24 Sep Magic by the Sea at Tenuta Argentiera

There is something magical about vineyards near the sea which is what inspired my title “Oh! Oh! Oh! It’s Magic…By The Sea at Tenuta Argentiera” for my story that ran in Men’s Journal and I am sharing it here.

The thought of Tuscany conjures images of the rolling hills covered in vineyards and olive groves and the art and architecture of Florence, Sienna, and Pisa. But often overlooked in favor of the inland countryside is the Tuscan coast, an extraordinary stretch of the Mediterranean known for its stunning beaches, charming seaside towns, and ancient history. Stretching from the northern Ligurian border down to the Maremma region in the south, the coast offers diverse landscapes and experiences including wine tasting at Tenuta Argentiera.

Tenuta Argentiera is in the southern part of Tuscany in Bolgheri, a medieval town along the Etruscan Coast and a region known for its world-class Super Tuscan wines. While most of the vineyards in Bolgheri are planted on the flats and some of the hills, only one winery is planted on hills near the ocean.

Tenuta Argentiera is located on the hills of Donoratico, 600 feet above sea level.

Sitting on a 375-acre estate, there are 210 acres of vines, divided into four vineyard plots, planted in the shape of an amphitheater facing the Tyrrhenian Sea. The sea breezes blow through the vineyard year-round. The vines are surrounded by oak trees, pine forests, olive groves, and Mediterranean shrubs. The wind, biodiversity, and diurnal temperature shifts are ideal for fresh, elegant, and complex wines.

The first vineyards of Tenuto Argentiera were planted in 2000. Argentiera was started by the Fratini brothers who came from the fashion world. The name Argentiera is derived from the ancient silver mines traced back to the Etruscans who developed the peninsula’s first metallurgy and also brought the art of metalworking to the remote corners of the Greek settlements.

Winemaker Nicolò Carrara joined Tenuta Argentiera in 2009. He was born and raised on a farm in Bolgheri, Carrara has watched the Bolgheri grow. His father was an agronomist, but Carrara chose viticulture and wine. He went to university in 2000 and then to Chateau Palmer in Bordeaux to train for five months. He worked at Il Borro in Tuscany and at Torbreck in the Barossa Valley in Australia. Carrara was planning to work in Napa when he got a call from Argentiera. It was a call that would bring him back home, close to the sea.

In 2016, the property was sold to Stanislaus Turnauer, an Austrian entrepreneur. A modern winemaking facility was built, and sustainable investments were made in the vineyards. Turnauer’s long-term vision was to revive efforts to produce world-class wines, and with winemaker Nicolò Carrara, he has done that.

Tenuta Argentiera is a predominantly red wine house with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Syrah. They make rosé from Syrah and make one white wine from Vermentino. Using minimal intervention, Carrara aims to make elegant wines with strong connections to the vineyards, translating the beauty of Argentiera’s estate into the bottle.

Three Wines to Try with Nicolò Carrara, winemaker at Tenuta Argentieri:

Poggio Ai Ginepri 2021, Toscana IGT (SRP: $27) – A blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot, the grapes come from sandy soils from the youngest vineyards on the property. The wine is aged in concrete and neutral oak. Fresh. A wine with aromas of red fruits and florals with Mediterranean herbs and spice, it has a rounded texture and a fresh, elegant finish.

Villa Donoratico 2020, Bolgheri DOC Rosso (SRP: $52.99) – A blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot. The same blend as the Poggio Ai Ginepri but from older vines around an old villa on the property with rock and limestone soils. The wine is aged in large tonneau (40% new) for 12 months. The wine has energy and complexity with dark red fruit, spice, and tobacco notes.

Argentiera Bolgheri Superiore 2019 (SRP: $139.99) – A blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, this wine comes from the best soils planted on the hills. Aged for 18 months in French barrels and tonneau (50% new), the wine is rich and lush with red fruit, plum, spice, chocolate, and tobacco aromas. Full of depth and complexity, this wine showcases balance and harmony between tannins, acidity, and aromas.

The fresh acidity and balance between concentration and freshness found in the wines of Tenuta Argentiera reflect the specialness of the place. Oh! Oh! Oh! It’s Magic.

Read the original story in Men’s Journal.