31-03-2014
Alex Heinz, oenologist at Ornellaia, at Sotheby’s auction house in Milan, on the occasion of the presentation of the 2011 vintage of Vendemmia d’Artista – L’Infinito. Art and wine are ever more intertwined in the strategies of the Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi family
A few weeks ago, at Sotheby’s auction house in Milan, the 2011 vintage Vendemmia d’Artista – L’Infinito by Ornellaia was presented. There are many Italian excellent wines appreciated across the world, however, the legendary Ornellaia is perhaps the one with the most constantly growing yields across time. An investment for collectors, as mentioned, much sounder than many safe-heaven assets such as gold or petrol. It’s no chance that in 2012, in London, the (9 litres) Salmanazar bottle of Ornellaia 2010, with a label created by artist Michelangelo Pistoletto, was sold at auction for 80 thousand pounds (around 105 thousand euros), becoming the bottle of Italian red wine with the highest bid in the world.
Left to right, Giovanni Geddes, Stephen Mould and Ferdinando Frescobaldi
The Vendemmia d’Artista project was born in 2009 – with the 2006 vintage of Ornellaia – to celebrate the unique character of each vintage. Every year, an internationally renowned artist is commissioned an artwork that can capture the essence of the wine, the uniqueness of the vintage and its specific character. The unique Salmanazar bottle with the label created by the artist, together with a few larger formats are then put up for auction. The proceeds are donated to international foundations linked to the world of art.
The coming July 12th a charity auction will take place and the entire proceeds of the 9 batches will be given to the location that will host the event Ago, Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. The oenologist and production director of Ornellaia, Axel Heinz, has thus described the 2011 vintage (51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot): «This wine encloses infinite sensations that go beyond. It truly has a timeless ageing potential».
Stories of men, women and bottles that enrich the galaxy of wine, in Italy and in the world
by
a graduate in Psychology, she was enchanted by the Identità Golose galaxy. While studying wine is her life, her gourmet vocation is an evolving discovery