A Unique Stage for Great Wines Amidst Hills and Sea

The Story of Bolgheri: The Perfect Union Between Man and Nature

The land holds precious treasures, and sometimes it takes centuries for humans to understand how to relate to an environment and make the most of its resources. The natural richness of Bolgheri has always been known, but it was only in the 20th century that viticulture learned to embrace its morphological and climatic characteristics, making it one of the most esteemed wine-producing regions in the world.

Sassicaia is the most celebrated fruit of this land: a wine that reflects the complex nuances and extraordinary vitality of a unique place, but also tells how creativity and determination, when combined with profound respect for the environment, can change the fortunes of a territory and write new chapters in the age-old relationship between Man and Nature.

At the origins of Sassicaia, we find a bold challenge to conventions: in an area traditionally devoted to native grape varieties, vines of French origin were planted. If today the marriage between the Bolgheri terroir and Cabernet Sauvignon vines seems perfect to us, it was not so in the 1950s; local farmers and viticulturists were so accustomed to working that land that they couldn't imagine new ways to cultivate it, and their skepticism toward the French vines almost turned into ridicule when faced with the proposal to import them into their beloved vineyards.

Over time, they had to reconsider: the grapes of Sassicaia adapted perfectly to the coastal territory of Bolgheri and its extraordinary variety of microclimates.

Bolgheri: A Unique Spot of Light, Sea, and Terroir

The Bolgheri territory, within the property of Tenuta San Guido, offers the ideal conditions that give Sassicaia its unmistakable personality. The Mediterranean climate is tempered in winter by the hills between Bolgheri and Castagneto Carducci, which protect the vineyards from the northeast winds; in summer, it's the breezes that blow through the valleys of the Cecina River that provide refreshment to humans, flora, and fauna. Throughout the year, the sea reflects its light and generates humidity that refreshes and nourishes the entire Bolgheri ecosystem.

The soils feature numerous calcareous areas that bear witness to the ebb and flow of the Mediterranean over geological eras; at altitudes ranging from 100 to 400 meters, clayey, sandy, and stony soils alternate and combine, giving the wines an unmistakable minerality. The name "Sassicaia" itself speaks of soil rich in stones that reflect the sunlight and allow for a unique phenolic ripening. The manual grape harvest yields plump and crisp berries, the result of the encounter between the freshness of the breezes and the sun's light reflection.

The Sassicaia of Bolgheri: A Tale of Passion, Perseverance, and International Success

Until the 1940s, the Bolgheri area was characterized by traditional agriculture, with viticulture focused on native grape varieties. Grape cultivation was closely tied to local traditions and represented an important part of a rural economy that extended little beyond subsistence. For centuries, farmers dedicated themselves to growing grape varieties such as Sangiovese, Canaiolo, and Trebbiano, which were considered the standard in Tuscan viticulture. Production often took place in small family cellars, where traditional winemaking methods were used and passed down from generation to generation. The Bolgheri region was famous for its scenic beauty, immortalized by Carducci in his "Davanti San Guido," which evokes "The cypresses that in Bolgheri, tall and straight, go from San Guido in double row."

In this typically rural context, which Mario Incisa highly valued for its respect for nature, he rooted his "Sassicaia" project. His boundless respect for nature led him to observe the territory in all its complexity, sensing its vocation for grape varieties that were yet unexplored in the area, chief among them being Cabernet Sauvignon. Tenuta San Guido thus served as a catalyst and a launching pad for Bolgheri's reputation as an excellent wine-producing region, a reputation that would solidify in the years to come.

The story of Sassicaia began in 1944 when Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, driven by a passion for the great wines of Bordeaux, decided to plant some Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the lands of Tenuta San Guido. The goal of creating a unique wine capable of expressing the power and elegance of great French wines immediately clashed with the skepticism of the local wine world. Due to its grape variety, Sassicaia was initially ignored, only to be used exclusively for a small family production. In the 1970s, with the help of oenologist Giacomo Tachis, Sassicaia gained recognition, becoming known through blind tastings and international awards. It marked the beginning of a meteoric rise, propelling Sassicaia into the upper echelons of the global wine world and bringing unexpected fame to its entire production area. Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, who was in love with Bolgheri even before its wine, understood how much Sassicaia's success was inherently tied to the biodiversity of its territory. His strong environmental sensitivity led to the creation of the Rifugio Faunistico Padule di Bolgheri, an equally pioneering work in Italy in the late 20th century, which still testifies to and renews this profound synergy between Man and Territory.

Tenuta San Guido: Preserving, Defending, and Loving the Territory

In 1944, even the visionary Marchese Incisa della Rocchetta could not have imagined the role his fledgling company, Tenuta San Guido, would play in the development of Bolgheri. The intuition to experiment with French grape varieties and the stubborn patience for their fruits would have been in vain if not accompanied by an almost mystical reverence for the land. The enthusiasm generated by Sassicaia in the 1980s could have become a boomerang if there had not been a firm determination to preserve the forests and wetlands near the sea. Putting cultivation (and profit) before biodiversity would have meant losing, in a few years, that ecosystem of values that underlies Sassicaia and the wines that followed, such as Guidalberto and Le Difese. The conservation of the territory, the adoption of sustainable environmental practices, the careful management of water resources, and the protection of the biosystem have allowed Tenuta San Guido to continue its virtuous collaboration with Mother Nature, which even today is the true secret of Sassicaia.