Bolgheri, a land between poetry and conviviality
Tuscany has been the stage for some of the highest moments in Western culture: from medieval lordships to the early 20th-century Florentine cafes, passing through the Renaissance, in all these cases, artists have been able to draw inspiration from the environments and cultures that surrounded them, making them immortal. From this perspective, the area between Castagneto Carducci, San Guido, and Bolgheri in Tuscany is particularly intriguing for the inspiration that the landscape has provided to humanity and the value that humanity has returned to the landscape, in a symbiotic relationship that has been renewed every day for centuries.
The verses of Carducci are the ultimate example of this happy union: "Davanti San Guido" recounts the poet's return home, where he is confronted with those "cypresses that in Bolgheri, tall and straight, go from San Guido in a double row," reminding him of the carefree moments of a distant childhood; "San Martino" portrays the grape harvest, when "the sharp scent of the vats" rises in the November mist and envelops the town of Castagneto Carducci.
But it's not only Carducci's poetry that underscores the relationship between Man, nature, and art that has always made this land unique: the village of Bolgheri, for example, can boast of an imposing castle and a solemn church that have been silent witnesses to seven centuries of history. The Bolgheri Castle, owned by the Della Gherardesca family since the 13th century, is the endpoint of the famous Cypress Avenue celebrated by Carducci. The Bolgheri church, dedicated to Saints James and Christopher, is the oldest architectural testament in the area: its structure dates back to the 13th century, as evidenced by its style, which is Romanesque but influenced by Gothic elements. The Oratory of San Guido is another iconic work in the Bolgheri region: it was from this austere building, built in 1703 commissioned by the Della Gherardesca family in memory of their ancestor Guido, that the famous Cypress Avenue begins. Tenuta San Guido has paid homage to the Oratory by dedicating the label of Guidalberto, the wine launched in 2000 to renew the company's winemaking tradition and emphasize its connection with Bolgheri.
The Perfect Symbiosis between Bolgheri and Tenuta San Guido
The relationship between Tenuta San Guido and the territory is an effective example of how the union between Man and Nature can contribute to the development of an entire area, promoting its economic and social growth while respecting its biodiversity. In few cases, culture and cultivation merge as they do in Bolgheri, thanks to the visionary commitment of Tenuta San Guido and the viticultural vocation that has always characterized this land.
Even before its terroir, it was the beauty of the landscape that convinced Mario Incisa della Rocchetta to bet on this territory, giving birth to Sassicaia. The respectful cultivation of Bolgheri, its history, and its artistic and natural heritage have breathed new life into the region, making it a sought-after destination for discerning and conscious tourism.
The synergy between Tenuta San Guido and Bolgheri has proven to be a winning proposition for both parties: the Estate has been able to harness the unique characteristics of the territory to produce excellent wines, while Bolgheri has found in the Estate a leading company capable of contributing to the economic and cultural development of the region.
Davanti San Guido:
Carducci's Immortal Dedication to Bolgheri
The Cypress Avenue is now an icon of the Tuscan landscape: its path winds its way through the Estate, connecting it to the homonymous gate of the village of Bolgheri, and linking the estate to the small hamlet of the municipality of Castagneto Carducci. It was Giosué Carducci himself who immortalized these majestic cypresses, singing their imposing profile and attributing to them an almost mystical role: in "Davanti San Guido," these "young giants" rise as guardians of a collective heritage, the territory, and a most private treasure, the poet's memory, who, in dialogue with them, returns to confront the child he once was. Bolgheri's Cypress Avenue thus becomes a meeting point between poetry and nature, between human creativity and the grandeur of the land.
Bolgheri, the Perfect Setting for the Birth of Fine Wines
It's the history that makes a territory unique: the one written by the land, which over millennia shapes a region and creates specific morphological and climatic conditions; and the one written by humans through their labor, creativity, and everyday life.
The Bolgheri region, with its temperate microclimate and the presence of the nearby Tyrrhenian coast, creates optimal conditions for grape ripening; mineral-rich soils, sea breezes, and the unique sun exposure contribute other distinctive factors capable of imparting an unmistakable flavor to the wines produced here. But culture and art also have a very special taste that, once known, becomes inseparable from the sensory impressions that a glass can evoke. The Cypress Avenue evokes in all of us the same childhood memories relived by Carducci, starting from his poetry; and equally so, for those fortunate enough to visit, do the most suggestive corners of Bolgheri or the panoramas of Castagneto Carducci.
Tenuta San Guido is committed to preserving the identity of Bolgheri through the production of wines that reflect its authenticity. Sassicaia, with its elegance and complexity, encapsulates the very soul of Bolgheri, representing a perfect fusion between the terroir's characteristics and human expertise. The same can be said for the other wines of the Estate, Le Difese and Guidalberto: two custodians of the territory that, like the cypresses, invite us to slow down and savor both the lost moments and those we have yet to experience.
