Expression of Marchesi Antinori philosophy
The Tenuta Tignanello estate is in the heart of Chianti Classico, in the gently rolling hillsides between the Greve and Pesa river valleys. It extends over an area of 319 hectares (788 acres), of which about 130 (321 acres) are dedicated to vines.
Two of the estate’s prized vineyards are on the same hillside, Tignanello and Solaia, on soils that originated from marine marlstone from the Pliocene period rich in limestone and schist.
The vines enjoy hot 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”.
History. From the Foundations of an Estate from 1346
The current 16th century manor house was built on the foundations of an estate that dates back to 1346 when the property belonged to the Buondelmonti's, a noble family that owned a great part of the land in Valle della Pesa.
In the seventeenth century, a cadet branch of the Medici family took possession of the estate and named it Fonte dei Medici. In the mid 1800's the Antinori family acquired the estate.
The "Carocci", a historical-artistic guide of the town of San Casciano Val di Pesa, described the Tignanello farm and extensive vineyards in 1892 as one of the highest and more picturesque localities in the entire territory.
The Vineyards
Within the boundaries of Tenuta Tignanello's about 130 hectares (321 acres) of vineyards, divided into smaller individual parcels, are two of the finest pearls: the Tignanello vineyard and the Solaia vineyard.
The soils, originating in the Pliocene period, are rich in calcareous rock and marl and sit at an altitude of 350-400 meters above sea level (1148-1312 feet) with considerable temperature fluctuation between day and night; all of these factors combined give the grapes their unique characteristics.
Grape varieties grown include the indigenous Sangiovese and untraditional varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc that are able to fully express the territory's distinctive characteristics.
There are also small parcels of Malvasia and Trebbiano for Vinsanto production and 37 hectares (91 acres) of olive groves.
Research and Development
Throughout the 1970's, Tenuta Tignanello was a sort of laboratory for Marchesi Antinori, a center for new viticultural research and development as they introduced new winemaking techniques and new varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
Innovations concerning vine density or pruning techniques and the selection of the Sangiovese grape were always intended to obtain grapes with concentrated fruit and soft tannins. In this unique terroir, Sangiovese and Cabernet are able to fully express their own distinctive personalities and reflect the territory's signature characteristics.
