The Tenuta Tignanello winery is located in the heart of Chianti-Classico, 30 kilometres south of Florence in Tuscany. It was acquired in the middle of the 19th century by the famous Antinori family, rich in tradition. The vineyards cover a total of 130 hectares of vines; the two most famous sites are called Tignanello (57 hectares in an open south-eastern position) and Solaia (20 hectares immediately adjacent). Here, the famous IGT red wine Tignanello was created by the oenologist Giacomo Tachis (1933-2016), who was already legendary during his lifetime, and, together with Sassicaia, founded the fame of the super Tuscans. The cult wine is produced from grapes from the monopoly single vineyard Tignanello, which lies at an altitude of 350 to 400 metres above sea level with a south-western exposure on calcareous soil. It was the first Sangiovese wine to be aged in barriques, the first red wine to be complemented with grape varieties that are non-traditional for Italy, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, and one of the first red wines to be produced in the Chianti area without using white grapes.
First produced in 1970, the red wine was originally named "Chianti Classico Riserva vigneto Tignanello". At that time, it contained 20% Canaiolo Nero and 5% of the two white varieties Malvasia Bianca Lunga and Trebbiano Toscano in addition to Sangiovese. From the 1971 vintage onwards, it was produced as "Vino da tavola di Toscana" under the name Tignanello. With Tignanello, Antinori thus detached himself from the production standards of Chianti Classico; with the 1975 vintage, the white grapes were dispensed with completely. Since the 1982 vintage, the grape variety composition has been 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. Tignanello is only produced in the best vintages. For example, it was not produced in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1984, 1992 and 2002. The Tenuta Tignanello also produces the Chianti Classico Riserva "Marchese Antinori" and some Vin Santo.
