When we talk about Bolgheri, we are referring to a Tuscan appellation that extends into the municipality of Castagneto Carducci (in the province of Livorno), but only in the portion of the municipal territory east of the Aurelia road. Here, a line of hills rises modestly parallel to the sea, with an altitude ranging from 250 to 400 meters above sea level.
The vineyards are located in this hilly strip and thrive on variable, mostly sandy-clayey soils. Naturally, the nearby sea significantly contributes to shaping the local climate: the breezes that comb through the vines are crucial for maintaining their health.
Wine has been produced in the region practically forever, as evidenced by Etruscan and Roman testimonials. However, the current ampelographic configuration is the result of choices made by some producers between the two wars. A central role in all this belongs to Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, owner of the renowned Tenuta San Guido. It was he who realized that the area was suited for international grape varieties, especially those from Bordeaux. Currently, the most cultivated grapes in Bolgheri come from the Gironde estuary: cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot. As for white varieties, there is a recent reliance on a native grape, vermentino, which has adapted perfectly to the Tuscan coast and produces increasingly interesting wines.
The Best Value-for-Money Bolgheri Wines
The appellation is quite prestigious and appears on some of the most iconic labels in our country; 7 of them were awarded the Tre Bicchieri 2024. Perhaps this is why one might not expect to be able to purchase a Bolgheri under 20 euros. However, it is entirely possible, and we demonstrate this with the following list from the Gambero Rosso Berebene 2024 guide.
The Bolgheri Rosato Cassiopea 2022 by Poggio al Tesoro Cabernet franc (70%) and merlot blend in Cassiopea, a Bolgheri Rosato that smells of currants and wild strawberries, fresh, smooth, and pleasantly sapid in the finish. Marilisa Allegrini and her brother Walter decided to invest in this area of Tuscany in 2011. Today, the company is run by Marilisa's daughters, Carlotta and Caterina.
The Bolgheri Rosso Assiolo 2021 by Campo al Noce is a classic blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet franc. It is exclusively vinified in steel to preserve all the varietal fragrance of the grapes. The 2021 version releases herbaceous and balsamic sensations with fascinating hints of tobacco. The sip is often dense but never heavy, thanks to a good mineral content. The small property of the Sgariglia family is located between Castagneto Carducci and Bolgheri.
The Bolgheri Rosso Moreccio 2021 by Fattoria Casa di Terra presents an articulated bouquet, where notes of blood, cherry fruitiness, hints of ink, and oriental spices follow each other. It has a tasty, fresh, excellently held sip, leaving a licorice aftertaste. In the '90s, Gessica and Giuliano Frollani, coinciding with the birth of the Bolgheri DOC, decided to renew the family farm by focusing on quality viticulture. The modern winery, made of steel and concrete, reflects the ecological and evolutionary spirit of the company.
The Bolgheri Rosso Rute 2021 by Guado al Melo opens to the nose with hints of blood, followed by sage and laurel on red fruits, such as blackberry and cherry. In the mouth, the sip is tense and captivating, with a long aftertaste of balsamic and fruit notes. The estate, purchased in 1998, is now led by Annalisa Motta and Michele Scienza: there is a high respect for the environment, manifested by minimizing interventions in the vineyard and in the cellar.
The Bolgheri Rosso Zizzolo 2021 by Fornacelle presents toasted aromas of coffee, blackberry jam, and notes of cinnamon. The palate is rich, balanced, for a substance but slender sip. The estate, owned by the Billi-Battistoni family for four generations, takes its name from the particular subzone of Bolgheri where it develops, once rich in furnaces. The grapes grow on diverse plains, with heterogeneous soils: medium-textured with the presence of skeleton, rocky, loamy, and gravelly.
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