tenuta san guido

The Role of the Incisa della Rocchetta Family

The Incisa della Rocchetta family has been instrumental in shaping Tenuta San Guido’s legacy. Their vision and dedication laid the foundation for Sassicaia, the world-renowned wine. Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta’s innovative approach introduced Bordeaux varieties to Tuscany, challenging traditional winemaking norms. The family’s commitment to excellence and terroir-driven practices has ensured the estate’s prominence. Today, the family continues to uphold these values, ensuring Tenuta San Guido remains a benchmark for quality and innovation in Italian winemaking, with a strong emphasis on preserving their unique heritage.

Wine Production at Tenuta San Guido

Tenuta San Guido, a pioneering Italian estate, employs meticulous winemaking techniques, blending Bordeaux varieties to craft iconic wines like Sassicaia, ensuring quality through tradition and innovation.

The Winemaking Process

Tenuta San Guido’s winemaking process is meticulous, blending tradition with modern techniques. Grapes undergo rigorous selection before fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Aging occurs in French oak barrels, with Sassicaia maturing for 24 months, while Guidalberto ages for 12. The wines are then blended and bottled, allowing further refinement. This process ensures complexity, elegance, and a perfect balance of tannins and fruit, reflecting the estate’s commitment to quality and innovation in producing its iconic wines.

Key Wines: Sassicaia, Guidalberto, and Others

Tenuta San Guido’s flagship wine, Sassicaia, is a pioneering Super Tuscan made from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 24 months in French oak, it offers a rich, complex profile with notes of dark berries, spice, and subtle oak. Guidalberto, another standout, is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese, aged for 12 months, showcasing a vibrant, fruit-forward style. The estate also produces other notable wines, each reflecting the unique terroir and winemaking expertise that define Tenuta San Guido’s legacy.

The Terroir and Vineyards

Tenuta San Guido’s vineyards are nestled in Bolgheri, benefiting from gravelly soils and a Mediterranean climate, ideal for cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties.

Soil and Climate Conditions

Tenuta San Guido’s vineyards thrive in Bolgheri’s unique terroir, characterized by gravelly, well-drained soils reminiscent of Bordeaux’s Graves region. The Mediterranean climate offers warm, sunny days and cool maritime breezes, ensuring gradual ripening. These conditions, combined with the region’s limestone and clay underlayers, impart complexity and minerality to the wines. The soil’s ability to retain heat and drain excess water creates an ideal environment for Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties, contributing to the estate’s signature wines.

Vineyard Management and Practices

Tenuta San Guido employs sustainable viticulture practices, blending tradition with modern techniques. The estate’s vineyards, spanning approximately 90 hectares, are managed with precision to enhance biodiversity. Low yields and careful pruning ensure quality. Integrated pest management and organic farming methods are prioritized to maintain soil health. The vineyards are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and other varieties, benefiting from the estate’s commitment to environmental balance. These practices contribute to the distinct character and superior quality of the wines produced at Tenuta San Guido.

The Winemaker’s Vision

Tenuta San Guido’s winemakers aim to harmonize tradition and innovation, crafting wines that reflect Bolgheri’s terroir. Their vision emphasizes quality, sustainability, and expressing the estate’s unique character.

Giacomo Tachis and His Contribution

Giacomo Tachis, a visionary enologist, played a pivotal role in shaping Tenuta San Guido’s legacy. He pioneered the creation of Sassicaia, the world’s first Super Tuscan wine, blending Bordeaux varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Tachis introduced innovative winemaking techniques, including aging in French oak barriques, which enhanced the wine’s complexity and aging potential. His work began in the 1960s and laid the foundation for Sassicaia’s global acclaim. Tachis’s dedication to quality and terroir expression remains a cornerstone of Tenuta San Guido’s winemaking philosophy, ensuring its wines are both elegant and enduring.

Modern Winemaking Techniques

Tenuta San Guido employs cutting-edge winemaking techniques to enhance quality and preserve terroir character. Precision viticulture and advanced vineyard monitoring ensure optimal grape selection. Fermentation is carried out in temperature-controlled tanks to maintain freshness. Aging in French oak barriques, with a mix of new and used wood, adds complexity without overpowering the fruit. Modern cellar technologies, like gentle pumping-over systems, refine extraction. These practices, combined with sustainable vineyard management, ensure wines like Sassicaia and Guidalberto remain benchmarks of elegance and innovation, balancing tradition with contemporary sophistication.

Sustainability and Innovation

Tenuta San Guido champions sustainability, harmonizing vineyard practices with nature. Organic methods and renewable energy sources enhance environmental balance, fostering an ecosystem where tradition and innovation coexist seamlessly.

Environmental Practices

Tenuta San Guido prioritizes environmental stewardship through sustainable viticulture. Organic methods and integrated pest management reduce chemical use, preserving biodiversity. Renewable energy sources and eco-friendly practices ensure harmony with nature, fostering a balanced ecosystem that supports both vineyard health and wildlife. The estate’s commitment to minimizing its ecological footprint underscores its dedication to preserving the natural beauty and resources of Bolgheri for future generations.