The Legendary Tenuta San Guido Winery
The Fame of Sassicaia
This is undoubtedly the most famous winery in Tuscany and the whole of Italy. What is the source of its fame? Its legendary wine, one of the most highly sought-after by wine enthusiasts and collectors: Sassicaia.
The Origins of Tenuta San Guido
The story of Tenuta San Guido starts in 1940, when Mario Incisa della Rochetta, influenced by the great wines of Bordeaux so beloved by the Italian aristocracy, pursued the idea of creating his own purebred wine following the traditions of Bordeaux. After several experiments, it was with Cabernet Sauvignon that he decided to plant his equestrian estate near the village of Bolgheri, in the region known as Maremma. At that time, this region - which was scarcely known for the quality of its grapes and wine - caught Mario’s attention, as he realised its strong resemblance to the terroir of the famous Graves region in Bordeaux.
Sassicaia's Rise to Renown
Indeed, it was by drawing inspiration from this “gravel pit” which made up the ground of the estate that Sassicaia (sasso = stone in Italian) was given to this iconic wine which would be put on market for first time in 1968. After this year saw marketing efforts take off for Sassicaia, both winery and its wine grew in renown until reaching an almost hallowed status; despite being considered a table wine until 1994 due to veering outside strict production rules requiring Sangiovese dominance. From then on under DOC Bolgheri appellation (DOC Bolgheri Sassicaia), Tenuta San Guido's celebrated wines have continued delighting critics worldwide. Run for many years by Giacomo Tachis—one country’s most renowned oenologists—it is now Niccolò (Mario's son) who continues writing history behind this legendary vintage.
Discover other Tuscany wines producers including Cantagallo, Le Farnette, Corte dei Venti, Tenuta Sette Ponti, Tenuta dell'Ornellaia, and Antinori.
Discover also the wines of Feudo Maccari, Biserno.
