Argentiera and the Gateway to Italian Wines

Made mostly from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, wines of Bolgheri are well-loved by Americans and open the gates to Tuscany and beyond.

The Bolgheri DOC [Denominazione di Origine Controllata] was one of the reasons for the nickname ‘Super Tuscans’ being given to wines of high quality that did not fall into the standard Chianti Classico formula of Sangiovese-based wines. With recognizable names like Sassicaia and Ornellaia representing iconic wines in Bolgheri, there is one emerging star crafting equally prestigious Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot-based reds with outstanding ratings: Argentiera.

Bolgheri Icons

Sassicaia

Incisa della Rocchetta planted the San Guido (now famously known as Sassicaia) estate’s first vineyard in 1944, but chose to make a bold move by planting Bordeaux, rather than the regionally conventional Sangiovese and Nebbiolo. By the late 1970s, he had created one of the original “Super Tuscan” wines, Sassicaia, which garnered widespread praise and triggered change in Italian labeling laws.

“The 1985 and 1988 vintages of Sassicaia have become legendary. Today, the vineyards devoted to Sassicaia total 185 acres, planted to Cabernet Sauvignon (85 percent) and Cabernet Franc (15 percent). The newly fermented wine ages 24 months in barrique; average production is 1,000 cases.” – VinePair

Ornellaia

Lodovico Antinori founded Tenuta dell’Ornellaia in 1981 with legendary enologist André Tchelistcheff after traveling around the US. With the guidance of Incisa della Rocchetta, he began planting other French grape varities like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Sauvignon Blanc, helping to further develop the region of Bolgheri.

“Ornellaia’s vineyards represented a typical mosaic of soils, to which Antinori and Tchelistcheff applied a variety of rootstocks. They cultivated the vines without chemicals, a progressive strategy for the region at the time. The resulting wines achieved critical acclaim from the debut 1985 vintage, and by the 1990s, the estate had become one of Italy’s great success stories.” – Wine Spectator

Argentiera

The winery Argentiera is on the Southern coast of Tuscany in the beautiful appellation of the Bolgheri DOC. The Argentiera estate has 65 hectares of breathtakingly beautiful vineyards in the southernmost part of the DOC Bolgheri, approximately 100 km southwest of Florence.

Argentiera is incredibly close to the sea and at a high altitude, making the land especially well-suited to growing incredible red grapes. The estate is considered among the most beautiful in Italy with its spectacular view of the islands of the Tuscan archipelago.

The soil composition varies throughout the vineyards, from sandy to calcareous and stony, offering complexity to the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Syrah. The wineries and cellars are made of recycled or traditional materials such as terracotta and baked roofing tiles. The vineyards are surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation and the countryside is flush with maritime pines and olive tree groves.

This video shows the location and details of the vineyards in a stunning 3D map that takes you straight to the hills of Argentiera. Whether you nerd out on technical details or simply enjoy drinking wine, this video is an amazing visual to show the vineyards that produce the wines of Argentiera. (Video by Pierre Le Hong.)

The Wines

Argentiera is approachable in price compared to the prestigious and famous wines of the iconic Bolgheri DOC and have outstanding ratings.

Argentiera Poggio ai Ginepri Rosso

• 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot
• 2021: 91 (RP); 2020: 92 (JS), 91 (RP), 90 (WS); 2018: 91 (JS); 2017: 92 (JS), 90 (RP)

Argentiera Villa Donoratico

• 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot
• 2020: 93 (RP), 93 (JS), 90 (WS); 2019: 93 (JS), 90 (WS); 2018: 94 (JS)

Argentiera Bolgheri Superiore

• 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
• 2019: 97 (RP), 97 (JS), 95 (DE), 93 (WS), 91 (WE); 2018: 96 (JS), 91 (WS); 2017: 96-97 (JS), 96 (DE); 2016: 97 (RP), 96 (JS), 93 (WS)

Argentiera Ventaglio

• 100% Cabernet Franc
• 2019: 97-99 (RP), 97 (DE); 2018: 96 (RP); 2016: 97 (JS), 97 (RP), 95 (WS); 2015: 97 (JS), 96 (WS), 95 (RP)