The Super Tuscans of Italy - Ornellaia
You are invited to spend a day ‘under the Tuscan Sun’ to visit one of the few wineries in the world that can boast a perfect “100” rating from Wine Spectator!
Considered to be “rebels” of the wine world, the term “Super Tuscan” came into vogue in the late 1980’s as a handful of reds from the Italian region of Tuscany gained international attention. These wines were sold as "vini da tavola" or table wines because of their use of international varietals, principally Cabernet Sauvignon, made them ineligible for official wine categories. They were "super" Tuscan reds - superior in quality and outside of official premium wine designations.
You will start the day’s journey with a brief stop in the medieval town of Bolgheri, to wet your palate with a tasting of three super wines from three different Tuscan coastline DOC regions.
From there, continue on to one of the most celebrated Tuscan wine estates, Tenuta dell'Ornellaia, and discover for yourself what compels the wine industry's top publications to include their wines in their annual list of 'top wines' over and over, year after year. Your visit begins with a walking tour through the estate's famed Bellaria Vineyard, stand under its 150-year-old oak tree and hear the history of this beautiful and unspoiled land. A land that has become synonymous with winemaking of the first order and has seen the birth of such great labels such as: Ornellaia, Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia, Masseto and Le Voite. Here, the winemaking philosophy is "quality without compromise", and you will experience this integrity first-hand during a tasting of several of their varietals, followed by a traditional Tuscan four-course lunch paired with a selection of current releases.
After lunch board the motorcoach and return to the pier to meet the ship.