“ma per le vie del borgo
dal ribollir de’ tini
va l’aspro odor de i vini
l’anime a rallegrar “
Today, with the help of the illustrious poet Giosuè Carducci, we would like to introduce you to a village located in the Tuscan hinterland, which can be considered one of the most charming in Tuscany.
Wine, narrow streets, cheerful souls, festive atmosphere: the whole soul of Bolgheri is encapsulated in a quatrain.
Geographically located between Piombino, Volterra and Livorno, it is less than 300 km from Rome and is a hamlet of the municipality of Castagneto Carducci. Its Viale dei Cipressi has become a true Tuscan icon, part of the common imagination of travellers from all over the world, but there is more than this to visit in the village.
Many of you will have already had the good fortune to visit it, while others may not have even known the existence of this little treasure.
In any case, read on for our tips on what to do in Bolgheri.
If you are staying in our Guardistallo accommodation or have booked a flat with a swimming pool at Sculture, you can plan a wonderful day out in Bolgheri.
We suggest you split your trip into two parts, dedicating the first part of the day to discovering the architectural beauty of the place and the second part to tasting the food and wine masterpieces.
What to see?
- Bolgheri Castle
The Castle of the Conti della Gherardesca welcomes all who enter the village: the entrance gate to Bolgheri is in fact located right under the tower. Of 16th-century origin, the castle is still in perfect condition. The lower part houses cellars, while the surrounding land is home to farms producing local wine.
- Bolgheri centre
The historic centre of Bolgheri is a real jewel, in which to get lost wandering around. Stop to admire above all:
- Piazza Alberto, the village's main square;
- Carducci's childhood home
- Piazza Teresa with the Medieval Church of Saints James and Christopher;
- Cypress Avenue
Bolgheri's Viale dei Cipressi is an authentic icon and is the destination every year of thousands of photographers who wish to immortalise this stretch of road, at the end of which is the castle tower with the entrance gate to the village.
What to taste?
You are in Tuscany indulge in the pleasures of the flesh: treat yourself to a bruschetta with a good glass of wine and more.
Along the streets of the borgo you will find countless local wine cellars where you can enjoy an excellent tasting.
You will have the chance to try some of Italy's finest wines.
Here are our favourites:
- Sassicaia: we like to call it 'the wine of those who know how to wait' . This fine product was born thanks to the patience (and professionalism combined with innovation) of Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, who after planting the first Cabernet vineyard in the Mediterranean maquis realised that his product improved with time. The first historic bottles of Sassicaia arrived in 1944, but were exclusively for family use. The first marketed vintage waited until 1968. And in 2018, the Sassicaia vintage 2015 was voted best wine of the year. Its history, the particularity of the terrain and, of course, the quality of the final product have given Sassicaia a special record: it is in fact the first Italian wine from a specific winery, which has a reserved DOC. The Bolgheri Sassicaia appellation belongs exclusively to the Tenuta San Guido of the Incisa della Rocchetta family. Would you like to find out more about this wine? Book a table at the magnificent Tenuta San Guido
- Ornellaia : in 1981 Marquis Lodovico Antinori, cousin of Piero Antinori, founded Tenuta Ornellaia, in the heart of the Bolgheri area, a few kilometres from the Mediterranean coast. In 1985 the first vintage was made and in 1988 the wine was put on the market for the first time. With the inauguration of the winery, the world-famous oenologist Michel Rolland began to take charge of the technical side of the cellar. Subsequently, in the 1990s, the other two labels were born: 'Le Volte' and 'Le Serre Nuove'. The entire production process follows strict rules that guarantee the authenticity and goodness of the product. During the grape harvest, only the finest and most balanced bunches are selected and picked, then processed separately according to the cru of origin. Then a year of resting in barrels, followed by the composition of the blend.
Aren't you curious? We are already thirsty
© Rebecca Taizzani
