In the Bolgheri countryside, discover with me this beautiful winery that is also the story of a family
Some time ago, I was invited to visit the Vaira Estate. I rarely get to do tastings at the many wineries surrounding Suvereto and the Val di Cornia because I prefer other activities with children.
This time, however, with my husband, we decided to bring the whole family, so that the kids could also discover the beautiful area around us, appreciating it from a different perspective (but don’t worry, without making them drink!).
I could not have made a better choice. Varia’s estate is a little gem located in Bolgheri, lovingly cared for and managed, and the guided tour was truly engaging, so much so that even my children were enthralled.
Wine and the territory
Tenuta Di Vaira was born in the early 1950s in the heart of DOC Bolgheri, a perfect microclimate between the sea and the hills that are the natural expression of uniqueness of this territory. It is precisely the climate that for years had mistakenly led people to think that wine could not be made in this territory and that instead turned out to be its good fortune. The saltiness brought by the sea, with the sea wind that comes ‘slapping’ about 200 days a year, combined with rainfall for about 100 days a year, create a very humid microclimate, characterized by soil rich in mineral salts and iron (and famous for its artichokes).
As our guide pointed out to us,
”wine is the constant search for a balance between what man wants to do and what the land allows”
At Tenuta di Vaira, the process of making wine, harvesting (which takes place here in mid-August), manual grape selection, bottling and labeling, all is done in-house. About 120,000 bottles a year are produced here divided into 8 labels (3 young wines, 5 suitable for aging). The estate is family-owned and this makes it very interesting because the passion, study and research that Vincenzo, the founder, brought here represent to me the beauty and pride of being Italian, dedicating oneself to a cause and enhancing a territory, taking care of it.
The Winery and the tasting
The guided tour starts from the winery terrace, continues in the garden in front of the vineyard and in the cellar where the fermentation processes take place. Finally, the tasting, which can be paired with a cheese board or bread and oil, is served in a beautiful room overlooking the vineyards. I very much appreciated that markers and placemats were given to the children to paint and they were able to keep us company without getting bored.
The History of Bolgheri Wines and the Estate
Let us take a step back, before concluding this post, for a brief nod to the history of wines from the Bolgheri area. This is a fascinating and relatively recent history, considering Italy’s long wine-making tradition. Bolgheri has achieved worldwide notoriety in recent decades through a combination of unique terroir and the vision of a few wine pioneers.
In the 1940s and 1950s, few would have bet on the wine potential of this area. However, in 1944, Mario Incisa della Rocchetta planted the first Cabernet Sauvignon vines at Tenuta San Guido, inspired by the great French wines of Bordeaux. Success came in the 1970s, when his wine, Sassicaia, began to receive international recognition, bringing Bolgheri into the wine world spotlight.
The Bolgheri area is now renowned for the production of high quality wines, particularly the so-called “Super Tuscans.” These wines, often composed of international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, were an innovation for the Tuscan wine scene, which was traditionally dominated by native varieties such as Sangiovese.
La Vaira Estate fits perfectly into this innovative tradition. Their attention to detail reflects a philosophy of respect for the land and the quality of the final product. During the visit, it was evident how meticulously each stage of the production process is taken care of, from the selection of grape varieties to winemaking, and finally to aging and bottling.
Each wine produced here tells a story of passion and dedication, a commitment to keeping Bolgheri’s winemaking traditions alive while experimenting with new techniques to continually improve the quality of the wines. The Vaira Estate is not only a place of wine production, but also an example of how agriculture can harmonize with the environment, preserving the beauty of the Tuscan landscape and contributing to its international reputation.
Visiting the Vaira Estate was a very nice experience, not only for the quality of the wines tasted, but also for the opportunity to see up close how passion and innovation can coexist in a context of great tradition. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who wants to learn more about wine and the Bolgheri territory.
For all guests staying at the House in the Castle who decide to have a tasting at the estate, a 10% discount will also be granted, which can be requested by presenting the flyer in the house or contacting me for direct booking.
