Location and landscape
Bolgheri is a historic hill settlement in the municipality of Castagneto Carducci on the Tuscan coast. The area is in Tuscany on the Tyrrhenian Sea; from here, the Tuscan Archipelago and Corsica are visible. The Colline Metallifere to the east merge into a central coastal plain, where most of the vineyards are located. Their elevations range from about 10 to 380 metres above sea level.
Climate and soils
Sea breezes channelled by the Tuscan Archipelago contribute to an average annual temperature of around 15.5 °C. At least 250 days a year, winds are recorded that reduce moisture in the vineyards and thus the risk of fungal diseases. Annual rainfall is about 600 millimetres, with more frequent precipitation during growth and smaller amounts during ripening.
The soils are of marine and alluvial origin. A territorial survey identified 27 soil types; deep sandy-clayey soils, alkaline conditions, many stones and occasional shell fossils are commonly described.
Viticulture and wine styles
The main red grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc; Syrah and Sangiovese are also used, as well as other permitted varieties. Red wines are often made from Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc with Merlot and, if applicable, Syrah, Petit Verdot or Sangiovese. Vermentino is the most important white grape variety, complemented by Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. White Bolgheri wines are predominantly produced fresh and fruit-forward.
For vineyards planted or replanted after the production code of 2011, the Bolgheri DOC requires at least 4,500 vines per hectare. Vineyard areas, training systems and pruning methods must follow local practices; expansive training systems are excluded, and emergency irrigation is permitted.
History and origin designations
In the area there are indications of human activity dating back to the 12th century BC. For many centuries, the coastal plain remained swampy, which is why the earlier settlement was concentrated on the slopes. Tenuta San Guido planted the first Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard in Castiglioncello di Bolgheri in 1944; Sassicaia was first marketed with the 1968 vintage.
The Bolgheri DOC was initially regulated in 1983 for white and rosé wines; Bolgheri Rosso and Bolgheri Superiore followed in 1994. Bolgheri Sassicaia has been an independent origin designation since 2013. For DOC wines and Bolgheri Sassicaia, cultivation, vinification and bottling must take place within the municipality.
