Masseto Wine Named Winery Of The Decade: Everything You Should Know

Competing with wines from Bordeaux and Burgundy is never easy but Masseto wine has a good reason to be included with the greats

Introducing Masseto Wine

Masseto wine is produced in the sunny Bolgheri region of Italy where its gently sloping vineyards cover the valley, reflecting the grey-blue clay soil. The vines are illuminated by the reflection of the Tyrrhenian Sea creating a magical, almost mythical feel.

The site is just 6.6 hectares, relatively small for a vineyard. It is split into small plots to help control the conditions and the final product. This does mean it can take as long as a month to harvest all the grapes each year. It produces roughly 35,000 bottles per year.

The Masseto Winery was started by Lodovico Antinori in 1981 after returning from California where he worked as a winemaker. This encouraged him to copy the French wine-making techniques instead of the local Italian traditions. The result was the Masseto wine and international recognition.

Antinori sold the winery to Robert Mondavi at the turn of the century. Robert partnered with the Frescobaldi family who took over the entire estate just three years later and still owns it today.

What Qualifies Masseto Wine As Winery Of The Decade?

The Masseto winery in Tuscany has managed to compete with the great wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy in France. There is a good reason for this. The wine mirrors the taste of Château Pétrus, another first-class wine that isn’t established as a Grand Cru. That, and the consistency of the taste is why it has been announced as the wine of the decade.

The wine itself is very young. The first wine was released in 1984 and was an immediate hit. With every passing year, the vintage has improved, making it one of the most sought-after in the world. What makes this wine so complex, fruity, and aromatic is the dedication to detail.

The winery is committed to creating first-class wines. This is why the initial fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks. This ensures the temperature is carefully controlled. The basic wine is then moved to French oak barrels for maturing. This process takes approximately one year before the wine is aged for another year.

Where To Buy Masseto Wine

It is worth noting that the wine sells out in the Masseto wine within weeks of being produced, it is that popular. New vintages are as much as $800 per bottle. Unless you are at the winery when the wine is first ready for sale, the best way to purchase Masseto wine (https://www.enotecaproperzio.com/tenuta-dell-ornellaia/) is online or on-site with the international wine store Enoteca Properzio. You will find an array of premier wine just waiting to be snapped up by the discerning buyer.

Of course, if you have the opportunity to visit the Masseto winery you should jump at it. Discovering how this delicious wine is made and enjoying tasting it is an experience not to be missed.