Ornellaia

Tenuta Dell'Ornellaia is an Italian winery in the DOC Bolgheri in Toscana, known as a producer of Super Tuscan wine. Ornellaia is considered one of Italy's top Bordeaux-style red wines.cite web|last=Atkin |first=Tim, "The Observer" |title= Roll out the Barolo |url= http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/experts/timatkin/story/0,,1620033,00.html |date= October 1, 2000 ] The estate also produces a second wine, Le Serre Nuove, the blend Le Volte, the Merlot varietal wine Masseto, in addition to estate production of grappa and olive oil.

History

Tenuta Dell'Ornellaia was established by Marchese Lodovico Antinori of the Antoniori family, behind one of Italy's most historic negociant firms,winepros.com.au. Cite web|last= "Oxford Companion to Wine"| title= Antinori |url= http://www.winepros.com.au/jsp/cda/reference/oxford_entry.jsp?entry_id=132 ] with the help of winemaker Tibor Gál. The property is adjacent to Tenuta San Guido. producer of Sassicaia and considered the seminal Super Tuscan, and Ornellaia was suggested to be Lodovico Antinori’s competitive answer to his cousin Nicolò Incisa’s Sassicaia and his older brother Piero Antinori’s Solaia.Cite web|last= Teague |first= Lettie, "Food & Wine" |title= Are Super-Tuscans Still Super? |url= http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/are-super-tuscans-still-super |date= December, 2006 ]

The vineyards of the Ornellaia estate were planted in 1981, producing the first vintage in 1985.Cite web|last= Voss |first= Roger, "Decanter.com" |title= Producer Profile: Ornellaia |url= http://www.decanter.com/archive/article.php?id=44183 |date= June 1, 2003 ] A modern winery was built in 1987, and a second 56 hectare property was later added, Bellaria, situated north of Bolgheri.

Robert Mondavi Winery took a minority interest in the estate in November 1999, and were full owners by 2002, while initiating a partnership with the Frescobaldi family.Cite web|last= "Harpers" |title= Mondavi to buy Ornellaia |url= http://www.harpers.co.uk/news/536/MONDAVI-TO-BUY-ORNELLAIA.ehtml |date= April 3, 2002 ] Cite web|last= Robinson |first= Jancis, jancisrobinson.com | url= http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/jr790 |title= Mondavi acquires Ornellaia | date= March 19, 2002 ] In April 2005, Frescobaldi bought the remaining 50% shares of Ornellaia from Constellation Brands after their acquisition of Mondavi holdings, coming to own the whole estate.Cite web|last= O'Keefe |first= Kerin, "Decanter.com" |title= Frescobaldi now in full control of Ornellaia |url= http://www.decanter.com/news/62838.html |date= April 5, 2005 ] Cite web|last= Nigro |first= Dana, "Wine Spectator" |title= Frescobaldi Takes Ownership of Ornellaia |url= http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Features/0,1197,2645,00.html |date= April 1, 2005 ] Axel Heinz is the current winemaker with Michel Rolland, involved with the estate since its beginning, is retained as consultant oenologist.Cite web|last= Shah |first= Michele, "Decanter.com" |title= Rolland appointed new Antinori consultant |url= http://www.decanter.com/news/65840.html |date= July 12, 2005 ]

The sequence of ownership is featured in Jonathan Nossiter's film "Mondovino", containing statements by Lodovico Antinori, and the Frecobaldi and Mondavi families then joint owners during the time of production, which displays opposing accounts on the events. [cite web |last=Port |first= Jeni, "The Age"| title= Grapes of wrath |url= http://www.theage.com.au/news/epicure/grapes-of-wrath/2005/09/12/1126377235112.html | date=September 13, 2005 ]

A Salmanazar (9-litre bottle) of Ornellaia 2005 was sold for USD$ 33,600 at Christie's of New York.Cite web|last= "Harpers" |title= 9-litre Ornellaia sells for £16,000 |url= http://www.harpers.co.uk/news/4853/9-litre-Ornellaia-sells-for-16.ehtml |date= October 31, 2007 ]

Production

From a 91 hectare estate, the vineyard area extends 76 hectares in two separate locations, Ornellaia and Bellaria. The grape varieties are predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, as well as a small plot of Petit Verdot planted in 1995.Cite web|last= Kissack |first= Chris, thewinedoctor.com|title= Tenuta Dell'Ornellaia |url= http://www.thewinedoctor.com/italy/ornellaia.shtml ]

In addition to Ornellaia, Merlot grapes from the 7 hectare Masseto vineyard have since 1986 been produced as a varietal wine, initially simply as "Merlot", and since its second vintage by the name Masseto. Le Volte, first released in 1991, is a 50% Sangiovese and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend. The official second wine, Le Serre Nuove, has been produced since 1997.

References

External links

* [http://www.ornellaia.it Ornellaia official site] it_icon en_icon de_icon