A 7-hectare blue-clay Merlot parcel inside the Ornellaia estate. First released as a separate brand in 1986. Now operates with its own dedicated cellar opened in 2020; widely considered Italy's most prestigious Merlot.
Signature wines: masseto, massetino
Scores: Wine Advocate 98 (2001), Wine Advocate 100 (2015)
Address: Localita Ornellaia 191, 57022 Bolgheri, Livorno, Italy, Tuscany
Antinori's Bolgheri estate, established as a standalone vineyard in 1990 from the family's 1932 land purchase. 320 hectares; Guado al Tasso Superiore is flagship.
Tasting: Cellar visits, vineyard walks and the Osteria Magona village kitchen at Bolgheri; bookings via the Antinori hospitality desk.
Signature wines: guado-al-tasso, il-bruciato, scalabrone, matarocchio
Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2015), Vinous 97 (2018)
Family estate founded 1983 by Eugenio Campolmi; Cinzia Merli has led the property since his death in 2002. Single-varietal Cabernet Franc (Paleo), Merlot (Messorio) and Syrah (Scrio) bottlings; CCPB-organic certified.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tutored tastings by appointment; vegan vinification practices used since 2014.
Signature wines: le-macchiole-paleo-rosso, le-macchiole-messorio, le-macchiole-scrio, le-macchiole-bolgheri-rosso
Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2015), Vinous 96 (2019)
The second estate to release a Bolgheri red after Sassicaia, founded 1977. Acquired by Claudio Tipa's ColleMassari group in 2002; CCPB-organic certified since 2014.
Tasting: Cellar visits, vineyard walks and tastings by appointment; certified organic since 2014.
Signature wines: grattamacco-bolgheri-superiore, grattamacco-bolgheri-rosso, grattamacco-grattamacco-bianco
Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 95 (2018)
Bolgheri's enduring artisan: Michele Satta arrived in 1974 and bottled his first wine in 1983. Notable for keeping a 100% Sangiovese (Cavaliere) on the Bordeaux-dominated coast.
Tasting: Cellar tours and tasting flights by appointment; Michele Satta personally hosts on advance booking.
Signature wines: michele-satta-piastraia, michele-satta-i-castagni, michele-satta-cavaliere
Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2018), Vinous 93 (2018)
Antinori's Bolgheri estate, established as a standalone vineyard in 1990 from the family's 1932 land purchase. 320 hectares; Guado al Tasso Superiore is flagship.
Tasting: Cellar visits, vineyard walks and the Osteria Magona village kitchen at Bolgheri; bookings via the Antinori hospitality desk.
Signature wines: guado-al-tasso, il-bruciato, scalabrone, matarocchio
Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2015), Vinous 97 (2018)
Family estate founded 1983 by Eugenio Campolmi; Cinzia Merli has led the property since his death in 2002. Single-varietal Cabernet Franc (Paleo), Merlot (Messorio) and Syrah (Scrio) bottlings; CCPB-organic certified.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tutored tastings by appointment; vegan vinification practices used since 2014.
Signature wines: le-macchiole-paleo-rosso, le-macchiole-messorio, le-macchiole-scrio, le-macchiole-bolgheri-rosso
Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2015), Vinous 96 (2019)
The second estate to release a Bolgheri red after Sassicaia, founded 1977. Acquired by Claudio Tipa's ColleMassari group in 2002; CCPB-organic certified since 2014.
Tasting: Cellar visits, vineyard walks and tastings by appointment; certified organic since 2014.
Signature wines: grattamacco-bolgheri-superiore, grattamacco-bolgheri-rosso, grattamacco-grattamacco-bianco
Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 95 (2018)
Bolgheri's enduring artisan: Michele Satta arrived in 1974 and bottled his first wine in 1983. Notable for keeping a 100% Sangiovese (Cavaliere) on the Bordeaux-dominated coast.
Tasting: Cellar tours and tasting flights by appointment; Michele Satta personally hosts on advance booking.
Signature wines: michele-satta-piastraia, michele-satta-i-castagni, michele-satta-cavaliere
Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2018), Vinous 93 (2018)
Contini Bonacossi family estate at Carmignano with vineyard records back to 804 AD on the property. Wine production formalised in 1920; certified organic and a Carmignano DOCG benchmark.
Tasting: Cellar tours, Vin Santo vinsantaia visits, vineyard walks and on-site agriturismo accommodation; certified organic.
Signature wines: capezzana-villa-di-capezzana, capezzana-trefiano-riserva, capezzana-vin-santo-di-carmignano-riserva
Scores: Wine Advocate 93 (2018), Vinous 93 (2018)
Maremma estate built by Elisabetta Geppetti from her 1985 inheritance into the region's reference producer. Saffredi (Cabernet-Merlot-Alicante IGT) and Morellino anchor the range.
Tasting: Cellar tours, vineyard walks and tasting flights by reservation; Saffredi is the long-running Super Tuscan flagship.
Signature wines: le-pupille-saffredi, le-pupille-poggio-valente, le-pupille-morellino-di-scansano
Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2019), Vinous 95 (2018)
