The Bolgheri Sassicaia, Tuscan red wine which has been labelled as a "DOC" since 1994, is one of the most prized and well-known Italian wines in the world. It is pressed primarily from cabernet sauvignon grapes.
In Tuscany the cabernet was already known in the 1700's, but when the marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta began to plant cabernet vineyards in the 1940's, many found his decision to be questionable, if not rash.
The cabernet vine, however, acclimated very easily on his farm in Sassicaia inside the Estate of Saint Guido. After years of experimentation the marchese commercialised the first bottles of his new wine in the 1960's. This is the first Tuscan Cabernet and the first Italian wine matured in barrels with a capacity of 225 litres.
The maximum yield of the grapes is very low. It is not more than 60 quintals per hectare and the single vines guarantee low productivity which is an advantage for the quality of the grapes and therefore also of the wine.

The Bolgheri Sassicaia must age for at least 2 years, starting from the first January after the harvest. The wine is aged for at least 18 months in oak barrels (of 225 litres) and for six months in the bottle. The Bolgheri Sassicaia is a red wine characterised by a rich and elegant fragrance. It has a dry flavour, is strong, velvety, and warm. It goes well with rich dishes like red meat or wild game.

Wine tasting in Italy