Ornellaia is one of the great wines of Italy and one of the most celebrated Super Tuscans in the world. Produced from the Ornellaia estate on the Bolgheri coast of Tuscany, it is a Bordeaux-inspired blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot that combines the structure and ageing potential of the Left Bank with the warmth and richness that is uniquely Tuscan. For collectors who want a serious Italian alternative to Bordeaux, Ornellaia is the natural starting point.
The History of Ornellaia
The Ornellaia estate was founded in 1981 by Lodovico Antinori, younger brother of Marchesi Piero Antinori of Tignanello fame. Lodovico had spent time in California studying winemaking and returned to Tuscany with a clear vision: to produce a Bolgheri estate wine of international ambition, modelled on the great blends of Bordeaux but rooted in the coastal terroir of the Maremma.
The first vintage of Ornellaia was released in 1985, and within a decade it had established itself as one of Italy's most important wines. The estate was acquired by Robert Mondavi and Frescobaldi in the early 2000s, and subsequently came fully under Frescobaldi ownership in 2005, where it remains today. Under the direction of winemaker Axel Heinz, Ornellaia has continued to refine its approach, producing wines of increasing precision and complexity while maintaining the estate's core identity.
The Terroir of Ornellaia
The Ornellaia estate covers 97 hectares in the Bolgheri DOC, a coastal appellation that has proven uniquely suited to the Bordeaux varieties. The soils are varied, a mosaic of gravel, clay, and sand, and the maritime climate, influenced by the Tyrrhenian Sea, provides warm summers with cooling sea breezes that extend the growing season and preserve freshness in the fruit.
This combination of warm coastal climate and varied soils allows Cabernet Sauvignon to achieve exceptional ripeness while retaining the structure and definition that makes Ornellaia capable of ageing for twenty years or more in great vintages. The estate's vineyards are planted at varying altitudes and aspects, and each block is managed individually to reflect its particular character.
Winemaking at Ornellaia
Winemaking at Ornellaia is meticulous and parcel-driven. Each vineyard block is harvested and vinified separately, with precise attention to ripeness at the time of picking. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, and the wine is then aged in French oak barriques, a combination of new and used oak, for approximately 18 months before blending and a further period of bottle ageing before release.
The blend varies from vintage to vintage, reflecting the conditions of each growing season. Cabernet Sauvignon typically dominates, supported by Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot in proportions that shift year by year. This flexibility is central to Ornellaia's quality, the estate does not impose a formula on the wine, but assembles the best expression of the vintage each year.
The Wines of Ornellaia
Ornellaia (Grand Vin)
The Grand Vin is a wine of extraordinary depth and complexity, built from the finest parcels of the estate and selected through a rigorous process of parcel-by-parcel assessment. In great vintages it is one of the most compelling Italian wines available, combining power, structure, and a refinement that develops over decades.
Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia
The second wine of the estate, Le Serre Nuove is produced from younger vines and lots not selected for the Grand Vin. It offers a more approachable expression of the same Bolgheri terroir, softer in structure, earlier drinking, but retaining genuine depth and the estate's characteristic quality.
Le Volte dell'Ornellaia
The third wine of the estate, Le Volte is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon offering an accessible entry point to the Ornellaia range at a lower price point.
Style and Vintages
Ornellaia is defined by richness, precision, and structure. In great vintages it develops extraordinary complexity over ten to twenty years, dark fruit, cedar, graphite, and a mineral precision that reflects the Bolgheri coastal terroir. It sits alongside Sassicaia and Tignanello as one of the three defining Super Tuscans, each expressing a distinct character: Sassicaia is the most classical and structured, Tignanello the most Tuscan in its Sangiovese-led identity, and Ornellaia the most opulent and internationally styled.
Among the most celebrated recent vintages, 2016 is considered a landmark, precise, concentrated, and built for very long ageing. The 2019 combines freshness and power in exceptional balance. The 2015 and 2013 are also outstanding. The 2006 and 2001 demonstrate what Ornellaia becomes with age: complex, layered, and deeply satisfying.
Investment and Collectability
Ornellaia is one of the most actively collected Italian wines at auction, with strong secondary market demand across Europe and Asia. Its consistent quality, the estate's international reputation, and the relative scarcity of top vintages make it a reliable choice for collectors building an Italian fine wine position. Le Serre Nuove provides an accessible entry point to the estate's range while the Grand Vin commands prices and collector interest that reflect its world-class status.
Buy Ornellaia Wines In Bond
All Ornellaia wines purchased through Fine Wine Library are held In Bond, excise duty free, with guaranteed provenance. Explore the full range including Grand Vin and Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia across current and back vintages.
Discover more from Tuscany, explore Sassicaia, Tignanello, and Petrolo Galatrona, or browse all Italian wines.
