ORNELLAIA, a prestige wine cultivated in Italy's Tuscany region. Beyond its exquisite taste, this winery garners global attention for the artistic creations adorning its bottles each year. The latest vintage, "Ornellaia 2019," has finally unveiled its precious art bottles.

Upon its founding in 1981, Ornellaia quickly joined the ranks of the world's top brands due to the exceptional quality of its wines. Grown in the village of Bolgheri in Tuscany, Italy, Ornellaia cultivates many of the same Bordeaux-origin grape varietals as France's Bordeaux region, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Like Bordeaux wines, these are then blended (assemblage).

Consequently, the resulting wines possess remarkable aging potential and capacity for development. While many Bordeaux wines are robust and exude a character that stands up to red meat and game dishes, Ornellaia also features a complex aroma and flavor profile with a solid body.

The 2019 vintage, in particular, is powerfully built, a result of the region's weather that year. This power signifies great anticipation for its future evolution. Wine lovers purchase bottles at release, looking forward to the wine's further maturation over time. It can be enjoyed now, or sold later at a higher price as its reputation grows. This is how one engages with prestige wines – by enjoying their journey of development alongside them (drinking it immediately is not recommended).

Therefore, I personally consider the "Ornellaia 2019" a worthwhile purchase. Allow me to introduce the bottles that have elevated the wine's characteristics into works of art. Since the 2006 vintage, Ornellaia has collaborated with artists to visualize the year's wine production and flavor, creating 111 art bottles. The project is named "Vendemmia d'Artista," which translates to "Artist's Harvest."

The theme for "Ornellaia 2019" was "Il Vigore (Strength)" and Swedish artists Nathalie Djurberg and Hans Berg have created designs featuring soil from which plants sprout. Notably, this soil is from Ornellaia's own vineyards.

These artworks are auctioned, with proceeds donated, making them rarely available to the public. However, the winery's unique approach is noteworthy, which is why I wanted to share this story (Note: The auction was scheduled to take place from October 1st to 19th, 2022).

Alcohol is a realm of imagination and philosophy. Therefore, initiatives like these can serve as an entry point to understanding and enjoying wine. If you've become curious, please seek out "Ornellaia 2019" in stores and online. "Ornellaia 2019" shipped from Italy in early April 2022, so sales in Japan should be commencing around now.