Campo alla Sughera, a prominent winery located in the renowned Bolgheri DOC of Tuscany, embodies a relentless pursuit of excellence in winemaking. Established in 1998, the estate's philosophy is rooted in a profound understanding of its diverse soils and microclimates, coupled with the skillful cultivation of international grape varieties. This dedication ensures the creation of wines that not only mirror Bolgheri's unique terroir but also express the region's intricate character. Through sustainable farming practices, meticulous vineyard management, and advanced winemaking techniques, Campo alla Sughera consistently produces high-quality, distinctive wines. The winery also offers engaging visitor experiences, allowing enthusiasts to delve into their winemaking journey firsthand and appreciate the artistry behind each bottle.
Discovering Excellence at Campo alla Sughera
In the heart of Tuscany's esteemed Bolgheri DOC, Campo alla Sughera, a winery established in 1998, stands as a testament to the continuous pursuit of winemaking perfection. As Tommaso Alessandri, the insightful winery director, aptly notes, while absolute perfection may remain elusive, the aspiration for it profoundly shapes their endeavors.
Situated on 20 hectares of prime vineyards, Campo alla Sughera benefits from a unique geographical position—nestled between the ancient sandy seabeds of the Tuscan coast and the mineral-rich extensions of the Metalliferous Hills. This distinctive environment, with its varied soil compositions and nuanced microterroirs, forms the foundation of the winery's philosophy: to craft wines that exquisitely reflect Bolgheri's character and express its profound complexity.
A core commitment at Campo alla Sughera is sustainable viticulture. The vineyards are cultivated with a strong emphasis on biodiversity, ensuring the long-term health of both the vines and the soil. This environmentally conscious approach lays the groundwork for the exceptional quality found in their wines.
The pursuit of excellence extends into the cellar, where winemaker Francesco Gagliardi collaborates with the highly esteemed oenologist Stéphane Derenoncourt, celebrated for his contributions to Bordeaux's finest wines. Their work in the gravity-fed cellar involves fermenting grapes in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, preserving the inherent character and aromatic vibrancy of each varietal. A crucial aspect of their process is microvinification, where each vineyard plot is vinified separately, allowing the distinctiveness of the estate's many terroirs to truly emerge.
For those eager to experience this dedication firsthand, Campo alla Sughera offers a variety of immersive tours and experiences. Visitors can embark on guided explorations of the sun-drenched vineyards and the meticulously designed cellar. A highlight is the three-vintage vertical tasting of their celebrated Arnione Bolgheri Superiore wines, offering a captivating journey through different expressions of this flagship wine.
Adding a touch of modern innovation, the winery provides an engaging virtual reality experience. Donning VR headsets, guests can witness the meticulous triple-selection process of grapes—from the initial sorting in the vineyard to the precise handling on the sorting table and through the destemmer-crusher. This virtual journey allows an unparalleled aerial view of the estate, placing its fascinating properties within a broader landscape. Following this immersive experience, guests can indulge in a tasting of estate wines, including the exclusive Anima d’Arnione. Limited to merely 1,000 bottles annually and exclusively available at the winery, Anima d’Arnione represents the pinnacle of their craft, showcasing the finest varietal from exceptional vintages through a unique, individualized winemaking process, often utilizing amphora for unparalleled transparency of site expression.
Since 2022, Campo alla Sughera has expanded its vineyard holdings by over five hectares, providing the winemaking team with even greater flexibility in selecting the most exceptional grapes. This expansion is a vital step for a winery so deeply committed to producing wines of the highest possible quality.
Among their noteworthy offerings are the Arioso Vermentino, a vibrant white wine aged in stainless steel, known for its refreshing citrus and peach notes with a saline finish. The Adèo, a Bolgheri Rosso DOC, is a harmonious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, aged for a year in barrels, delivering a creamy texture with dark berry, herb, and spice nuances. The Arnione, their Bolgheri Superiore DOC, sourced from rockier soils, presents a youthful and ripe profile of red and black fruits, promising reward with age. The Campo alla Sughera Toscana IGT stands out as a rare, Petit Verdot-dominant Super Tuscan, showcasing the grape's unique quality in their vineyards with intense dark fruit, floral, and peppery notes. Each wine embodies the estate's commitment to expressing the Bolgheri terroir with precision and passion.
Campo alla Sughera continues to redefine the standards of Tuscan winemaking, inviting enthusiasts to discover the depth and character born from their unwavering pursuit of vinous perfection.
As a passionate connoisseur of fine wines, I find Campo alla Sughera's dedication to the nuanced art of winemaking truly inspiring. Their philosophy, centered on understanding and expressing the unique Bolgheri terroir through meticulous cultivation and innovative techniques, sets a remarkable precedent. The integration of sustainable practices, the collaboration with a celebrated oenologist like Stéphane Derenoncourt, and the pioneering use of microvinification underscore a commitment to quality that transcends mere production. The exclusive Anima d’Arnione, with its limited availability and bespoke winemaking approach, exemplifies the pinnacle of their artisanal craft, urging a visit to experience this singular creation firsthand. This approach suggests that true excellence in winemaking isn't just about the final product, but about the journey of constant refinement and respect for nature's bounty.