Tenuta San Guido
Sassicaia
2001
Tenuta San Guido's Sassicaia stands as Italy's most iconic Super Tuscan, a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant flagship from Bolgheri that revolutionized Italian fine wine with Bordeaux-inspired structure and Mediterranean elegance.
Country
Italy
Region
Tuscany - Bolgheri
More information
Producer
Tenuta San Guido is the producer of Sassicaia, the groundbreaking Super Tuscan that established Bolgheri as a fine wine region and became the only estate in Italy to hold its own dedicated DOC. Founded in the 1940s by Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta on the Tuscan coast, the property remains under the stewardship of the Incisa della Rocchetta family. Its wines are distinguished by refined aromatic complexity, structural precision and extraordinary capacity for cellaring across decades.
Quick Facts
- Location: Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy
- Founded: 1940s
- Founder: Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta
- Ownership: Incisa della Rocchetta family
- Classification: Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC – Italy's only single-estate DOC
- Principal grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
- Soils: Gravel, sand, clay and limestone
- Grand Vin: Sassicaia
- Estate wines: Guidalberto and Le Difese
- Style: Structured, aromatic and built for extended ageing
- Ageing potential: 30 to 50 years or more for Sassicaia
- First commercial vintage: 1968
A Pioneering Vision on the Tuscan Coast
Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta planted Cabernet Sauvignon at Tenuta San Guido in the 1940s, inspired by the fine wines of Bordeaux and guided by his belief that the gravelly soils and maritime climate of coastal Tuscany could produce wines of similar structure and finesse. For decades, Sassicaia remained a private wine shared only among friends and family.
The first commercial release came in 1968, and by the 1970s, Sassicaia had gained international recognition. It challenged prevailing perceptions of Italian wine and inspired an entire generation of producers to explore international varieties beyond Tuscany's traditional Sangiovese heartland. In 1994, Sassicaia was granted its own DOC—Bolgheri Sassicaia—the only appellation in Italy created for a single estate.
The Vineyards of Bolgheri
The estate's vineyards lie between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the hills that shelter Bolgheri from the interior. Cooling maritime breezes moderate summer temperatures and extend the ripening season, allowing Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc to develop aromatic complexity alongside structural depth.
The diversity of Bolgheri's soils plays a defining role in the estate's wines. Layers of gravel, sand, clay and limestone create varied expressions across different parcels, with the finest fruit selected for Sassicaia. These geological characteristics, combined with careful vineyard management and low yields, form the foundation for wines of concentration, balance and remarkable longevity.
Sassicaia and the Estate Portfolio
Sassicaia is typically composed of approximately 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, though proportions vary by vintage. After fermentation, the wine matures for around 24 months in French oak barriques, developing layered aromas of cassis, cedar, graphite and dried herbs alongside firm but refined tannins. It is a wine built to evolve gracefully over 30 years or more.
Guidalberto, introduced in 2000, blends Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and offers a more approachable expression of the estate's terroir and winemaking philosophy. Le Difese, the estate's third wine, combines Cabernet Sauvignon with Sangiovese and is made for earlier drinking while maintaining the clarity and balance that define Tenuta San Guido across its range.
Country
Region
Tuscany - Bolgheri
Bolgheri is widely regarded as one of Italy's most influential wine regions and the birthplace of the Super Tuscan movement that revolutionised Italian winemaking in the late 20th century. Located on the Tuscan coast in central Italy, Bolgheri broke from traditional Italian grape varieties and classifications to produce Bordeaux-inspired blends that achieved international acclaim and redefined what Italian fine wine could be. Today the region represents the benchmark for modern Italian winemaking and produces some of the country's most collectible bottles.
The region benefits from a distinctive maritime climate influenced by the Tyrrhenian Sea, which moderates temperatures and extends the growing season. Sandy clay and gravel soils provide ideal drainage and concentration for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, while coastal breezes preserve natural acidity and freshness. Granted DOC status in 1994, Bolgheri encompasses both varietal wines and blends, with the prestigious Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC established in 2013 exclusively for Tenuta San Guido's legendary Sassicaia—Italy's first internationally recognised Super Tuscan and the wine that inspired an entire movement.
Bolgheri is home to several iconic estates that have achieved global recognition. Tenuta San Guido produces the celebrated Sassicaia, while Ornellaia, Masseto, Le Macchiole, Grattamacco and Guado al Tasso continue to produce refined and powerful wines that command respect from collectors worldwide. These producers have elevated Bolgheri to a status that rivals Bordeaux's finest appellations and established the region as synonymous with exceptional quality and visionary winemaking.
Whether exploring legendary vintages, prestigious estates or benchmark Super Tuscan blends, Bolgheri offers an exceptional journey through one of Italy's most dynamic wine regions. Discover Bolgheri wines, compare prices from trusted merchants across Europe and find the best offers with Sipfind.
Grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most important and widely planted red wine grapes, renowned for its powerful structure, concentrated fruit and exceptional ageing potential. Originating in Bordeaux, France, the variety has become a defining grape of fine wine regions around the world, particularly Napa Valley, Tuscany, Chile, Australia and South Africa.
Classic Cabernet Sauvignon combines flavours and aromas of blackcurrant, cassis, blackberry and dark cherry with characteristic notes of cedar, graphite, tobacco and herbs. Naturally high tannins and fresh acidity provide structure and longevity, while maturation in oak can add layers of spice, vanilla and toast. Its character varies significantly with climate, soil and winemaking, ranging from elegant and savoury to rich, powerful and intensely concentrated.
In Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon is particularly associated with the Left Bank, where it forms the foundation of many prestigious blends alongside Merlot, Cabernet Franc and other permitted varieties. In Napa Valley, it has become the region’s signature red grape, producing some of the world’s most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon wines.
Cabernet Sauvignon’s ability to express terroir while retaining its distinctive structure and character has made it a global benchmark for premium red wine. Whether produced as the dominant variety in a blend or as a varietal wine, the finest examples combine concentration, complexity and the capacity to develop gracefully over decades
Cabernet Franc is one of France’s most historic red wine grapes, valued for its aromatic intensity, vibrant acidity and ability to express both climate and soil with remarkable clarity. It produces elegant single-varietal wines and plays an essential role in some of Bordeaux’s most distinguished blends. Earlier ripening than Cabernet Sauvignon allows Cabernet Franc to perform particularly well in cooler wine regions.
In the Loire Valley, Cabernet Franc reaches its clearest expression as a varietal wine. Typical aromas include redcurrant, raspberry, red cherry and violet, often accompanied by graphite, dried herbs, tobacco and subtle peppery notes. Naturally fresh acidity and finely structured tannins can produce approachable, fruit-driven wines as well as complex examples capable of developing for many years.
The variety is especially important in Chinon, Bourgueil and Saumur-Champigny. Chinon can range from fragrant and supple to deeply structured and age-worthy, depending on vineyard site and soil. Bourgueil often combines dark red fruit with firm structure, while Saumur-Champigny is renowned for freshness, aromatic purity and refined texture. Limestone-rich tuffeau, gravel, sand and clay all contribute to the diversity of Cabernet Franc across these Loire appellations.
In Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc is principally associated with the Right Bank, particularly Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. Usually blended with Merlot and sometimes Cabernet Sauvignon, it contributes perfume, freshness, savoury complexity and structural precision. On suitable limestone and clay terroirs, Cabernet Franc can become a dominant component of exceptionally refined and long-lived wines.
Beyond France, Cabernet Franc is cultivated in regions including Tuscany, Bolgheri, Napa Valley, Washington State, Canada, Argentina and Chile, producing styles shaped by local climate and terroir. Traditionally known as Breton in the Loire and Bouchet in parts of Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc’s combination of aromatic elegance, freshness and ageing potential establishes it as one of the world’s great red wine varieties.
History and Style
Sassicaia is the flagship wine of Tenuta San Guido, an iconic estate in Tuscany's coastal Bolgheri region. As the original Super Tuscan, Sassicaia broke with Italian winemaking tradition in the 1960s by focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon rather than native varieties, creating a wine of such exceptional quality that it earned its own single-estate DOC designation—Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC—in 1994.
Quick Facts
- Producer: Tenuta San Guido
- Classification: Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC (single-estate appellation)
- Region: Tuscany
- Appellation: Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC
- Country: Italy
- Style: Full-bodied Super Tuscan, Bordeaux-inspired Cabernet blend
- Grape Composition: Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend (typically 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc)
- Ageing Potential: 20-40+ years from vintage
- Alcohol (ABV): 13.5-14%
- Tasting Profile: Blackcurrant, cassis, cedar, tobacco, graphite, Mediterranean herbs, refined tannins
- Food Pairing: Grilled steak, lamb, game meats, aged Tuscan cheese, truffle dishes
- Serving Temperature: 16-18°C
- Bottle Status: Flagship
- Vintage: Vintage-dated (vintage varies)
Vineyard, Terroir and Style
Tenuta San Guido's vineyards benefit from Bolgheri's unique maritime microclimate, where coastal breezes and well-drained gravelly soils create ideal conditions for Bordeaux varietals. The estate's meticulous viticulture and winemaking, inspired by Bordeaux's Left Bank tradition, have established Sassicaia as a benchmark for Italian Cabernet Sauvignon. Each vintage reflects the producer's unwavering commitment to quality and terroir expression.
History and Reputation
This flagship wine typically comprises 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, aged in French oak barriques for 24 months. The result is a full-bodied, structured wine with classic notes of blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco, and Mediterranean herbs, balanced by refined tannins and remarkable ageing potential. Sassicaia's elegance combines Bordeaux-style complexity with distinctive Italian character.
Whether you're a collector seeking exceptional vintages or exploring Italy's finest expressions, Sassicaia represents the pinnacle of Super Tuscan winemaking. Use Sipfind to compare prices globally and secure this legendary flagship wine from trusted retailers worldwide.