| Region of production: | Bolgheri |
| Winery Location: | Castagneto Carducci, Livorno |
| Year Established: | 1200 |
Vineyard Holdings
50 ha
Top Wines Produced
- Bolgheri Superiore DOC: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, aged for two years in a mix of new and used tonneaux.
- Varvara Bolgheri DOC: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Syrah, and 10% Petit Verdot. Aged for 14 months in a mix of new and used French barriques. Named for the oldest living descendant of the Gherardesca family, Baroness Varvara Wrangel, the great-grandmother of Frederico Zileri
- Varvara Etichetta Nera Bolgheri DOC: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot. Made only in exceptional years. Aged in a mix of barriques and tonneaux.
Average Total Production
- N/A
Summary
The Castello di Bolgheri and its ownership by the Counts of the Gherardesca family can be traced back to 1200. The estate’s current cellar was built in the second half of the 18th century, and the castle’s facade was updated in 1895. Only through inheritance has Castello di Bolgheri changed hands, and it is now owned by the family’s 30th generation, father and son Clemente and Frederico Zileri Dal Verme. In 1997, many of the vineyards were replanted to Bordeaux varieties. Frederico is active in the day-to-day operations, assisted by oenologist Alessandro Dondi. At only 70 meters above sea level, the estate is extremely influenced by the coast. The gravel soils are underpinned by a calcium-rich clay full of marine fossils.
Style & Vinification Techniques
All wines are fermented in stainless seal with ambient yeasts. Only French wood is used, in a mix of barriques and tonneaux. Wines are never held in wood for more than 18 months. Farming is quite conventional.
Producer Website: Castello di Bolgheri