Ornellaia

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia is an Italian wine producer in the DOC Bolgheri region of Toscana. Its vineyards overlook the Tyrrhenian Sea between Livorno and the island of Elba. It was established in 1981 by Marchese Lodovico Antinori with the help of Tibor Gal, and the pair worked together to produce the first vintage in 1985. Constellation Brands currently owns the vineyards, and the current winemaker, Axel Heinz, has been with Tenuta dell'Ornellaia from the start, and frequently consults with oenologist Michel Rolland.

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia owns 99 hectares of vineyards which are planted at altitudes ranging from 50 to 120 meters above sea level. The vineyards contain a diverse array of soils including marine, alluvial and volcanic. The planting density of the vineyards varies throughout the property, with an average of about 6,000 vines per acre. The acres are divided into parcels based upon the type of grape that is growing. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Petit Manseng.

Ornellaia, a Bolgheri Doc Superiore, is known as one of the best individual wines produced by Tenuta dell'Ornellaia. It is a Super Tuscan" wine that is considered one Italy's leading Bordeaux-style red wines. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Cabernet Sauvingon is typically the primary ingredient followed by Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It has been in vintage since 1985, and the 2006 vintage is regarded as one of the greatest ever in Tuscany.