Location and climate
Ornellaia and Masseto are located in Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast in Tuscany, Italy, with views over the Tyrrhenian Sea. The nearby sea and the coastal winds shape the Mediterranean maritime climate.
Vineyard sites and soils
The Ornellaia vineyards stretch from the coast towards the hills and are predominantly oriented to the south-west. Their soils have marine, alluvial and volcanic origins and contain, among other things, sand, marl, marine fossils, clay and limestone pebbles.
The Masseto vineyard lies on a west-facing slope in the hills of Bolgheri. Characteristic is Pliocene blue clay, beneath which are calcareous-clay soils.
Vineyards and grape varieties
The Ornellaia vineyards are divided into many small plots and are farmed individually. The main red grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, followed by Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. For the white wines, Sauvignon Blanc, Petit Manseng, Viognier, Verdicchio and Vermentino are used.
Masseto was created from a Merlot vineyard on the clay-rich slope. In plots and associated wines, Cabernet Franc is also documented. A strict grape selection and plot-based cultivation take account of the different characteristics of the sites.
Wines, history and maturation
Ornellaia is classified as Bolgheri DOC Superiore Rosso and is blended from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The individual grape varieties and vineyard locations are vinified separately; maturation includes, depending on the wine, fermentation in steel or wooden vessels, ageing in French oak and the subsequent assemblage. Masseto is produced as a red wine from the clay-rich hillside vineyard under the name Toscana IGT.
Ornellaia was founded in 1981; the first wine went on the market in 1985. The first experimental Masseto bottling was produced in 1986, with the first official release following in 1987. The first Massetino vintage was 2017 and was released in 2019; also in 2019, the Masseto winery was completed and inaugurated. It is designed for winemaking using gravity flow, while the construction with blue clay provides natural insulation.
