Sassicaia wine…
Sassicaia wine is one of the darlings of Tuscany. Located in Bolgheri, the word ‘Sassicaia’ means ‘a place full of stones’ in reference to how hilly this part of Italy is.
This red wine is made from a blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon grapes (85%) and a small amount of Cabernet Franc grapes (15%). It tastes strong, warm, dry and smooth on the palate and has a heady, elegant smell.
Sassicaia is another Italian wine with a very interesting (but more recent) history. The brainchild of Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, it didn’t occur to many that French variety grapes could be grown on Italian soil. But grow they did, and quite successfully too.
Mario’s love and interest in wine was probably influenced by two things: his grandfather, Leopoldo Incisa, was an insatiable collector of a wide range of vines from local as well as foreign places. Also, Mario had formerly studied in Pisa in the 1920s. Combine the two, and it’s no surprise he had the vision (and courage) to apply such radical ideas to the art of winemaking. He dreamt of producing a ‘noble’ wine akin to Bordeaux wine, and that he did.
Initially, any Sassicaia wine produced was enjoyed privately within the confines of the estate. However, in 1968, it made a commercial venture out of the estate and into the wine market. It went on to be the first Italian wine to gain a successful foothold abroad as well as, in 1994, being the first wine estate to gain a DOC.
On average, the wine has a longevity of 30 years, a feat attributed to Mario’s handiwork as he moved his wine cellars to a temperature-controlled area, used stainless steel vats instead of wooden ones for fermentation, and also used French oak barrels for aging.
Mario may have passed away in 1983, but through his son, Marquis Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta, the legacy of this world-renowned and respected wine continues.