The Evolution of Elegance: Ornellaia Under Marco Balsimelli
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February 17, 2026Along the Tuscan coast, where the sea breeze rolls through cypress and olive trees, lies one of Italy’s most admired estates.
The name Ornellaia alone evokes the balance and beauty that define Bolgheri wines, and its story is one of constant evolution, guided by a philosophy that values harmony over excess and authenticity over trend.
Today, that philosophy finds renewed expression under Marco Balsimelli, Ornellaia’s Production Director. A winemaker whose journey began in Florence and Bordeaux and continued through the cellars of Château Gruaud Larose, Balsimelli brings an elegant precision to Ornellaia’s artistry.
Working alongside the estate’s longtime consultant Eric Boissenot, he has embraced a vision that looks forward while remaining deeply loyal to the land. “We don’t chase trends,” he says. “We chase truth in the vineyard.”
That truth begins with Ornellaia’s terroir — a patchwork of ancient marine soils shaped by sunlight and sea air. Here, vines sink their roots into ground that once lay beneath the ocean, yielding fruit of remarkable character and depth.
The estate’s philosophy is simple but demanding: to allow the land to speak, gently guided by human hands. Every decision, from pruning to blending, is made with an awareness of how delicately nature and craft intertwine.
Under Balsimelli’s leadership, Ornellaia’s wines continue to express what has always made them distinctive — generosity balanced by restraint, richness framed by freshness, and texture that feels both powerful and seamless.
His approach is less about invention than refinement, honing the estate’s style toward transparency and grace. In the cellar, the focus is on preserving purity: capturing the voice of Bolgheri’s landscape without overwhelming it.
Marco Balsimelli
The Ornellaia collection perfectly
illustrates this philosophy:
1 - Ornellaia
the flagship wine, a masterful Bordeaux-style blend that embodies depth, elegance, and longevity. It is the soul of the estate and one of Italy’s most iconic reds.
2 - Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia
the estate’s second wine, crafted from the same vineyards as Ornellaia and offering a more youthful, approachable expression while maintaining remarkable complexity.
3 - Le Volte dell’Ornellaia
a vibrant and versatile red that captures the estate’s spirit in an accessible, everyday style, blending softness with Mediterranean warmth.
4 - Poggio alle Gazze dell’Ornellaia
the estate’s refined white wine, driven by Sauvignon Blanc, revealing the freshness and minerality of the Tuscan coast with notes of citrus, white peach, and wild herbs.
The result is a collection of wines that feel timeless yet vividly alive — complex, poised, and effortlessly elegant. They are wines designed not only to impress but to connect, to enhance a meal, a conversation, an experience.
For the hospitality world, that quality is invaluable. Ornellaia is not merely a label to feature; it’s a symbol of craftsmanship that elevates every setting it enters.
To pour Ornellaia is to offer guests a sense of place — a taste of coastal Tuscany where sun, soil, and skill converge in quiet perfection. It’s a wine that embodies luxury not through opulence, but through balance and authenticity.
And under Marco Balsimelli’s thoughtful direction, that sense of harmony continues to define Ornellaia — proof that true excellence, like great hospitality, is always a matter of grace.
1 - Ornellaia
the flagship wine, a masterful Bordeaux-style blend that embodies depth, elegance, and longevity. It is the soul of the estate and one of Italy’s most iconic reds.
2 - Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia
the estate’s second wine, crafted from the same vineyards as Ornellaia and offering a more youthful, approachable expression while maintaining remarkable complexity.
3 - Le Volte dell’Ornellaia
a vibrant and versatile red that captures the estate’s spirit in an accessible, everyday style, blending softness with Mediterranean warmth.
4 - Poggio alle Gazze dell’Ornellaia
the estate’s refined white wine, driven by Sauvignon Blanc, revealing the freshness and minerality of the Tuscan coast with notes of citrus, white peach, and wild herbs.
The result is a collection of wines that feel timeless yet vividly alive — complex, poised, and effortlessly elegant. They are wines designed not only to impress but to connect, to enhance a meal, a conversation, an experience.
For the hospitality world, that quality is invaluable. Ornellaia is not merely a label to feature; it’s a symbol of craftsmanship that elevates every setting it enters.
To pour Ornellaia is to offer guests a sense of place — a taste of coastal Tuscany where sun, soil, and skill converge in quiet perfection. It’s a wine that embodies luxury not through opulence, but through balance and authenticity.
And under Marco Balsimelli’s thoughtful direction, that sense of harmony continues to define Ornellaia — proof that true excellence, like great hospitality, is always a matter of grace.
W: https://www.charlesgrech.com/ | E: info@charlesgrech.com | Tel: +356 2144 4400
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