Aia Vecchia Lagone Toscana 2023

About the Producer

The Pellegrini family, Aia Vecchia's owners, have been grape growers in the Bolgheri area for several generations and have sold their grapes to many of the most notable wineries in the region for decades. After replanting their original vineyards in 1995, the following year they took the plunge and established their own winery with the goal of creating a portfolio of small-lot, high-quality Super Tuscan blends focusing on Bordeaux grape varieties. The Pellegrinis also located and purchased exceptional pieces of land in the Bolgheri DOC of coastal Tuscany, which had been shown to be ideal for Bordeaux varieties. On one of the family's properties there was an old building called Aia Vecchia, which would become the symbol and namesake of the company. The family enlisted the help of well-known agronomist Daniel Schuster in selecting their plant material, which was imported directly from Bordeaux. They also sought out the services of another highly talented consultant—Hungarian winemaker Tibor Gal, who had been chief winemaker at the pioneering Super Tuscan Ornellaia in Bolgheri. The Bolgheri property proved ideal for high-quality Bordeaux-style wines. The area enjoys warmth and light from the sun, both directly and reflected from the sea. At the same time, it has sea breezes to temper the afternoon heat. This combination typically allows an early harvest. In 1998 the winery released "Lagone", their Merlot-based first wine. Given the success of Lagone, Gal launched a Cabernet-based Super Tuscan in 2001, their top label "Sor Ugo". In 2008, the winery expanded the portfolio with a Vermentino, made from grapes from Orbetello and Magliano in Toscana, both of which are in Grosseto province some 60 miles southeast of Bolgheri. In 2022 they released "Orleto" a 100% Cabernet Franc. Today, the winery is managed by Elia Pellegrini with winemaker Niccolo Scottini.