Tenuta San Guido is a sprawling 2,500-hectare estate nestled along the Tuscan coast, near the village of Bolgheri. Here, a harmonious balance between man and nature has fostered a unique biosystem, celebrated globally for its wines, the breeding of Dormello Olgiata thoroughbred horses, and the Padule di Bolgheri Wildlife Refuge. These extraordinary elements come together under a lucky star that embodies centuries of history. 

Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta was born in Rome in 1899 to a Piedmontese family. He studied agriculture in Pisa, where he developed an early and abiding passion for agronomy. Throughout his life, Mario Incisa pursued his great passions: the Dormello Olgiata thoroughbred horses; agriculture – in its many, fascinating shapes –, wine, as a reflection of what a land could yield when allowed to express its vocation; ecology, embodied in the Padule di Bolgheri Wildlife Refuge; architecture, and landscape, the Genius loci, namely the spirit that inhabits a place. These passions and inclinations were embraced and expanded by subsequent generations, evolving into a modern estate that stays true to the original vision and ethical principles. As early as the 1920s, Mario Incisa della Rocchetta was pursuing a dream of agricultural perfection by conducting various experiments in Piedmont. During this time, he moved to Maremma after marrying Clarice della Gherardesca in 1930. Clarice, a descendant of one of Tuscany’s oldest fami- lies, brought with her a dowry of 2,500 hectares in the Bolgheri region. The Marquis immediately recognized that this was one of the most extraordinary biotypes in Mediterranean Europe and began experimenting with several French grape varieties, concluding that Cabernet Sauvignon, despite being so distant from Tuscan and Piedmontese traditions, had the “bouquet” he was searching for. With some initial cuttings provided by the Dukes Salviati of Migliarino, he thus planted the first Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard in 1944 on the piece of land that stretched from the Castiglioncello di Bolgheri fortress down to the rolling hills that gently lead to the sea. 

After earning a degree in Economics in 1955, Nicolò Incisa del- la Rocchetta joined his father Mario in managing the family estate, translating his passions into entrepreneurial ventures. Key developments during his time included launching in 1971 Sassicaia on the market, planting new vineyards, and building relationships with clients, importers, and collectors worldwide. It took thirty years of careful observation and experimentation before the introduction of the other two labels: Guidalberto in 2000 and Le Difese in 2002. Sassicaia’s debut confirmed Bolgheri’s potential for exceptional wines. 

The area’s unique pedoclimatic and historical traits set the stage for the zonation that led to the Bolgheri DOC, initially recognized as a subzone and officially designated as Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC in 2013. 

Sassicaia is the first Italian wine from a single estate to have its own dedicated denomination, a distinction shared by only a few famous wines in France. Over the past 15 years, Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta has built and led a team of managers to consolidate and ensure the evolution of the company while remaining in line with its original values. Nicolò’s forward-thinking approach transformed the estate into a modern agricultural enterprise, combining family tradition with the expertise of current President and CEO Alessandro Berlingieri and General Manager and winemaking director Carlo Paoli. Included in this setup is Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta, who handles External Relations for Tenuta San Guido, underscoring the deep connection between the family – whose new generation is represented by five cousins – and the estate.