BOLGHERI

CASTELLO di BOLGHERI (prov. , TOSCANA)

The castle of Bolgheri lies at the end of the wife of Niccolò . famous Viale dei Cipressi with its almost In 1998, the first , five kilometres of cipresses, a road that is a , and Sangiovese vines national monument. Admittedly, prides were planted, and January 2004 saw the first itself of many national monuments, so release of the estate’s Bolgheri Superiore perhaps it is more important to emphasize that DOC, vintage 2001. the foundation of the castle of Bolgheri dates The vineyards are all in the proximity of the from the beginning of the 13th century. The castle and confine with those of age of Dante, so to speak. and Sassicaia . All the 50 hectares of Of course, as the building presents itself vineyards are in the northern Bolgheri DOC nowadays, it is a (almost complete) area, well known for its favorable terroir with restoration. In fact practically every detail was its natural drainage. rebuilt in the 17th century, and the cellars Today, the number of hectares of the entire were added in 1796. But then again, one DOC of Bolgheri totals 1000, divided over 50 century later the proprietors, the counts of estates. Castello di Bolgheri is one of the Gherardesca, were unsatisfied with their seven estates that make up for 70% of the home. In 1895, with the modification of the total. In short, Bolgheri is synonymous to a façade and the adding of the towers and the small, but fine group of quality producers. merlons, they were finally content. So what seems to be a lovely and genuine Florentine-

renaissance castle, is pure Neo. But it looks nice and convincing, and it is still lovely. The present inhabitant is Count Clemente Zileri Dal Verme, who’s son Federico, a 30th generation-descendant of those 13th century founders, takes care of the vineyards. In 1984, the castle plus 130 hectares of land were inherited by Federico’s mother. Her own mother, Alessandra della Gherardesca, was a full niece of both the wife of Mario ‘Sassicaia’ Incisa della Rocchetta, and of the BOLGHERI

CASTELLO di BOLGHERI Castagneto Carducci (prov. Livorno, TOSCANA)