Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC

The narrative begins with della Gherardesca redevelopment at the end of the seventeenth century and the first flatland vineyards in San Guido and Belvedere. Guido Alberto della Gherardesca and Giuseppe Mazzanti developed experimental vineyards at Capanne di Castiglioncello in 1816 and worked with French varieties. Guido Alberto’s 1833 court appointment deepened his knowledge of French viticulture. Phylloxera destroyed the vineyards early in the twentieth century and forced the structure of local viticulture to be reconsidered.

After marrying Clarice della Gherardesca in 1930, Mario Incisa received the 2,500-hectare property as dowry. Cuttings from the Dukes Salviati of Migliarino supported his early-1940s Cabernet Sauvignon planting below Castiglioncello. The resulting wine remained private until the 1968 vintage entered the market in 1971.

International attention followed Sassicaia’s first place in a 1978 comparative Cabernet tasting. The 1985 vintage later defeated Bordeaux grands crus in a Grand Jury Européen tasting and received 100 points from Robert Parker.

The production territory became a subzone of Bolgheri DOC in 1994 and an autonomous denomination in 2013. Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC is reserved for one wine produced by one estate inside a strictly delimited area.

The zone’s stony, shallow and clay-bearing soils moderate vegetative vigour and water stress. Alternate-row grassing is paired with moderately vigorous rootstocks; late topping and excessive leaf removal are avoided. Historic parcels range from 100 to 360 metres. Regulations require at least 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, at least 18 months in 225-litre barriques, no more than 7 tonnes per hectare and average production no greater than 2 kilograms per vine.