Castello di Bolgheri is an estate in Livorno province in the Tuscany region producing red wines under the Bolgheri DOC. The castle lies at the end of Viale di San Guido, a road in Castagneto Carducci lined with cypress trees classified a national monument. The Castle dates from the early 1200s. The first wines were made in the 2001 vintage. Federico Zileri’s grandmother officially registered the name Castello di Bolgheri in the 1960’s. It is one of the rare cases where the DOC name (Bolgheri) is allowed to be part of the brandname on the label.

Owner: Count Clemente Zileri Dal Verme, and his son Federico. In 1984, the castle plus 130 hectares of land were inherited by Federico’s mother, Contessa Franca Spalletti Trivelli. Her own mother, Alessandra della Gherardesca, was a cousin of the wives of Mario ‘Sassicaia’ Incisa della Rocchetta and Niccolò Antinori respectively. The agronomist and oenologist of the company are Federico Zileri Dal Verme and Alessandro Dondi.

Vineyards: The vineyards are near the Castle and fall within the DOC Bolgheri area in the municipality of Castagneto Carducci. They border on those of Ornellaia, and Sassicaia. All the 50 hectares of vineyards are in the northern Bolgheri DOC area, well known for its favorable terroir, not least because of its natural drainage. | 1997 The first Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Sangiovese vines were planted. Syrah and Petit Verdot have also been planted.

Terroir: The vineyards are near Bolgheri village. South-west facing with the rows perpendicular to the sea benefit from the afternoon ventilation during the hot hold days. The soils are mainly sandy-clayey rich in stones, with with a calcareous character (sub-alkaline pH). The average altitude is 70 meters above sea level. The main grape is Cabernet Sauvignon plus Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Red wines

Bolgheri Rosso DOC, Varvàra:

Bolgheri Rosso Superiore DOC, Castello di Bolgheri: 2001 Debut vintage. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.0% alcohol on the label. €29.50 in 2005. Decent, new oak and leanish fruit with Hans and Noemí on Saturday 8th Jan 2005. Slightly high tone and green in the middle, but not bad; just a bit aggressive and soulless ( Bolgheri wine route office on Tues 22 Feb 2005).

Contact

Castello di Bolgheri

Via Lauretta, 7

57020 Bolgheri (LI), Italy

Tel+39 0565.762110 | Website: www.castellodibolgheri.eu

GPS Coordinates: 43.234139, 10.617797