Bolgheri, where great wine meets contemporary art: fifty producers from the Bolgheri DOC Consortium and Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC took center stage at the Marino Marini Museum for a major tasting event dedicated to Ho.Re.Ca. professionals.
The classic meets the contemporary. In art, as in wine. It happened in Florence on Monday, May 18, in the evocative setting of the Marino Marini Museum, where the Consortium for the Protection of Bolgheri DOC and Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC Wines showcased the elegant, dynamic, and increasingly international identity of one of Italy’s most prestigious appellations.
The event “Bolgheri in Florence” brought together fifty member wineries of the Consortium and featured over 120 labels for tasting, offering approximately 400 selected professionals an exclusive opportunity for networking, discussion, and in-depth exploration. A day designed to strengthen direct dialogue between producers and the Ho.Re.Ca. sector, confirming Bolgheri’s role as a region capable of appealing to top restaurateurs, the premium segment, and a public increasingly attentive to the authenticity of wines.
“For the first time, Bolgheri has chosen to organize an event outside its own territory,” stated Cinzia Merli, president of the Bolgheri DOC and Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC Consortium. “Our goal is to strengthen the appellation’s identity by promoting direct dialogue between producers and industry professionals. Florence was a natural and strategic starting point for us. The choice of the Marino Marini Museum also has symbolic value: Bolgheri is a classic appellation, yet characterized by a deeply contemporary style.”
The response from industry professionals was particularly positive. Professionals from all over Tuscany, as well as from Emilia-Romagna, Milan, Naples, and Rome, gathered in Florence. This outcome confirms the growing interest in Bolgheri wines, which are increasingly sought after by high-end restaurants and professionals catering to a sophisticated clientele eager for wines that reflect the terroir, identity, and winemaking philosophy of the region.
“The presence of 50 wineries from the Consortium allowed us to convey a unified message,” emphasized director Daniele Parri. “Bolgheri has undergone a significant evolution in recent years. In a complex phase for the wine world, initiatives like this represent an opportunity to develop new synergies and strengthen direct relationships with industry professionals, restaurateurs, and experts in the sector.”
The program was further enriched by a masterclass led by wine writer Antonio Boco, dedicated to the revolutionary spirit of the appellation’s early days and its evolution over time. A comparison of the 2013, 2016, and 2023 vintages highlighted the expressive complexity of Bolgheri wines and their ability to interpret a territory that still holds many nuances waiting to be discovered.
In light of the success of this first edition, the format could become a traveling event, with new stops in Italy and abroad. “We will be able to give continuity to the initiative, involving different cities each year,” concluded Cinzia Merli.
Founded in 1995, the Consortium for the Protection of Bolgheri DOC and Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC Wines now brings together 75 producers and carries out ongoing work to protect, promote, and enhance a unique territory, where the sea, hills, and winemaking philosophy continue to shape wines recognized worldwide.
