Guado al Tasso is one of Tuscany’s most famous wines and one of its most celebrated estates, located on the Tuscan coast in cowboy country, the land of the “Super Tuscans.”
Bolgheri, the Tuscan commune and appellation where Guado al Tasso wines are grown, became renowned for its wines in the 1960s. It was then that wealthy Italian landowners started planting vineyards for their own consumption. At the time, Italian nobles drank mostly Bordeaux and so it was natural for the early growers there to plant Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.
The area’s proximity to the Mediterranean creates the perfect “diurnal shift” (warm summer days alternated by cool summer nights thanks to the maritime influence). This allows the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly. The area’s gravelly and clay-rich soils (not unlike those found in Bordeaux) are ideal for producing bold, richly flavored wines with nuanced aromas and excellent aging potential.
The first commercially released vintage of the winery’s flagship, “Guado al Tasso,” was 1990.
The name of the winery (GOO’AH-doh ahl TAHS-soh) comes from a place name on the estate. It means “badger’s crossing” or “badger’s ford,” meaning a spot where a creek on the farm can be crossed. It reflects the fact that the estate’s vineyards are surrounded by uncultivated woods, an element that bolsters the biodiversity on the farm.
Wine Wednesday
complimentary
- Tenuta Guado al Tasso Vermentino, Bolgheri 2023
- Tenuta Guado al Tasso “Scalabrone” Rose, Bolgheri 2023
- Tenuta Guado al Tasso “Il Bruciato” Red, Bolgheri 2022
- Tenuta Guado al Tasso “Cont’Ugo” Merlot, Bolgheri 2021