Aia Vecchia is an estate winery in Castagneto Carducci on Tuscany’s Tyrrhenian coast. Aia Vecchia takes its name from an old building between the hamlet of Bolgheri and Castagneto Carducci. Red wines are made under the Bolgheri DOC and the Morellino di Scansano DOCG. Whites are made under the Maremma Toscana DOC.

Owner: Pellegrini family.

Background: After generations in the wine sector, the Pellegrini family founded Aia Vecchia in 1996. the aim was to create a portfolio of small lot, high-quality Super Tuscan blends. With the help of the famous Hungarian winemaker Tibor G’al, the Pellegrini family purchased land in the Bolgheri DOC. Aia Vecchia recruited agronomist Daniel Schuster to plan the vineyards with appropriate grape varieties, clones, and different rootstocks, which came directly from Bordeaux. The first vintage of Aia Vecchia’s flagship wine, “Lagone,” was in 1998.

Vineyards: The property consists of 104 acres split into two estates in Bolgheri and Maremma Grossetana. In the Bolgheri zone Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit are planted. These are used for the production of two of the flagship wines: “Lagone” and “Sor Ugo.” The Morellino di Scansano and the Vermentino are produced at the estate of Magliano in Toscana (Grosseto), where the Pellegrini family owns 74 acres planted to Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Vermentino and Viognier grape varieties.

Winery: The cellar situated in Castagneto Carducci contains 2,000 barriques.

White wines

Maremma Toscana IGT Vermentino: Vermentino, Viognier. From vineyards in Magliano in Toscana and Montiano. Aged four months in stainless steel.

Pink wines

Rosato IGT Toscana, Solidio: 2015 90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot. From vines in Magliano in Toscana (Gr), Tuscany. Aged four months in stainless steel.

Red wines

Morellino di Scansano, DOCG, Aia Vecchia: Sangiovese from vines in Magliano in Toscana (GR), Toscana. Ageing in stainless steel.

IGT Toscana Rosso, Lagone: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc. From the Bolgheri zone and Magliano in Toscana. Ageing: In various types of oak barrels for 12 months. | 2002 Toscana Rosso. Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese. Green and a bit too aggressive as they have gone for too much extraction; shame as decent tannins intrinsically both for fruit and for wood (Bolgheri wine route office on Tues 22 Feb 2005). | 2010 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc. £8-14.99. Plummy, leafy, rich, chewy with mint, clove and vanilla thrown in. Plenty of ripeness and depth (Silver, DWWA 29th April 2013).

Bolgheri Rosso Superiore DOC, Sor Ugo: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot from Bolgheri, Castagneto Carducci. Aged in 100% new French Allier oak barrels for at least 18 months; aged 12 months in bottle. | 2001 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. International style, heavy wood, very dry tannin (Bolgheri wine route office on Tues 22 Feb 2005).

Contact

Aia Vecchia

Loc. Casavecchia

57020 Castagneto Carducci (LI), Italy

Tel+39 0586.677147 | Website www.aiavecchiabolgheri.it