2024 Le Difese, Tenuta San Guido

In the windswept coastal hills of Bolgheri lies Tenuta San Guido, an estate that rewrote the rules of Italian winemaking. Founded by the visionary Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta in the 1940s, it was here that the now-iconic wine Sassicaia first emerged, planted with Cabernet Sauvignon in soils Mario believed echoed Bordeaux’s Graves. In 1968, Sassicaia was commercially released and eventually granted its own appellation, the only single-estate DOC in Italy.

Today, under the guidance of Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta and his team, the estate spans vineyards planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Sangiovese on the legendary gravel-studded slopes of the Tuscan coast. With 90 hectares in production, these vines draw strength from poor soils, cooling sea breezes and meticulous viticulture. Wines from Tenuta San Guido are defined by elegance and power, dark fruits, fine tannins, mineral lift and unmistakable longevity.

From Sassicaia to its younger siblings Guidalberto and Le Difese, the estate crafts wines with precision and passion, a blend of tradition and modern excellence that makes Bolgheri one of the must-watch appellations in the wine world.