Tenuta dell'Ornellaia is a Bolgheri estate which lies in the heart of Tuscany's coastal region, Maremma, also home to Sassicaia. The estate is one of the icon wineries of Italy, producing some of the finest Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc in Tuscany, grown in the alluvial, volcanic, and marine-based soils which comprise the region’s terroir.

Founded by Marchese Lodovico Antinori in 1981, Ornellaia’s first vineyard plantings were in 1982 and the new winery started operations with the 1985 vintage. Robert Mondavi and Marchesi de' Frescobaldi became co-owners of the estate in 2002, but since 2005, the estate has been exclusively owned by Marchesi de' Frescobaldi.

Grapes which are not designated for the winery’s flagship Bordeaux-styled release Ornellaia, one of the first Super Tuscans, are "declassified" to the production of Le Serre Nuove, which usually has more Merlot, and sees less oak influence. The winery produces several other labels, including Le Volte, a blend of Merlot, Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as a Sauvignon Blanc, Poggio alla Gazze, and Ornus, a sweet, late harvest wine from Petit Manseng.

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia also owns the Masseto winery and estate, which produces an equally world-renowned and lauded single-vineyard Merlot.

Coming primarily from the Estate’s younger vineyards and made with the same passion and attention to detail as Ornellaia, Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia is a true “second wine”. A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, it combines generosity and depth of flavor with an engaging and vibrant personality.

Grapes are hand-picked into small baskets, then double-sorted both before and after de-stemming. Every variety and block is vinified separately. Fermentation is stainless steel followed by 10 days of maceration on the skins.

The wine ages in oak barrels, 25% new, for about 12 months. The components are then blended and returned to barrels for another 3+ months of aging. After bottling, the wine matures and stabilizes in bottle for six months at the winery before release.

Le Serre Nuove releases are dark red with forward fruit, complemented by floral and savory notes. The body is medium-plus, with velvety texture and a long, persistently juicy finish.