Marchesi Antinori has developed their wine production over 26 generations
Marchesi Antinori is one of the oldest and most respected
wine producers in Italy, with a history spanning 26 generations and more than 600 years. The house is known for its role in Tuscany's "wine revolution" and for producing some of the region's most famous wines, such as Tignanello. Antinori has contributed significantly to the development of modern winemaking techniques while preserving traditional methods. Their wines are renowned for their quality, innovation and ability to reflect the unique terroir of the regions they operate in.
Marchesi Antinori and Tuscany's wine revolution: The creation of Super Tuscans
Marchesi Antinori played a central role in what is often referred to as Tuscany's "wine revolution". This involved a comprehensive modernization of winemaking techniques and an approach that focused on quality over quantity. Antinori pioneered the development of Super Tuscans, a group of innovative red wines that often combine traditional Italian grape varieties with non-native varieties like
Cabernet Sauvignon. Their famous wine, Tignanello, one of the first red wines in
Chianti not to use white grape varieties, is an excellent example of this innovative approach.
Tignanello - Antinori wine's pioneering Super Tuscan
Tignanello, an Antinori wine, is special as it represents a turning point in modern Italian wine production. It was one of the first red wines in the Chianti region not to include white grape varieties in its blend, and it introduced the use of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc alongside traditional
Sangiovese. Launched in the 1970s, Tignanello symbolizes a break with traditional Italian wine laws and norms, and marks the beginning of the Super Tuscan wine movement, which helped revolutionize wine production in
Tuscany.
Tenuta Tignanello: The heart of Chianti Classico and the jewel of the Antinori dynasty
The Tenuta Tignanello estate, owned by the powerful Marchesi Antinori dynasty, is located in the heart of Chianti Classico, against the rolling hillsides between the Greve and Pesa river valleys. It extends over an area of 319 hectares, of which around 130 are dedicated to vines. Two of the estate's prized vineyards are located on the same hillside, Tignanello and Solaia, on soils derived from marine marlstone and rich in limestone and shale. The vines enjoy warm temperatures during the day and cooler evenings throughout the growing season. The estate's two signature wines, Solaia and Tignanello, are produced from these vineyards and have been defined by the international press as "among the most influential wines in the history of Italian viticulture". According to Marchesi Antinori, Solaia and Tignanello are an everlasting challenge and an endless passion. The Tignanello estate has vineyards of Sangiovese grapes as well as some other non-traditional varieties such as Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
