No trip to Bolgheri is complete without a visit to Ca’ Marcanda Winery. The wine legend - Angelo Gaja of GAJA Winery in Piedmont, Italy – at first sight, fell in love with an estate in Bolgheri and was determined to acquire the winery and apply his knowledge to a region he was eager to fully discover. It took 18 challenging meetings with the original owner to settle and finally purchase the winery. Post-sale, the winery was given the name Ca’ Marcanda translating to ‘the house of endless negotiations.’

Ca’ Marcanda winery was started in 1996 and then began a new adventure for the Gaja family. It took six years for the architect Giovanni Bo to complete the new state-of-the-art underground winery. International grape varieties were planted, such as: cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and syrah. Bolgheri is a young appellation, known for its international grape varieties.

Giovanni Gaja, Angelo Gaja’s youngest child, representing the 6th generation involved in the family business, walked us through the vineyards. The attention to detail is astonishing. Everything was designed so that the land blends with the winery facility and vice versa. The estate is 296 acres (120 hectares) of vines planted with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. According to Giovanni: “We also have other varieties in smaller amounts, such as Syrah, Sangiovese, Vermentino and Viognier.”

The soil is composed of terre brune (mostly loam and clay), giving the wine minerality and structured tannins, and terre bianche (predominantly clay and limestone), producing fuller bodied wines with great aging potential.

When I asked whether or not Ca’ Marcanda used organic or biodynamic vineyard management, Giovanni pointed out: “We developed a way of working that is respectful to the environment, minimizing the use of chemicals (only sulfur and copper). We don’t use chemical fertilizers, but instead we’ve produced our own compost since 1995. We focus on having vineyards full of vegetal and animal life to promote biodiversity and allow the vines to grow better in a living environment. We also work towards increasing resilience, making vineyards stronger and more able to defend themselves on their own. We are allowing them to create their own antibodies and face climate stresses more effectively.” The Gajas do not believe in categorizing their techniques. The land, the vines and the grapes work in harmony.

Since 1996, the Gaja family has been focused on the best potential from each grape varietal. However, in 2015 the family decided to make some changes, as Giovanni told me: “We downsized the amount of Merlot in the vineyards and increased the Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Although we kept the Merlot in the best plots, located on slight hills in the town of Bibbona, which allows it to retain more freshness.” It turns out that Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot truly shine in the area. Here are some of the exquisite wines of Ca’ Marcanda that I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy:

Ca’ Marcanda ‘Vistamare’ 2017 Toscana (white): ‘Vistamare’ means ‘sea view’. A blend of 40% Vermentino, 40% Viognier, and 20% Fiano. It shows intense aromas of acacia, with notes of pear, nectarine, and white currant, along with mineral and a spicy backbone. A refined white wine to sip with parmigiano cheese and white creamy dishes.

Ca’ Marcanda ‘Promis’ 2016 Toscana (red): ‘Promis’ is the Gaja family’s promise to deliver a quality wine at a competitive price. 55% Merlot, 35% Syrah, and 10% Sangiovese. This is a beauty, if I do say so myself. I love the eucalyptus nose and how juicy and fresh it is on the palate. The spicy and smoky flavors make it a perfect pairing with steak.

Ca’ Marcanda ‘Magari’ 2015 Bolgheri (red): ‘Magari’ means ‘if only it were true’. Well, true it is! For me, it was love at first sight or shall I say first sip?! The blend of 60% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Petit Verdot shows elegance, structure and such incredible juiciness. The Cabernet Franc gives it some fresh botanical notes that I love, with some hints of roses, violet, and eucalyptus. The palate is clean with flavors of blueberry, dark cherry, and blackberry. Open the bottle an hour prior to sipping, it will show at its best. Enjoy during grilling season.

If you are looking for a great gift idea for Father’s day, look no further.  Ca’ Marcanda wines will make the perfect gift for that special dad in your life!

Please check Wine-Searcher.com to find these beauties in your area.

Saluti!

Anna

 Thumbnail photo: Courtesy of Giovanni Gaja.