Sassicaia is the flagship wine produced by winemaker Tenuta San Guido in the Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC in Toscana, Italy.
This one-of-a-kind Super Tuscan wine is made with Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount of Cabernet Franc grapes. Sassicaia is often compared to the classic French wines Lafite Rothschild and Mouton Rothschild. (In the 1980s, the term “Super Tuscan” was coined to refer to the Sassicaia, Tignanello, and the Ornellaia wines made in Tuscany.
The wine house produces about 180,000 bottles of Sassicaia annually.
What does Sassicaia mean?
Sassicaia can be translated as a “stony field.” The name is inspired by the rocky terrain on which the vineyards are planted, giving the wine its refined texture and elegant taste.
Tenuta San Guido produces a second wine Guidalberto (a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes) and a third wine Le Difese (made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese grape varieties).
A Brief History of Sassicaia Wine
The Sassicaia wine began with the vision of the Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta who wanted to recreate the high-quality Bordeaux wine style in his home country - Italy.
In the 1940s Rocchetta and his wife Clarice della Gherardesca moved to the Tenuta San Guido estate in Bolgheri, Tuscany.
In 1948 he started producing Cabernet Sauvignon wine, which was quite different from the modern Sassicaia wine and was solely used for private consumption. This red wine wasn’t well-received by wine critics and lovers.
In 1968, his son Nicolo and nephew Piero Antorini convinced him to start producing his wine commercially. That’s when Rocchetta decided to invite the oenologist Giacomo Tachis to help him improve his wine and successfully replicate the fine Bordeaux wines of France.
The first commercial release of Sassicaia in 1968 became an instant hit - and this kicked off the iconic “Super Tuscan” era.
In 1978, the Sassicaia wine from the 1972 vintage competed against 33 other wines in a blind tasting competition for the “Greatest Clarets” and effortlessly won first place.
In the past, the wine was classified as Vino da Tavola (table wine), but many thought that its superior quality deserved a higher status. That’s why in 1992, Sassicaia was given the higher IGT classification. And later on, in 1994, it was granted its own appellation - DOC Bolgheri Sassicaia.
Until now, Sassicaia is the only Italian wine with the privilege of having its own DOC.
2015 Sassicaia
Sassicaia, like many of the best things in life, began as an experiment, a passion project that came to fruition thanks to good fortune and hard work.
The wine began in the 1940s as a homemade red crafted by a curious Renaissance man trying to emulate Bordeaux on his Bolgheri estate near the Tuscan coast. It became the prototype of the nascent Bolgheri region, inspiring many others while establishing itself as one of the great wines of Tuscany and Italy. And now, in 2018, 50 years after the wine’s first commercial vintage, Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri-Sassicaia Sassicaia 2015 is Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year.
2018 Sassicaia
WE 98
All about radiance and finesse, this iconic Tuscan red has beguiling aromas of cedar, wild red berry, menthol and pipe tobacco that mingle with fragrant blue flowers. Made with 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, the focused, elegantly structured palate is vibrant and savory, delivering cassis, orange zest, licorice and a hint of coffee framed in taut, polished tannins. Bright acidity keeps it energized and balanced. Drink through 2033. — Kerin O’Keefe
2019 Sassicaia
WE 99
Enticing aromas of blue flower, cassis, camphor and spice are front and center in this stunning red. The lithe, savory palate features black currant, red plum and star anise while tobacco notes linger on the long finish. Elegant, polished tannins and bright acidity keep it beautifully balanced and focused. Drink 2025–2044. — Kerin O’Keefe
