Bolgheri DOC covers still wines of all three colours grown in the Upper or northern Maremma area on the Tyrrhenian coast in Tuscany, Italy. The region lies between the Cecina and Cornia rivers in Livorno province, south of Livorno (‘Leghorn’ in English) and the Montescudaio DOC. When the Bolgheri DOC was created in 1983 it initially recognised white and pink wines only, to the extent that ‘rosato was the standard style before the advent of of the claret [Bordeaux red wine] style,’ (Nicolas Belfrage: 2001, p.397). This was despite the fact that Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta had planted Cabernet Sauvignon here in the 1940s at Tenuta San Guido, his private estate, to make wine for home consumption. The wine initially had to be sold as a ‘vino da tavola’ despite becoming internationally known as Sassicaia. Bolgheri’s DOC rules were finally amended in 1994 (see below for the detail), allowing red wines. In 1994 red wines were given the Bolgheri Rosso DOC, whilst Sassicaia became the first Italian estate with its own DOC by being giving its own Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC.
Before wine: It is hard to imagine Bolgheri ‘had been ‘practically abandoned by farmers at the turn of the [20th] century because it was believed it had ‘mal aria’ or bad air,’ (Susan Low: Oct 1993). Barbary pirates were another reason for caution. It was always considered better for cattle-breeding and arable farming than for wine. However despite the success of Tenuta San Guido’s Sassicaia, Rosemary George MW says she remembers visiting the area in the late 1980s when there were just two producers, Sassicaia and Pier Mario and Paola Cavallari of ColleMassari’s Grattamacco (first vintage 1982), while a third, [Ludovico Antinori’s] Ornellaia, was little more than a building site,’ (Rosemary George MW: 2001, p.255). Eventually wines like the aforementioned Grattamacco and Ornellaia (first vintage 1985), plus Paleo (from Le Macchiole), Guado al Tasso and later agronomist Michele Satta’s Piastraia found favour in the USA in particular. Hugh Johnson (Tuscan Refinement) says
Size: The size of the area is limited, the distance from the furthest point north to south is 13 km while its east-west extension is about 7 km. The vineyards sit at an altitude that varies from 10 to 380 metres above sea level.
Production zone: Production of Bolgheri DOC wines is permitted within the appellation’s territory that coincides with the political boundaries of the Municipality of Castagneto Carducci in the province of Livorno, with the exception of the stretch of coastline west of Via Aurelia,’ (Source: Consorzio).
The Bolgheri DOC is named after the ‘frazione’ or territorial subdivision of Bolgheri which is within the commune of Castagneto Carducci in the province of Livorno. Grapes for Bolgheri DOC wines must be produced within the administrative territory of the municipality of of Castagneto Carducci (land west of the Strada Statale Aurelia is excluded). The area is found within the northern section of the Maremma (the Alta Maremma) which is marketed as the Costa degli Etruschi or Etruscan Coast. On a clear day one can see Bastia on the Cap Corse opposite, whilst nearby the now ruined tower of Donoratico dates from the C9th when it was built by the counts of Donoratico, the Gheradesca family, to defend the coast from incursions by the Saracens, and the enemies of the republic of Pisa. It was partially destroyed by Alfonso of Aragon when he invaded the Maremma in the middle of the C15th; and Ugolino Gherardesca was starved to death here with his sons and nephews, as described by Dante in canto 33 of the ‘Inferno’.
‘The area is a natural theatre with the Colline Metalifere (hills with a rich variety of metallic mineral resources) to the east that gradually slope downwards towards the coastline. Thick forests cover the surrounding hillsides maintaining and protecting the rich and complex ecosystem. The tiered hillsides slowly descend towards the central arena; an area of flat terrain where most of the vineyards grow. Bolgheri faces centre stage: the Tyrrhenian sea dominated by the Tuscan archipelago with Corsica visible on the horizon,’ (Source: Consorzio). Axel Heinz of Ornellaia old me (2021) ‘most Bolgheri vineyards face west to the coast and benefit from sea breezes. We get richness and ripeness without loosing freshness. The drier air helps too, especially at picking.’
The area located west of Via Aurelia, the ancient consular road built by the Romans in the III century B.C., borders the coastline with long stretches of beaches and pine forests and is therefore not favorable land for growing vines,’ (Source: Consorzio).
Terroir: Unlike in Bordeaux, vintages in Bolgheri tend to be steady, making it a good place to invest; and picking can be ahead of central Tuscany by one to two weeks. The proximity to the sea gives a more temperate climate than that found in the central Tuscan hills, resulting in grapes that ripen earlier, often before the autumn rains arrive (OCW: 2015, p.89 by Walter Speller). The climate is dry, with low rainfall and cool/mild winds from the sea close by. The island of Elba creates a wind channel so there are always breezes here, although the hills form an amphitheatre protecting the vineyards. There can be big day-night temperature swings it seems. Hillside vineyards are considered too drought-prone (although Pier Mario Cavallari at Grattamacco has planted a vineyard in the hills; and there are others). Lower-lying vineyards on sandy clay are better for water retention, and are rich in minerals, especially so where soil colour is red which shows the presence of manganese.
Climate: ‘The amount of brightness and the resulting solar radiation index, which are determining factors for the vines’ photosynthetic activity, are ideal. The area’s latitude contributes on one side, while on the other, sunlight is intensified as it is reflected off the shimmering sea, falling at an angle that is optimal for the vineyards.Annual precipitation is in the range of approximately 600 ml per year, well distributed over the months, more frequent during the vegetative phases and sporadic during maturation. Soils are quite deep therefore the vines’ roots are able to find underground water resources even during years that present drought conditions,’ (Source: Consorzio).
Microclimate: ‘The position of Bolgheri’s theatre creates its unique and characteristic microclimate defined by the surrounding hillsides. Sea breezes, especially those channeled through the Tuscan archipelago, keep the area cool year-round providing an average yearly temperature of 15.5 C, about one degree lower than other costal zones. This phenomenon imparts greater freshness and elegance to the wines. Consistently windy weather, at least 250 days per year, has another beneficial effect on the vines’ health; breezes aerate the vineyards reducing the levels of humidity and limiting the threat of fungal diseases,’ (Source: Consorzio).
Soil: ‘The complexity and distinctive qualities of wines produced in Bolgheri are influenced by the great variety of soils. Geologically, Bolgheri’s terroir has both marine and alluvial origins; marine influences are reflected in the soil from the retreat of the sea in past eras, and alluvial deposits have been transported to the valley over the course of time from the many streams that run through Bolgheri’s hillsides. An important zonation study was conducted by Professor Attilio Scienza in the mid-1990s, completed in 2006, to fully understand the complexity of Bolgheri’s soils. The study identified 27 different soil units that were difficult to determine by macro-area. Many of these soil units appear in very small areas and this is the main reason there isn’t one prevailing grape variety in Bolgheri. Many different varieties have been planted to best express the unique characteristics of each individual soil unit. Generally speaking, most of the soils in Bolgheri are sandy clay loam, alkaline, deep, with a good percentage of very fine gravel, in which it’s possible to find fossil fragments such as small shells that are visible even on the surface, proof of the geological history of the territory,’ (Source: Consorzio).
Biodiversity: Bolgheri is home to Italy’s largest bird sanctuary (2,000ha of woodland, scrub (macchia) marshland and coastal terrain). A sand-dune and oasis with pine forests managed by the WWF is home to flocks of migratory water birds between November and May. Bolgheri is also famous for its long avenue of cypress trees, which featured in ‘Davanti a San Guido’, a poem by Giosuè Carducci. At the end of this road lies the Oratorio di San Guido, a six-sided building from 1703 commemorating a Gheradesca ancestor, Guido, who was a hermit in the C12th. This is home to the Tenuta San Guido from which Sassicaia, the wine which put Bolgheri on the map in the 1970s and 1980s (see file), originates.
Bolgheri DOC Vintages: 1988: ‘Generally hot, sunny weather until the final phases of berry ripening. The temperature reached its peak during August. Along with 1985 and 1990, the 1988 is the great vintage of the decade.’ (Source: Masseto Vintage report). 1989 vintage: See Bolgheri DOC. ‘The 1989 growing season was characterised by warm weather and clear skies until the final phase of grape ripening. There was modest rainfall during the summer and peak temperatures during August. This caused the ripening process of the grapes to slow down, and consequently, the grapes matured later than average,’ (Source: Masseto Vintage report). | 1990: ‘The 1990 vintage was generally warm and sunny for the duration of the vine’s vegetative cycle with a small amount of rain in early August followed by peak temperatures towards the end of August. The characteristics of this vintage were similar to that of 1988,’ (Source: Masseto Vintage report). | 1991 ‘The primary growing phase of the vines was characterised by an average temperature with flowering and optimal fruit set around the 15th of June. The summer months had lower than average temperatures and above average rainfall. For this reason, the maturation of the berry was about 3 weeks later than average,’ (Source: Masseto Vintage report). | 1992: The Bolgheri area enjoyed a spring with average temperatures. Persistent humidity in June caused a slight slowing down in the maturation of the fruit followed by a notable rise in temperature which continued throughout August. Periodic and sporadic cooler moments offered respite from the heat. The persistent humidity caused, however, a slight slowing down in the maturation of the fruit and the harvest was carried out slightly later than expected. Luckily, the area of Bolgheri was spared by the terrible rainfalls that occurred between the middle and end of September in other areas of Tuscany. In general, 1992 has not left positive impressions in Tuscany. Rains during September and October lowered quality, particularly in late-ripening varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc in Bolgheri and Sangiovese in central Tuscany. But many have forgotten that in mid-September the weather was good, and the harvest looked promising. Merlot, the earliest-ripening among all the varieties at Bolgheri, actually enjoyed fine conditions for most of its ripening,’ (Source: Ornellaia vintage report). The harvest was carried out slightly later than expected,’ (Source: Masseto Vintage report). | 1993 vintage: ‘A very warm spring with moderate rainfall resulted in an early flowering (around mid-May) followed by a very hot summer. Temperatures remained steady throughout September with the first rains not appearing until the end of the month,’ (Source: Ornellaia vintage report). | 1994 ‘Exceptionally warm spring with moderate rainfall. This resulted in a premature flowering of the Merlot vines on the 15th of May 1994. The summer months were extremely warm until the end of September, and there was very little rainfall,’ (Source: Ornellaia vintage report). | 1995 ‘Spring was cold and damp until mid-June. The weather then improved and from July until mid August was hot and dry. After mid-August until mid-September, temperatures were below average with some rain. After that time the weather greatly improved and was sunny, dry and very warm. Overall this meant that the grapes were in fact able to ripen perfectly. It was necessary, however, to carry out a severe selection and thinning of the grapes before the harvest, in order to ensure that the grapes remaining on the vines at the time of harvest had the desired good quality. Quantities were generally below average. ‘A late spring influenced the flowering of the vines. The end of June and the onset of July were somewhat cooler than the norm, followed suddenly by approximately 30 days of exceptionally hot weather. Intermittent showers started around the 8th of August with temperatures dropping and remaining somewhat cooler throughout the month of September. This is a fine vintage, even though it experienced cool, rainy weather at the start of the harvest,’ (Source: Ornellaiavintage report). | 1996 ‘The spring which was quite cool at the beginning caused a slight delay in budding, but afterwards temperatures increased enabling perfect flowering and fruit set. Abundant yields, needing thinning. ‘The spring of 1996 had below average temperatures which caused a delay in budding. The Merlot variety flowered 24/25 May. Temperatures in the summer were fairly stable but not excessively hot. Around mid-August there was some rain which caused some delay in ripening. Temperatures however increased noticeably at the beginning of September enabling the grapes to fully ripen.Attention was given to a careful grape selection. Another late-ripening year, generally considered to be inferior to 1995,’ (Source: Ornellaia vintage report). | 1997 The latter part of winter and early spring were very mild and dry for the time of year. Spring 1997’s above average temperatures resulted in an early budding of the vines [10 days earlier than average]. The vegetative cycle [budding] slowed down somewhat following an unexpected frost in mid-April [causing an arrest in the growth of the buds] and subsequent rain-fall until the end of the month. From May onwards, the weather became very warm and dry and the summer months were particularly hot, reaching above average temperatures. The grapes ripened earlier than usual, and harvesting was carried out under ideal conditions, starting on 25 August and finishing at the end of the first week of September [and for the duration of the harvest]. The vintage was exceptional in terms of quality (with grapes that had matured perfectly with good concentration and well matured tannins), while quantities were somewhat lower than average due to the small dimensions of the grapes resulting from the dry summer conditions. This vintage is already legendary, even if it is simply the first in a long series of exceptional vintages. Warm and early, 1997 expresses better than all other years the sun-blest, sensuous side of Masseto. Spacious, dense and ultra-concentrated, displaying soft, silky tannins. The bottling has preserved all of the lusciousness characteristic of this vintage and its magnificent aromatics as well as its deep sensory impressions. Its admirable power is accompanied by a gratifying elegance,’ (Source: Ornellaia vintage report). Wine quality: High quality. Said to be probably even better than the much acclaimed 1990 vintage and one of the greatest of the last fifty years. | 1998 ‘The end of Winter and the beginning of Spring were mild and very dry, which favoured early budding of the vines and accelerated the vegetative cycle – until the stabilising effect of some rainfall in May. Flowering took place in the same average period as other vintages. June was very hot and this accelerated the growth of the grapes and of the vegetative cycle by about 10-12 days. The summer months were very hot and sunny with temperatures well above average – particularly in July with long periods without any rainfall. This meant that the growth rate of the vines slowed down slightly and, on average, the grapes ripened about a week earlier than in average vintages. The end of winter and beginning of spring were mild, favouring an early budding of the vines. Flowering took place at the end of May followed by a uniform setting of the berry. The summer months were very hot and dry reaching, at times, temperatures well above average. The vintage saw very little rainfall (only 450 mm in the whole year). Veraison took place in mid-July in a very uniform way. At the end of July, the grapes were thinned to ensure that those remaining on the vines matured under the best conditions. Not easy to exceed an impressive year such as 1997, yet 1998 too can certainly lay claim, in Bolgheri, to the title of vintage of the decade. Another warm summer yielded a powerful, concentrated Masseto destined for long cellaring,’ (Source: Ornellaia vintage report). | 1999 ‘Third in a triptych of iconic vintages. Winter was slightly colder than in 1998, with budbreak delayed until around late March. During spring temperatures and rains were within the norm, with flowering and growth similar to the previous year. Flowering took place at the end of May. The excellent weather during late spring resulted in a better-than- average fruit set. A hot summer without rain led to veraison one week earlier than in previous vintages, with very consistent fruit. 1999 is another great wine that, like the 1998, is following a parabola of very slow evolution. A wine of concentration, smoothness, and power. It seemed, for many years, monolithic and closed. Today, however, it seems to have awakened, and the once-impetuous tannins have mellowed, making way for a broad, expansive silky weave. The aromatic complexity of a mature wine is slowly building, displaying those sensuous fragrances classic to warm vintages, with dark chocolate, black liquorice, and candied violets. In conclusion, it is a wine that could still have some surprises in store for us and emerge as one of the great Masseto. Patience however will be required, since it is still very young and has much life ahead,’ (Source: Ornellaia vintage report). Other notes: Early spring brought some rain and slightly warmer temperatures than the seasonal average. Budding was a few days earlier than normal. Excellent flowering. Rain in early summer, good vegetative balance. More rain early August. Some thinning needed to avoid excessive production. Weather in early September was particularly favourable and the grapes ripened perfectly. Hot vintage.
Bolgheri DOC, 1988 vintage: ‘Generally hot, sunny weather until the final phases of berry ripening. The temperature reached its peak during August. Along with 1985 and 1990, the 1988 is the great vintage of the decade.’ (Source: Masseto Vintage report).
Bolgheri DOC, 1989 vintage: See Bolgheri DOC. ‘The 1989 growing season was characterised by warm weather and clear skies until the final phase of grape ripening. There was modest rainfall during the summer and peak temperatures during August. This caused the ripening process of the grapes to slow down, and consequently, the grapes matured later than average,’ (Source: Masseto Vintage report).
1990: ‘The 1990 vintage was generally warm and sunny for the duration of the vine’s vegetative cycle with a small amount of rain in early August followed by peak temperatures towards the end of August. The characteristics of this vintage were similar to that of 1988,’ (Source: Masseto Vintage report).
Bolgheri DOC, 1991 vintage: See Bolgheri DOC.
‘The primary growing phase of the vines was characterised by an average temperature with flowering and optimal fruit set around the 15th of June. The summer months had lower than average temperatures and above average rainfall. For this reason, the maturation of the berry was about 3 weeks later than average,’ (Source: Masseto Vintage report).
Bolgheri DOC, 1992 vintage: 1992: The Bolgheri area enjoyed a spring with average temperatures. Persistent humidity in June caused a slight slowing down in the maturation of the fruit followed by a notable rise in temperature which continued throughout August. Periodic and sporadic cooler moments offered respite from the heat. The persistent humidity caused, however, a slight slowing down in the maturation of the fruit and the harvest was carried out slightly later than expected. Luckily, the area of Bolgheri was spared by the terrible rainfalls that occurred between the middle and end of September in other areas of Tuscany. In general, 1992 has not left positive impressions in Tuscany. Rains during September and October lowered quality, particularly in late-ripening varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc in Bolgheri and Sangiovese in central Tuscany. But many have forgotten that in mid-September the weather was good, and the harvest looked promising. Merlot, the earliest-ripening among all the varieties at Bolgheri, actually enjoyed fine conditions for most of its ripening,’ (Source: Ornellaia vintage report). The harvest was carried out slightly later than expected,’ (Source: Masseto Vintage report). | 1993: ‘A very warm spring with moderate rainfall resulted in an early flowering (around mid-May) followed by a very hot summer. Temperatures remained steady throughout September with the first rains not appearing until the end of the month,’ (Source: Ornellaia vintage report). | 1994: ‘Exceptionally warm spring with moderate rainfall. This resulted in a premature flowering of the Merlot vines on the 15th of May 1994. The summer months were extremely warm until the end of September, and there was very little rainfall,’ (Source: Ornellaia vintage report). | 1995 ‘Spring was cold and damp until mid-June. The weather then improved and from July until mid August was hot and dry. After mid-August until mid-September, temperatures were below average with some rain. After that time the weather greatly improved and was sunny, dry and very warm. Overall this meant that the grapes were in fact able to ripen perfectly. It was necessary, however, to carry out a severe selection and thinning of the grapes before the harvest, in order to ensure that the grapes remaining on the vines at the time of harvest had the desired good quality. Quantities were generally below average. ‘A late spring influenced the flowering of the vines. The end of June and the onset of July were somewhat cooler than the norm, followed suddenly by approximately 30 days of exceptionally hot weather. Intermittent showers started around the 8th of August with temperatures dropping and remaining somewhat cooler throughout the month of September. This is a fine vintage, even though it experienced cool, rainy weather at the start of the harvest,’ (Source: Ornellaiavintage report). | 1996 ‘The spring which was quite cool at the beginning caused a slight delay in budding, but afterwards temperatures increased enabling perfect flowering and fruit set. Abundant yields, needing thinning. ‘The spring of 1996 had below average temperatures which caused a delay in budding. The Merlot variety flowered 24/25 May. Temperatures in the summer were fairly stable but not excessively hot. Around mid-August there was some rain which caused some delay in ripening. Temperatures however increased noticeably at the beginning of September enabling the grapes to fully ripen.Attention was given to a careful grape selection. Another late-ripening year, generally considered to be inferior to 1995,’ (Source: Ornellaia vintage report). | 1997 The latter part of winter and early spring were very mild and dry for the time of year. Spring 1997’s above average temperatures resulted in an early budding of the vines [10 days earlier than average]. The vegetative cycle [budding] slowed down somewhat following an unexpected frost in mid-April [causing an arrest in the growth of the buds] and subsequent rain-fall until the end of the month. From May onwards, the weather became very warm and dry and the summer months were particularly hot, reaching above average temperatures. The grapes ripened earlier than usual, and harvesting was carried out under ideal conditions, starting on 25 August and finishing at the end of the first week of September [and for the duration of the harvest]. The vintage was exceptional in terms of quality (with grapes that had matured perfectly with good concentration and well matured tannins), while quantities were somewhat lower than average due to the small dimensions of the grapes resulting from the dry summer conditions. This vintage is already legendary, even if it is simply the first in a long series of exceptional vintages. Warm and early, 1997 expresses better than all other years the sun-blest, sensuous side of Masseto. Spacious, dense and ultra-concentrated, displaying soft, silky tannins. The bottling has preserved all of the lusciousness characteristic of this vintage and its magnificent aromatics as well as its deep sensory impressions. Its admirable power is accompanied by a gratifying elegance,’ (Source: Ornellaia vintage report). Wine quality: High quality. Saint to be probably even better than the much acclaimed 1990 vintage and one of the greatest of the last fifty years. | 1998 ‘The end of winter and the beginning of spring were mild and very dry, which favoured early budding of the vines and accelerated the vegetative cycle – until the stabilising effect of some rainfall in May. Flowering took place in the same average period as other vintages. June was very hot and this accelerated the growth of the grapes and of the vegetative cycle by about 10-12 days. The summer months were very hot and sunny with temperatures well above average – particularly in July with long periods without any rainfall. This meant that the growth rate of the vines slowed down slightly and, on average, the grapes ripened about a week earlier than in average vintages. The end of winter and beginning of spring were mild, favouring an early budding of the vines. Flowering took place at the end of May followed by a uniform setting of the berry. The summer months were very hot and dry reaching, at times, temperatures well above average. The vintage saw very little rainfall (only 450 mm in the whole year). Veraison took place in mid-July in a very uniform way. At the end of July, the grapes were thinned to ensure that those remaining on the vines matured under the best conditions. Not easy to exceed an impressive year such as 1997, yet 1998 too can certainly lay claim, in Bolgheri, to the title of vintage of the decade. Another warm summer yielded a powerful, concentrated Masseto destined for long cellaring,’ (Source: Ornellaia vintage report). | 1999 ‘Third in a triptych of iconic vintages. Winter was slightly colder than in 1998, with budbreak delayed until around late March. During spring temperatures and rains were within the norm, with flowering and growth similar to the previous year. Flowering took place at the end of May. The excellent weather during late spring resulted in a better-than- average fruit set. A hot summer without rain led to veraison one week earlier than in previous vintages, with very consistent fruit. 1999 is another great wine that, like the 1998, is following a parabola of very slow evolution. A wine of concentration, smoothness, and power. It seemed, for many years, monolithic and closed. Today, however, it seems to have awakened, and the once-impetuous tannins have mellowed, making way for a broad, expansive silky weave. The aromatic complexity of a mature wine is slowly building, displaying those sensuous fragrances classic to warm vintages, with dark chocolate, black liquorice, and candied violets. In conclusion, it is a wine that could still have some surprises in store for us and emerge as one of the great Masseto. Patience however will be required, since it is still very young and has much life ahead,’ (Source: Ornellaia vintage report). Other notes: Early spring brought some rain and slightly warmer temperatures than the seasonal average. Budding was a few days earlier than normal. Excellent flowering. Rain in early summer, good vegetative balance. More rain early August. Some thinning needed to avoid excessive production. Weather in early September was particularly favourable and the grapes ripened perfectly. Hot vintage.
Vineyard area: 1994 100ha. | 2000 Around 250 ha (618 acres). | 2004 900ha of vines. | 2010 1,000 ha (2,470 acres) with 50 wine estates. | 2019 There were 55 members of the consorzio, and their vineyards accounted for 95% of the DOC total of 1,370ha of vines. Of these, 1,300 ha were registered to Consortium members and 1,185 can be claimed as Bolgheri DOC, while the rest are IGT Toscana. The DOC vineyards were planted thus: Cabernet Sauvignon 36.67%, Merlot 23.42%, Cabernet Franc 11.98%, Petit Verdot 6.46%, Syrah 6, 65%, Sangiovese 1.48%. For white grapes instead: Vermentino 8.84%, Viognier 1.43% and Sauvignon Blanc 0.59%.
Castles: The Castle of Bolgheri has been documented since the 8th century under the Counts della Gherardesca, but was on a different site to where it is found today, having been reconstructed after Emperor Maximilian’s German soldiers razed it in 1496. From the beginning of the 18th century under Count Simone rebuilt it in a new location.
Poets: From 1838 and 1848 the poet Giosuè Carducci lived in Bolgheri. His famous poem called ‘Davanti San Guido’ made the road between Bolgheri and the Via Aurelia famous. The road, near the octagonal chapel of St Vitus which was built in 1703, is flanked by a line of cypress trees almost 3 miles (5km) long.
Bolgheri wines
From 2011 the Bolgheri DOC rules were amended. Varietally-labelled wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot must be 100% varietal, and must be bottled in the production zone.
Bolgheri Bianco DOC: From Trebbiano Toscano, Vermentino, Sauvignon plus other white varieties. Varietal Sauvignon Blanc and Vermentino require a minimum 85% of the named varietal. Vermentino ripens more slowly here than Sauvignon (say Collemassari). Vin Santo can also be made. At Castello d’Albola on Tuesday 05th May 2015 Stefano Ferrante said the reason Petit Manseng was grown in Bolgheri was that like Falanghina (which see) it has low levels of malic acid, but high levels of tartaric, meaning Petit Manseng can do MLF because if it does its tartaric acid will stop it tasting flabby. See also his comments on Greco.
Bolgheri Bianco DOC: 0-70% Vermentino, 0-40% Sauvignon Blanc, 0-40% Trebbiano Toscano, 0-30% white grapes authorised in Tuscany.
Bolgheri Sauvignon DOC: 0-85% Sauvignon Blanc, 0-15% white grapes authorised in Tuscany.
Bolgheri Vermentino DOC: 0-85% Vermentino, 0-15% white grapes authorised in Tuscany.
Bolgheri Rosato DOC: 100% Sangiovese is forbidden. Cabernet Sauvignon must comprise 10% minimum. Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Sangiovese are allowed. Up to 30% each of Syrah and/or Petit Verdot are allowed.
Bolgheri Rosso & Superiore DOC: 0-100% Cabernet Sauvignon, 0-100% Merlot, 0-100% Cabernet Franc, 0-50% Sangiovese, 0-50% Syrah, 0-30% red grapes authorised in Tuscany. The wines are often barrel-aged Bordeaux blends without any Sangiovese. Bolgheri Rosso DOC must age 10 months and Bolgheri Rosso Superiore must age 24 months before release. No oak ageing is required for either.
Wineries
Certified organic: Grattamacco. | I Luoghi. | Poggio al Tesoro. | Giovanni Chiappini. | Tenuta Sette Cieli.
No certification: Aia Vecchia. | Alejandro Bulgheroni Family Vineyards. | Batzella. | Bell’Aja. | Ca’Marcanda. | Caccia al Piano 1868. | Campo al Mare. | Campo alla Sughera. | Campo alle Comete. | Castello di Bolgheri. | Ceralti. | Cipriana. | Donna Olimpia 1898. | Donne Fittipaldi. | Enrico Santini. | Eucaliptus. | Fabio Motta. | Fattoria Casa di Terra. | Fattoria Viticcio. | Ferrari Iris & Figli. | Giorgio Meletti Cavallari. | I Greppi. | I Luoghi. | I Tirreni. | La Bolgherese. | La Madonnina. | Le Grascete. | Le Macchiole. | Le Novelire. | Micheletti Enio. | Michele Satta. | Mulini di Segalari. | Orma. | Ornellaia. | Pietra Nova. | Podere Conca. | Podere Il Castellaccio. | Podere Prospero. | Podere Sapaio. | Poggio dei Tramonti. | Sensi. | Serni Fulvio Luigi. | Tenuta Argentiera. | Tenuta di Vaira. | Tenuta Guado al Tasso. | Tenuta Le Colonne. | Tenuta Meraviglia. | Tenuta San Guido. | Terre del Marchesato. | Villanoviana.
Wine production (Bolgheri & Bolgheri Superiore DOC): 2011 43.600hl. | 2012 42.600hl. | 2013 47.700hl. | 2014 48.700hl. | 2015 55.100hl. | 2016 58.000hl. | 2017 46.100hl. | 2018 51.100hl (681,000 bottles).
Contact
Consorzio per la Tutela dei Vini DOC Bolgheri e Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC
Località San Guido, 45
57022 Bolgheri (LI), Italy
Tel+39 0565 1827234 | Website: www.bolgheridoc.com
Bibliography
Nicolas Belfrage MW, From Brunello to Zibibbo: The Wines of Tuscany, Central and Southern Italy (London, 2001).