Tenuta Argentiera

The sun was getting covered by a veil of clouds, after we left the winery of Giovanni Chiappini, it was announcing some rain for the last few days of our visit to the Maremma. We were late for our appointment and we drove through the winding roads, covered by trees and with vineyards all around.

A young foreigner with a eastern Europe accent welcomed us, there was another couple from Venezuela, speaking English with their heavy accent. Our host told us that we had to drive up to the hills of the winery's large estate to reach the production area and to have a better whole view of the estate.

As we arrived to the winery, we walked up the stairs through beautiful rooms to a large terrace. The view was astonishing, towards the horizon, we could see the Tyrrhenian Sea and vineyards everywhere.

Our ost introduced us to the history of the winery :

The name Argentiera carries significant meaning: it comes from the silver (“argento”) mines that once dotted the hills of this high lying area of the Maremma – a place rich in natural springs and healing waters. The Estate is the closest winery to the Tyrrhenian coast and at the same time, the highest in altitude of the entire Bolgheri territory, reaching 200 meters above sea level. This dichotomy makes it stand out among all other estates, relishing in a microclimate with unique characteristics.

Set perfectly amidst the Bolgheri landscape, the cellar dominates with natural elegance from a plateau located above the estate situated at two hundred meters in altitude.

The building's design follows the typical construction of the area; sober and respectful in architectural style with respect to the surrounding beauty, while at the same time possessing all of the features of an avant-garde winery.

The external walls of the building are thick and sloping to encourage natural temperature regulation. On the ground floor, wide open spaces are dedicated to welcoming guests and conducting tastings, with a large, climatized room for receiving hand-picked grapes that are then rigorously selected and de-stemmed during harvest.

Wine is processed underground in large spaces that optimize natural thermal conditions: during harvest, the grapes fall with the force of gravity from the upper floor and begin the fermentation process, activated both by pressing as well as remontage and délestage in modern steel tanks at a constant temperature, regulated by a sophisticated computer system that controls the flow of hot and cold water.

The heart of the structure is the aging cellar: under grandiose arches that punctuate the lines of the ceiling, 1200 French oak barrels stand silent in the delicate final phase of winemaking at an optimal temperature of 16 degrees Celsius.

From the large terraces on the first floor you can admire the magnificence of the Bolgheri territory – the vineyards, the dunes, the sea – with a view that embraces the gulf from Castiglioncello to Baratti and on clear days, even the islands Elba and Corsica stand on the horizon.

Seventy-five hectares planted to vineyards bordered by avenues of ancient maritime pine and olive trees, a portion of what was once the immense Tenimento di Donoratico, a former feudal possession of the Florentine Serristori family.

Prestigious vineyards caressed by gentle breezes and winds from the sea rise between the mainland and the beach in an enchanting symphony of colors and scents. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, and Petit Verdot are found here, invigorated by the inimitable climatic and organic alchemy of the soil.

We walked into the production area, the state of the art winery was in front of us with the latest in technology and stainless steel vats, using gravity to move the must and finally the "bottaia", the cellar; with a very large space dedicate at the aging of their best wines in new barriques.

We finally retuned to the main entrance with the van, we drove through olive trees and a beautiful gorgeous estate, the wine tasting was waiting for us.

Argentiera 2016

DOC Bolgheri Superiore

Argentiera, Doc Bolgheri Superiore, draws its strength and uniqueness from the magnificent territory in which it’s generated. The grapes come from the estate’s best vineyards of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. It is a wine with a rich and silky taste. A long maturation in French oak barrels, the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon and the unique terroir of Tenuta Argentiera make this wine on of the greatest expressions in the Bolgheri area.

Cabernet Sauvignon 50%

Merlot 40%

Cabernet Franc 10%

Villa Donoratico 2017

Doc Bolgheri Rosso

To describe a wine, it is necessary to decipher its origin – the landscape, the place, the environment from which it is born – in order to fully understand its nature. Villa Donoratico is a decidedly consistent and complex wine that never risks normality, demonstrating a character deeply linked to territory. Matured in oak, it is extraordinarily drinkable and faithful to its identity, year after year. A nose full of red fruit and a pleasant spice on the palate with notes reminiscent of licorice.

Cabernet Sauvignon 50%

Merlot 30%

Cabernet Franc 15%

Petit Verdot 5%

Poggio ai Ginepri Rosso 2018

Doc Bolgheri Rosso

Poggio ai Ginepri – Bolgheri DOC – is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot vinified separately and extracted by soft pressing. A nice wine with defined structure and pronounced concentration. The wine’s olfactory panorama is ample and profound while at once immediate and present. An intense structure characterizes this wine, but with a beautiful softness and a remarkably clean finish.

Cabernet Sauvignon 40%

Merlot 30%

Cabernet Franc 20%

Petit Verdot 10%

Poggio ai Ginepri Bianco 2018

IGT Toscana Vermentino

Intense straw yellow in color. Fresh on the nose with fruit-forward notes of pear, banana and apricot. On the palate, floral tones of lavender and white flowers in addition to a certain herbaceouness defined by wild sage. On the palate, the wine is fresh and easy drinking; truly well balanced. A long, flavorful finish is pronounced by aromatics and definitive minerality.

Vermentino 90%

Sauvignon Blanc 10%

Giorgio Bartholomäus 2012

Giorgio Bartholomäus is the fruit of an acute selection of 100% Merlot derived from high-lying vineyard sites at 200 m above sea level. It is one among very few mono-varietal wines produced in the Bolgheri area. A unique aging process and particular sensory qualities give life to a wine defined by elegance and remarkable personality: ample, intense and with velvety tannins

Merlot 100%

Opheliah Maria 2012

Ophelia Maria is the fruit of an acute selection of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon derived from high-lying vineyard sites at 200 m above sea level. It is one among very few mono-varietal wines produced in the Bolgheri area. A unique aging process and particular sensory qualities give life to a wine defined by elegance and remarkable personality: ample, intense and with velvety tannins.

Cabernet Sauvignon 100%

Lavinia Maria 2012

Intense ruby red with shades of purple. This wine offers an immediate olfactory dialogue, with no hesitation, lending fruity aromas of plum, blackberry and cassis. A spicy component of black pepper, nutmeg and cloves also dominates, while elegant notes of balsamic, bay leaf, mint, eucalyptus and cypress float on the nose. The palate provides intense fruit defined by plum and blackberry, with excellent body – delicate and elegant

Cabernet Franc 100%

We truly enjoyed the selection of wines and of course of the local cheeses and meats. My proper tasting notes will be published when Idrink some of the wines that are now part of our collection.

As we left the sky got much darker, but the place and perfume of the olive tress was still very intense , we looked at the hills which we just visited; it was a goodbye, like everything we like we never want to think that we may never see it again. As we drove back, Ornellaia was still close , but I had to stop to take another picture.

Follow us on the wine voyager.