age by taking his first sommelier course at the age of 17, thus making clear the path he was destined for after high school.
Marco studied oenology and viticulture at the University of Florence before leaving for Bordeaux, where he graduated from the prestigious Faculté d'Oenologie.
He got his first experiences in Italy in Badia Coltibuono, and in France, in several château including Château Gruaud Larose and Chateau Brillette. In 2010 he joined Eric Boissenot’s oenological consultancy where he advised many Grands Cru Classés in Bordeaux such as Château Léoville Barton, Chateau Lagrange, Chateau du Tertre, Chateau Saint Pierre, and Chateau Kirwan, as well as renowned wineries outside France such as Siro Pacenti, Poggio Antico in Italy and Don Melchor in Chile.
As a consultant Marco has worked with more than 150 properties in various countries, but his main focus has been on about 40 different properties in the Medoc, thus having the opportunity to deal with many different vintages, climates and terroirs, and to experiment with various methods and techniques throughout his journey.
Trade Materials
Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2016 Shelf Talker (94 WA)
Spec Sheet | PDF
Ornellaia has established itself among the iconic wine estates in Italy (and beyond). The estate is dedicated to producing charming and opulent wines, full of Mediterranean character and finesse, reflecting…
Maps
Videos
Ornellaia 2015 Launch in New York
August 16, 2019 - As a part of the 2015 vintage launch in New York, enjoy this interview with winemaker Axel Heinz and Alessandro Lunardi of Ornellaia.
