Tenuta Tignanello

Tenuta Tignanello is one of Italy 's most influential wine estates and the historic heart of the Super Tuscan movement. This estate, located entirely within Chianti Classico , demonstrated that Tuscan wine could be reinvented without losing its identity.

The position of Tenuta Tignanello within Antinori

Tenuta Tignanello is the flagship of Marchesi Antinori . The estate comprises a single, contiguous vineyard and is considered the place where Antinori made his most groundbreaking decisions.

Why is Tenuta Tignanello so important in the wine world?
Because wines were created here that broke the rules of Chianti Classico and defined the concept of Super Tuscan worldwide.

Location and vineyards

Tenuta Tignanello is located between the Greve and Pesa rivers, in the heart of Chianti Classico. The estate covers approximately 127 hectares, of which approximately 57 hectares are planted with vines. The vineyards are situated on slopes between approximately 350 and 400 meters in altitude, ensuring good ventilation and even ripening of the grapes.

The soils consist primarily of alberese (limestone) and galestro (schist-like slate). This combination gives the wines structure, freshness, and a distinct sense of origin.

The wines of Tenuta Tignanello

Tenuta Tignanello is inextricably linked to two iconic wines that played a key role in the modernization of Tuscany.

Tignanello

Tignanello was first produced in the 1970s and was the first Chianti Classico to contain no white grapes. The wine blends Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and is aged in small oak barrels, a revolutionary choice at the time.

Tignanello showed that Sangiovese could excel outside the traditional rules and became one of the most influential Italian wines of the 20th century.

Solaia

Solaia followed a few years later, emphasizing Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc . This wine demonstrated that the Chianti Classico terroir is also exceptionally well-suited to international grape varieties, provided they are carefully selected and vinified.

Together, Tignanello and Solaia form the core of the estate's prestige.

Grapes and style

While Sangiovese forms the historical backbone of Tenuta Tignanello, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc play an important complementary role. The style of the wines is characterized by:

• clear structure
• ripe but controlled fruit
• integrated wood use
• focus on balance and maturation potential

Each wine reflects the estate's specific terroir and Antinori's long-term vision.

Philosophy and vinification

Tenuta Tignanello was one of the first estates in Chianti Classico to experiment with small oak barrels for aging. This choice was unusual at the time, but proved crucial for developing complexity and structure.

Vinification focuses on precision, plot-by-plot selection, and maximum expression of grape and soil. Modern techniques are employed, but always in the service of the provenance.

Tenuta Tignanello at Perfectewijn.nl

At Perfecte Wijn, you'll find wines from Tenuta Tignanello for those seeking top-quality Tuscan wines with history, innovation, and an international reputation. This estate demonstrates how a single vineyard can have a lasting impact on an entire wine region.