Cellar Tastings

The Antinori Winery has been family run since 1385. For the past 600 years this Tuscan gem has been making super quality, innovative wines. Twenty-six generations of Antinoris have managed the operations and business procedures of this prestigious Italian winery. Today Marchese Piero Antinori is the director of the winery, assisted by his three daughters. The most famous Antinori wines are their “Super Tuscans” (premium quality wines blended with non traditional grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon), Solaia and Tiganello. These wines, along with Sassicaia are some of Italy’s best, and certainly most expensive wine.

Marchese Piero quotes, “ancient roots play an important role in our philosophy, but they have never held back our spirit of innovation”. Quality, tradition, and a spirit of innovation are the bottom line of this family and there wines. The area of Tuscany and Umbria are perfect microclimates suited for winegrowing. There experimental methods with clones, growing and fermentation methods, and vinification techniques. The Antinori’s have been a major influence in Italian winemaking and the regulations on the Italian wine industry. These wine have unique complexity and personality, with defined elegance. Antinori has 3 estates in Tuscany (including premium land in Bolgheri, Maremma) with a total of 618 acres of vineyard. There is also a vineyard in Umbria with 350 acres. Varieties include Trebbiano, Grechetto, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Antinori also invests in international wine producing areas such as California and Hungary.

The Antinori wine profile includes:

• Solaia (one of the Flagship Super Tuscans, made with 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 20% Sangiovese and aged in 100% French oak);
• Tignanello (the other “biggie”, world famous Super Tuscan, made with 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc, also aged in 100% French oak);
• Badia A Passignano Riserva (100% Sangiovese. Aged in French oak and further bottle aged for 2 years);
• Tenute Marchese Antinori (90% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in French oak for 14 months and bottle for another year);
• Peppoli (90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot and Syrah. Aged in Slovinian and American oak);
• Villa Antinori (60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 5% Syrah. Aged in French, American, or Hungarian oak);
• Guado Al Tasso (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Syrah. 14 months in oak); Scalabrone (40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Syrah);
• and Vermentino (zippy white made with 100% Vermentino).

Other wines from Antinori include:

• Bramasole (90% Syrah and 10% Merlot. 14 months in oak);
• Merlot (100% Merlot. 14 months in oak);
• Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (80% Prugnolo Gentile, local anme for Sangiovese, and 20% Complementary varieties. 1 year in oak);
• Sabazio Vino Rosso di Montepulciano (80% Prugnolo Gentile and 20% Canaiolo. 4 months in oak);
• Cipresseto (85% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and other red varietals);
• Capsula Viola (60% Trebbiano, 40% Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and other complements) and Villa Antinori Bianco (80% Trebbiano and Malvasia, and 20% Tuscan Chardonnay);
• Santa Cristiana 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot. Aged in Slovinian oak);
• Aleatico (100% Aleatico) and Pian delle Vigne (100% Sangiovese. 2 years in oak).

Contact Information:

Marchesi Antinori Srl
Piazza Antinori, 3, 50123 Firenze- Italy
(Tel) (39) 55 2359848
(Fax) (39) 55 2359877
Email: antinori@antinori.it
Web: www.antinori.it

Winery Details:

D.O.: Toscana IGT and Umbria IGT
Founded: 1385
Area under vine: 970 acres
Grape Varietals: Sangiovese, Aleatico, Merlot, Malvasia, Trebbiano, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc,Canaiolo, Prugnolo, Vermentino, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon.