Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove Bolgheri Rosso DOC

The grapes were handpicked into 15 kg baskets. The bunches were selected by hand on a double sorting table before and after de-stemming, then finally soft-pressed. In addition to handpicking, the estate introduced optical selection in 2016 in order to further increase the quality of berry selection. Each variety and each parcel of land was vinified separately. The alcoholic fermentation took place partly in stainless steel tanks and partly in concrete vats at temperatures between 22-28°C for two weeks, followed by maceration for a total of about 10-15 days. The
malolactic fermentation took place in stainless steel after which the wines were racked into barriques (25% new and 75% used once). The wine remained in barriques in Ornellaia’s temperature-controlled cellars for about 15 months. After the first 12 months the wine was blended and then returned to the barriques for an additional three months of ageing. The wine remains in the bottle for another six months prior to release.

Since its inception, Ornellaia’s production has been influenced and inspired by the Mediterranean character of the coast near Bolgheri. Founded in 1981, Ornellaia has helped establishing this relatively young viticultural area and it is now regarded as one of the world’s most iconic estates.

Painstaking attention to details, both in the vineyards and in the winery, allows Ornellaia to release every year utterly elegant interpretations of each vintage.

Nestled in the foothills near Bolgheri, Ornellaia lies just a few kilometres from the Mediterranean coast. During the summer months, the cool sea breeze caresses the vineyards and nearby olive groves, while during the winter the hills provide protection from the cold north winds. Ornellaia believes that a wine should be the most authentic expression of the terroir from which it originates and it is right here that, together with the maritime climate, the heterogeneous nature of the land and the estate – of marine, alluvial and volcanic origin – creates a distinct environment where red and white varieties can best express themselves. In this unique terroir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are used to craft the icon red wines that made the estate famous.

The importance that sustainable viticulture is an integral part of their production philosophy and is based on the economic longevity of structures and territories, the qualitative production and the enhancement of the heritage and landscape of the Bolgheri area along with its historical, cultural and ecological aspects.