Genius Loci
TIME HAS A PLACE
The Genius loci is the spirit of a place that is unique in its character. If no one disturbs it, the spirit of the place lives on forever. It acquires the most fascinating forms in the vineyards of Tenuta San Guido: from the ancient olive trees to the centuries-old oaks, to the pebbly or jagged stones and all around the Mediterranean shrubland, with its scents, its fragrance, the suggestions that this place arouses.
Agricultural Heritage
“Nature responds to mankind with gratitude for the care it receives ”
Mario Incisa regarded nature as a friend, and worked in harmony with it. In his book on rural science, La terra è viva (The Earth is Alive), he clearly distances himself from the vast vineyards of the plains, expressing instead a preference for small, stony plots—isolated, sloping, marginal lands. These, in his view, were the true terroirs capable of producing great wines.
Mario Incisa saw agriculture as part of a divine design—one that must be respected and followed, by reading the signs of time and season. His sense of spirituality still resonates today, in the vineyards and beyond.
The spirit of place also lives on in the estate’s traditional crops—wheat, oats, and legumes—grown for internal use. These cultivations are vital within the rotation system: they help maintain soil fertility and provide nourishment for the estate’s horse breeding programme as well as for local wildlife.
Mario Incisa saw agriculture as part of a divine design—one that must be respected and followed, by reading the signs of time and season. His sense of spirituality still resonates today, in the vineyards and beyond.
The spirit of place also lives on in the estate’s traditional crops—wheat, oats, and legumes—grown for internal use. These cultivations are vital within the rotation system: they help maintain soil fertility and provide nourishment for the estate’s horse breeding programme as well as for local wildlife.
ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
Historic buildings in dialogue with the present
Tenuta San Guido is a place where one can rediscover the tranquillity of a time suspended.
Within a single estate, diverse styles and influences coexist in perfect harmony: the architecture of old residences, working buildings, the stables, the cellars—impressive yet discreet in their functional design—all the way to the medieval fortress of Castiglioncello di Bolgheri.
Within a single estate, diverse styles and influences coexist in perfect harmony: the architecture of old residences, working buildings, the stables, the cellars—impressive yet discreet in their functional design—all the way to the medieval fortress of Castiglioncello di Bolgheri.
History
Entrepreneurial morality
The move to Bolgheri and the first intuitions
After his marriage to Clarice della Gherardesca, Mario Incisa started going to Bolgheri with his family for the summer holidays, but after the war he began to look at this land with different eyes and to think about a definitive move to Bolgheri. The first thing to do was to reorganise the Tenuta San Guido, and little by little he managed to set up a direct economy and started a rational production of soft wheat, fruit and vegetables for the Swiss market and gladiolus plant bulbs for Europe and America. He also produced fodder for cattle and for breeding racehorses, which he decided to transfer entirely to Bolgheri. We are at the dawn of the integrated economy that is still the basis of the processes in every sector of Tenuta San Guido.
Territory
Knowing how to observe and look far ahead
A territory stretching 13 km from the sea to the hills
Mario Incisa soon realised that the vast terrain extends from the sea to the hills. Not unnoticed were the lean hillside vineyards, little more than farm gardens, which held great promise for their position and terrain. He was impressed by that strip of land with a special ground, a mixture of sand and clay, which runs on both sides along the cypress avenue. This part of the farm would soon become a magnificent training track for thoroughbreds.
Territory
THE ANCIENT OLIVE GROVES
Culture, biodiversity, landscape
Across the estate’s 2,500 hectares, there are around 10,000 century-old olive trees. Of these, 2,000 hold primarily landscape and soil conservation value.
The estate’s olive groves follow a traditional Tuscan mixed-farming layout, where olive trees alternate with arable fields, pastures, and vineyards—respecting the rhythms and diversity of historical agricultural practice. The main varieties grown are Leccino, Moraiolo, Pendolino, and Frantoio.
The estate’s olive groves follow a traditional Tuscan mixed-farming layout, where olive trees alternate with arable fields, pastures, and vineyards—respecting the rhythms and diversity of historical agricultural practice. The main varieties grown are Leccino, Moraiolo, Pendolino, and Frantoio.
Territory
Architecture
The Castle of Castiglioncello di Bolgheri
In the Middle Ages, when Castiglioncello was built, supposedly around 780, it was known as 'Monte Oliveto'. Its position made it at first a perfect hermitage and later a fortress that was difficult to conquer.
It changed hands many times during its existence, often belonging to the Counts della Gherardesca until the 15th century, and then passed to the Soderini and Incontri families.
Count Cammillo della Gherardesca bought it back in 1801 from the Incontri, marquises of Volterra, who had in turn bought it from the Monte di Pietà of Florence, with which the Soderini family, owners of Castiglioncello since 1441, had contracted an unpayable debt.
Evidence of the journey of these families over the centuries can be found in the baptismal font of the church of San Bernardo, and in the frame of the door, both bearing the Incontri and Soderini coats of arms engraved in stone. These are also found in the armoury, painted between the coats of arms of all the previous owners.
The multi-faceted Castello di Castiglioncello was used as the cellar for the first Sassicaia vineyard, which lies beneath it.
It changed hands many times during its existence, often belonging to the Counts della Gherardesca until the 15th century, and then passed to the Soderini and Incontri families.
Count Cammillo della Gherardesca bought it back in 1801 from the Incontri, marquises of Volterra, who had in turn bought it from the Monte di Pietà of Florence, with which the Soderini family, owners of Castiglioncello since 1441, had contracted an unpayable debt.
Evidence of the journey of these families over the centuries can be found in the baptismal font of the church of San Bernardo, and in the frame of the door, both bearing the Incontri and Soderini coats of arms engraved in stone. These are also found in the armoury, painted between the coats of arms of all the previous owners.
The multi-faceted Castello di Castiglioncello was used as the cellar for the first Sassicaia vineyard, which lies beneath it.
Territory
Religious buildings
The Oratory of San Guido
The building depicted on the Guidalberto label is located at the end of Bolgheri's cypress avenue. It was built by Simone Maria della Gherardesca in 1703 in honour of Guido della Gherardesca (Pisa, 1060 - Pisa, 20 May 1140 † Blessed), and was carried out by the master stonemason Romolo della Bella, originally from Fiesole, Florence.
The idea was to provide the area with an oratory for the fulfilment of the festive precept, especially during the period of large-scale work, when stops had to be kept to a minimum due to the costs and dangers of malaria.
Moreover, the construction would have brought decorum and a certain benefit to the career of his nephew Tommaso, who had already become vicar general in 1700 and Bishop of Fiesole in 1702. A few months after the construction of the church, on 12 November 1703, Bishop Tommaso Bonaventura was in fact appointed Archbishop of Florence.
The idea was to provide the area with an oratory for the fulfilment of the festive precept, especially during the period of large-scale work, when stops had to be kept to a minimum due to the costs and dangers of malaria.
Moreover, the construction would have brought decorum and a certain benefit to the career of his nephew Tommaso, who had already become vicar general in 1700 and Bishop of Fiesole in 1702. A few months after the construction of the church, on 12 November 1703, Bishop Tommaso Bonaventura was in fact appointed Archbishop of Florence.
Method
Observing and dialoguing with all things
Everybody at Tenuta San Guido contributes to the responsible preservation of the ecosystem, respecting nature, biodiversity, and integrated agriculture. Pursuing quality means valuing nature and drawing all the best from it.
Working in the stable
Working in the vineyard
Working in the carpentry
Working in the cellar
Working in the wildlife refuge
Working in the mechanical workshop