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44-680: Fiorano was an Italian wine -producing estate owned by Alberico Boncompagni Ludovisi , a prince of Venosa of the Ludovisi family , active during a period from the late 1940s to 1995. Fiorano is situated in the vicinity of Rome near the Via Appia Antica in the Latium district. Famed wine writer Burton Anderson dubbed Fiorano's wines 'the noblest Romans of them all' in his 1980 anthology Vino. The estate, its methods, wines and its proprietor were all noted for their unorthodoxy in comparison to norms of

88-526: A 2001 interview, Boncompagni Ludovisi stated that his reasons were the vines' advanced age and poor health. Due to his poor health Prince Alberico Boncompagni Ludovisi went to live in Rome. His cousin Prince Paolo Boncompagni Ludovisi and his son Alessandrojacopo came to help him run the estate. Recognizing Alessandrojacopo’s passion for the job, Prince Alberico gave him the replanting rights and

132-501: A richer wine by eliminating the white grapes from the Chianti blend, and instead, adding Bordeaux varietals (namely, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot). He was inspired by Sassicaia, of which he was given the sale agency by his uncle Mario Incisa della Rocchetta . The result was one of the first Super Tuscans, which he named Tignanello , after the vineyard where the grapes were grown. What was formerly Chianti Classico Riserva Vigneto Tignanello,

176-556: A small portion of the estate and, considering him as his successor, suggested he replant the vineyard ( The Prince said he would destroy all his vines rather than see Piero get hold of them. I do not think he likes the modern methods that Piero uses to make Antinori wine. When the Prince was asked if he would save the vines for his grandchildren, he said that they learned about wine from their father, Piero, and not from him. ). Under Prince Alberico’s precise instructions, Alessandrojacopo restored

220-733: A specification for the method of production of vino cotto . Vincotto , typically from Basilicata and Apulia regions, also starts as a cooked must but is not fermented , resulting in a sweet syrup suitable for the preparation of sweets and soft drinks. In Roman times it was known as sapa in Latin and epsima in Greek, the same names that are often used for it, respectively, in Italy and Cyprus. Antinori 43°38′43″N 11°08′00″E  /  43.6452066°N 11.1332392°E  / 43.6452066; 11.1332392 Marchesi Antinori Srl

264-436: A total of some 200 hectares including vineyards, olive groves, and crop and pasture land. And above all there is the historic cellar with the wines that Prince Alberico so jealously conserved and where only a lucky few, including Veronelli, were allowed to visit. Out of respect for Prince Alberico Alessandrojacopo continues this tradition even today. From a vineyard area of 10 hectares (25 acres ), three wines were produced at

308-620: A trend. Prince Boncompagni Ludovisi also practiced organic agriculture during an era when chemical agriculture methods were more commonplace. This happened after consultation with Dr. Giuseppe Palieri who remained an advisor until his death. Later, Boncompagni Ludovisi received advice from Dr. Tancredi Biondi Santi, of whom he was a fan since tasting a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino Biondi Santi 1946 which he described in letter to him as "a majestic red, severe, masculine, medieval". The wines were almost unknown until Italy's famous wine and food critic Luigi Veronelli discovered them by chance in

352-482: A widespread culture of white mold that covered the barrels and bottles , which Boncompagni Ludovisi believed to be beneficial to his production and left to develop undisturbed. Italian wine Italian wine ( Italian : vino italiano ) is produced in every region of Italy . Italy is the country with the widest variety of indigenous grapevine in the world, with an area of 702,000 hectares (1.73 million acres) under vineyard cultivation, as well as

396-515: A winemaker with a reputation associated with the modernist wine movement. When Boncompagni Ludovisi pulled out nearly all Fiorano vines following the 1995 harvest while giving no explanation, subsequent rumours claimed this was in order to prevent his son-in-law from ruining the Fiorano legacy. Antinori told Eric Asimov that he believed Boncompagni Ludovisi could not bear the thought of anybody else making his wines after he could no longer do it himself. In

440-585: A yearly average of 46.8 litres per capita, ranking third in world wine consumption. The origins of vine-growing and winemaking in Italy has been illuminated by recent research, stretching back even before the Phoenician , Etruscans and Greek settlers, who produced wine in Italy before the Romans planted their own vineyards . The Romans greatly increased Italy's viticultural area using efficient viticultural and winemaking methods. Vines have been cultivated from

484-501: Is a form of wine from the Marche and Abruzzo regions of central Italy . It is typically made by individuals for their own use as it cannot legally be sold as wine. The must, from any of several local varieties of grapes, is heated in a copper vessel where it is reduced in volume by up to a third before fermenting in old wooden barrels. It can be aged for years, barrels being topped up with each harvest. The Marche authorities have set down

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528-497: Is a list of the most common and important of Italy's many grape varieties. Other important whites include Carricante, Coda de Volpe, Cortese, Falanghina , Grechetto , Grillo , Inzolia , Picolit , Traminer , Verduzzo , and Vernaccia . Other major red varieties are Cannonau , Ciliegiolo , Gaglioppo , Lagrein , Lambrusco , Monica , Nerello Mascalese , Pignolo , Refosco , Schiava , Schioppettino , Teroldego , and Uva di Troia . The term Super Tuscan (mostly used in

572-523: Is an Italian wine company, based in Florence , Tuscany , that can trace its history back to 1385. They are one of the biggest wine companies in Italy, and their innovations played a large part in the " Super-Tuscan " revolution of the 1970s. Antinori is a member of the Primum Familiae Vini and the 10th oldest family owned company in the world. Rinuccio di Antinoro is recorded as making wine at

616-444: Is the world's largest or second-largest wine producer. In 2005, production was about 20% of the global total, second only to France, which produced 26%. In the same year, Italy's share in dollar value of table wine imports into the U.S. was 32%, Australia's was 24%, and France's was 20%. Along with Australia, Italy's market share has rapidly increased in recent years. In 1963, the first official Italian system of classification of wines

660-611: The indicazione geografica tipica category (technically indicating a level of quality between vino da tavola and DOC(G)) in 1992 and the DOC Bolgheri label in 1994 helped bring Super Tuscans "back into the fold" from a regulatory standpoint. Since the pioneering work of the Super Tuscans, there has been a rapid expansion in the production of high-quality wines throughout Italy that do not qualify for DOC or DOCG classification. Many international wine guides and wine publications rate

704-1207: The English-speaking world and less known in Italy) describes any wine (mostly red, but sometimes also white) produced in Tuscany that generally does not adhere to the traditional local DOC or DOCG regulations. As a result, Super Tuscans are usually Toscana IGT wines, while others are Bolgheri DOC , a designation of origin rather open to international grape varieties. Traditional Tuscan DOC(G)s require that wines are made from native grapes and mostly Sangiovese . While sometimes Super Tuscans are actually produced by Sangiovese alone, they are also often obtained by (1) blending Sangiovese with international grapes (such as Cabernet Sauvignon , Merlot , Cabernet Franc , and Syrah ) to produce red wines, (2) blending international grapes alone (especially classic Bordeaux grapes for reds; Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc for whites), or (3) using one single international variety. Although an extraordinary amount of wines claim to be "the first Super Tuscan", most would agree that this credit belongs to Sassicaia ,

748-602: The Palazzo Antinori , built for the Boni family in the 1460s. At this time, Alessandro Antinori was one of the richest men in Florence, but like many Florentines he was soon bankrupted by the ravages of Charles V of Spain and the economic effect of his New World gold. Nonetheless the family prospered in the ensuing peace and gained the title of Marquis from the House of Habsburg-Lorraine in

792-399: The world's second largest wine producer and the largest exporter as of 2023 . Contributing 49.8 million hl of wine in 2022, Italy accounted for over 19.3% of global production, ahead of France (17.7%) and Spain (13.8%); the following year, production decreased by 11.5 million hl, and Italy was surpassed by France. Italian wine is also popular domestically among Italians, who consume

836-500: The 18th century. In the second half of the 16th century, Bernardino Antinori had a relationship with Dianora di Toledo , wife of Pietro de' Medici the son of Cosimo I . Pietro, who was known at the time for his brutality and dishonesty, discovered the relationship, accused his wife of adultery and strangled her with a dog leash in July 1576 at the Villa Medici at Cafaggiolo . Bernardino

880-606: The Castello di Combiate near the Tuscan town of Calenzano in 1180. The castello was destroyed in 1202, and the family moved to Florence , where they were involved in silk weaving and banking. In 1385, Giovanni di Piero Antinori joined the Guild of Winemakers, and this is the date usually taken as the start of the wine business. The fame of their wine expanded over the years, to the extent that in 1506 they could afford to pay 4,000 florins for

924-595: The Italian wine industry, leading to far-reaching changes in rules and attitudes. Although the Chianti Classico DOCG rules have changed to accommodate wines such as Tignanello, the Antinoris continue to sell it as a Toscana IGT wine. Emboldened by the success of the 20% Bordeaux blend Tignanello, in 1978 Antinori launched Solaia - containing 80% Cabernet Sauvignon - from the neighbouring vineyard. Antinori responded to

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968-440: The Prince was unusually stubborn. According to Mariani: 'The Prince never really wanted to sell the wines. He made it very difficult; one had to call up to order the wines and come in person to collect them on the assigned day at a specified time and bring the exact amount in cash. They would not give change, and cheques were out of the question.' In 1966 Prince Boncompagni Ludovisi's sole daughter Francesca married Piero Antinori ,

1012-545: The Semillon, a variety that has never had much success in Italy, astounded Veronelli. The relationship between Boncompagni Ludovisi and his wine merchants has been described as strained due to the Prince's eccentric manner of doing business. Over time, import of the wines ceased, and although wine was made until 1995, the sale of bottles had ended some time before. Elio Mariani, owner of the Checchino restaurant in Rome, confirms that

1056-551: The bottom to the top level, are: Important wine-relevant geographic characteristics of Italy include: The main wine production areas in Italy, with the wine-growing areas, the main vines (the native ones in italics) and the main wines produced: Italy is the country with the widest variety of indigenous grapevine in the world. Italy's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MIPAAF), has documented over 350 grapes and granted them "authorized" status. There are more than 500 other documented varieties in circulation as well. The following

1100-525: The brainchild of marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta , who planted Cabernet Sauvignon at his Tenuta San Guido estate in Bolgheri back in 1944. It was for many years the marchese's personal wine, until, starting with the 1968 vintage, it was released commercially in 1971. In 1968 Azienda Agricola San Felice produced a Super Tuscan called Vigorello, and in the 1970s Piero Antinori , whose family had been making wine for more than 600 years, also decided to make

1144-516: The early 1960s. Veronelli recounted his first meeting with the Prince: 'I was in Latium writing on the region's wines, and while driving on the ancient Appian Way I spotted the most beautiful vineyards. I followed the road until I came to an imposing estate where I stopped and rang the bell. When nobody responded I tried the gate and found it open. Audaciously I went in and was walking around when I suddenly heard

1188-411: The estate: one Rosso, a red Bordeaux-style blend from plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot; and two white varietal wines, a Sémillon and a Malvasia di Candia. The grapes are pruned to extremely reduced yields described as "ridiculously low", which resulted in marked levels of flavor concentration. The wine is aged in large numbered barrels that are reused every year. The Fiorano cellars have

1232-874: The inflation of the 1980s and 1990s with a frantic programme of investment in wineries and vineyards, most notably the Atlas Peak winery in California in 1985, and 325 hectares around Badia a Passignano in 1987. They also expanded into Piedmont and Apulia , and set up joint ventures in Bátaapáti, Hungary, Stag's Leap and Col Solare in the USA, Malta, Romania, and Chile. Antinori took complete ownership of Col Solare in 2024. Antinori also owns and partners in retail outlets such as Cantinetta Antinori and "Procacci" in Via Tornabuoni in Florence, Italy. The retail presence even extends to

1276-455: The laws on provincial viticulture were relaxed, vast vineyards began to flourish in the rest of Europe, especially Gaul (present-day France) and Hispania . This coincided with the cultivation of new vines, such as biturica, an ancestor of the Cabernets . These vineyards became so successful that Italy ultimately became an import centre for provincial wines. Depending on the vintage, modern Italy

1320-430: The making of the wine which is still done with the same craftsmanship as under Prince Alberico. In other words, Alberico gave all his past experience. Alessandrojacopo inherited Tenuta di Fiorano estate after Prince Alberico died in 2005, enhanced its vineyards and put Fiorano Rosso back on the market starting with vintage 2006. Today Tenuta di Fiorano is run by Prince Alessandrojacopo Boncompagni Ludovisi and extends for

1364-583: The most popular Italian wines. Among the Italian publications, Gambero Rosso is probably the most influential. In particular, the wines that are annually given the highest rating of "three glasses" ( Tre Bicchieri ) attract much attention. Recently, other guides, such as Slow Wine, published by Slow Food Italia, and Bibenda, compiled by the Fondazione Italiana Sommelier, have also gained attention both among professionals and amateurs. Vino cotto ( lit.   ' cooked wine ' )

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1408-523: The peninsula, traces of Bronze Age and even Neolithic grapevine management and small-scale winemaking might suggest earlier origins than previously thought. Under ancient Rome large-scale, slave-run plantations sprang up in many coastal areas of Italy and spread to such an extent that, in AD 92, Emperor Domitian was forced to destroy a great number of vineyards in order to free up fertile land for food production. During this time, viticulture outside of Italy

1452-450: The sound of horse hooves racing up behind me. I turned and found myself looking down the barrel of a gun.' After Veronelli explained who he was and his interest in the vineyards, the Prince invited Veronelli to try his wines. 'As soon as I tried his wines, I knew he truly was a prince' said Veronelli, who convinced him to sell some of the wines, up to then only for personal consumption. Luigi Veronelli stated that Prince Boncompagni Ludovisi

1496-438: The vineyard by planting Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to resume production of Fiorano Rosso wine. As for the white grapes, Prince Alberico insisted that the old varieties be abandoned in favor of Grechetto and Viognier to make Fiorano Bianco wine. Alessandrojacopo did everything Prince Alberico told him to do, from the choice of soils, to the clones and the system of vine-training, all done by organic method, right through to

1540-654: The wild Vitis vinifera grape for millennia in Italy. It was previously believed that viticulture had been introduced into Sicily and southern Italy by the Mycenaeans , as winemaking traditions are known to have already been established in Italy by the time the Phoenician and Greek colonists arrived on Italy's shores around 1000–800 BC. However, archeological discoveries on Monte Kronio in 2017 revealed that viticulture in Sicily flourished at least as far back as 4000 BC — some 3,000 years earlier than previously thought. Also on

1584-459: The wine industry. Though limited in terms of fame, the red wine and two white wines produced at Fiorano during its period of activity achieved reputations for innovation and longevity . Since the late 1960s a small number of devout 'cognoscenti', especially among restaurant owners in Rome, knew about the extraordinary qualities of the two whites Fiorano Bianco (100% Malvasia) and Fiorano Riserva Semillon, and overcame numerous obstacles in order to get

1628-554: The wine was ineligible for the Chianti Classico appellation; from the vintage 1975 onwards, the blend contained Cabernet Sauvignon. Technically Tignanello was not the first 'Super Tuscan' – that honour goes to Sassicaia , created by a relative of the Antinoris, the Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta – even though the Antinoris were experimenting with Cabernet blends since the 1920s. But it was Tignanello that really shook up

1672-670: The wines. While the Boncompagni Ludovisi family lineage may be traced back ca. 1,000 years, the Fiorano estate, located 14 km (8.7 mi) from Rome, had viticulture from local grape varieties first starting in the 1930s. Prince Alberico Boncompagni Ludovisi inherited the estate in 1946, and replaced the existing vines with the Bordeaux international grape varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon , Merlot and Sémillon as well as Malvasia di Candia . This change of viticultural direction took place several years ahead of what later became

1716-551: Was arrested and later killed in prison. Cosimo I exiled his son Pietro to Spain. In 1900, Piero Antinori bought several vineyards in the Chianti Classico region, including 47 hectares at Tignanello. His son Niccolò scandalised Tuscany in 1924 by making a Chianti containing Bordeaux wine varieties. He continued to experiment over the following years with new blends, types of barrel, temperature control and bottle ageing . Niccolò retired in 1966, to be replaced by his son Piero who

1760-518: Was even more innovative. He investigated early harvesting of white grapes, different types of barrique , stainless steel vats and malolactic fermentation of red wines . The real revolution came in 1974 with the launch of Tignanello's first vintage, 1971: a barrique-aged wine from the vineyard bearing the same name containing Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc . Although the initial blend did not yet contain any Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc, no white grape varieties were used, which meant that

1804-427: Was launched. Since then, several modifications and additions to the legislation have been made, including a major modification in 1992. The last modification, which occurred in 2010, established four basic categories which are consistent with the latest European Union wine regulations (2008–09). The Italian Ministry of Agriculture (MIPAAF) regularly publishes updates to the official classification. The categories, from

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1848-401: Was prohibited under Roman law. Exports to the provinces were reciprocated in exchange for more slaves, especially from Gaul . Trade was intense with Gaul, according to Pliny , because the inhabitants tended to drink Italian wine unmixed and without restraint. Although unpalatable to adults, it was customary, at the time, for young people to drink wine mixed with a good proportion of water. As

1892-613: Was pulled from the DOC in 1971, first eliminating the white grapes (then compulsory in Chianti DOC) and gradually adding French varieties. By 1975, Tignanello was made with 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc, and it remains so today. Because these wines did not conform to strict DOC(G) classifications, they were initially labelled as vino da tavola ( lit.   ' table wine ' ), an old official category ordinarily reserved for lower quality wines. The creation of

1936-445: Was the first to employ "biological farming" practices in Italy. He compared Fiorano red wines to Sassicaia , and once wrote of them, "They enchant you with the first taste, burrow in your memory and make you forever better", and, "If I lived in Rome, I would beg for them at the prince's door every morning". It was the whites though that most impressed him. The Fiorano Bianco from Malvasia di Candia soared to new heights of complexity while

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