Tenuta San Guido is an esteemed Italian wine estate located in the Maremma region of Tuscany, Italy. It is particularly famous for its flagship wine, Sassicaia, which has been pivotal in establishing the international reputation of Italian fine wines.
The estate's history begins with the Della Gherardesca family, who have owned the property for many centuries. However, it was not until the mid-20th century that the estate gained worldwide acclaim. In the late 1940s, Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, a member of the family, decided to plant Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc vines, inspired by the wines of Bordeaux. Initially, the wine was produced for private consumption, but its quality was undeniable, and by the 1960s, it started to be bottled and sold commercially.
In 1968, Sassicaia was first sold under the Tenuta San Guido label. The wine was an instant success, although it did not receive formal recognition from Italian wine authorities until much later. In 1994, Sassicaia was granted its own DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata), becoming the first wine in Italy to achieve this status based on a single estate's production, rather than a geographical area. This DOC was named Bolghri Sassicaia DOC.
Tenuta San Guido covers approximately 2,500 hectares, with around 75 hectares dedicated to vineyards. The climate here is influenced by the Tyrrhenian Sea, which provides a moderating effect, allowing for the ripening of Bordeaux varieties. The soils are varied, with significant portions of limestone and clay, which contribute to the complexity of the wines.
The impact of Tenuta San Guido on Italian wine cannot be overstated. Sassicaia challenged the traditional view of Italian wine, proving that international grape varieties could thrive in Italy, leading to the creation of the Super Tuscan category. This movement paved the way for other estates to experiment with non-indigenous grapes, thus revolutionizing Italian winemaking.
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