Le Macchiole – A Contemporary Icon of Bolgheri

Precision, purity and an uncompromising interpretation of Bolgheri’s coastal terroirs

Founded in the early 1980s by Eugenio Campolmi, Le Macchiole has grown into one of Bolgheri’s most emblematic estates along the Tuscan coast. Under the leadership of Cinzia Merli, the domaine has inspired a generation of Italian winemakers through its personal interpretation of terroir, remarkable precision in winemaking and singular reading of each grape variety.

Guided by a philosophy centered on purity, balance and truthful expression of place, Le Macchiole produces wines sought after for their finesse, verticality and timeless elegance.

Terroir & Vineyard – A Coastal Patchwork Along the Via Bolgherese

The estate’s 27 hectares stretch along the renowned Via Bolgherese, home to some of Bolgheri’s finest vineyards. The soils form a harmonious mosaic of clay, sand, gravel and stones, while the proximity to the Tyrrhenian Sea provides a luminous, ventilated and temperate climate.

This privileged setting allows for slow, even ripening of demanding varieties such as:

• Cabernet Franc
• Merlot
• Syrah
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Sauvignon Blanc

Certified organic, the vineyard is cultivated through strict parcel-by-parcel precision, intentionally low yields and minimal intervention. Each cuvée seeks to express the deep identity of its terroir and its grape variety — often diverging from the typical stylistic expectations of Bolgheri.

Philosophy & Winemaking – Finesse, Balance & Absolute Precision

Le Macchiole’s winemaking philosophy is built around preserving aromatics, structure and purity through restrained, thoughtful techniques.

• careful manual harvest with rigorous sorting ;
• strict parcel selections ;
• frequent use of spontaneous fermentations ;
• gentle extractions, always favouring finesse ;
• bespoke maturation adapted to each grape and vintage ;
• judicious, never dominant, use of oak.

This approach aims to produce wines that are both intense and perfectly balanced — combining depth, tension and elegance without ever tipping into excess.

Wine Style – Purity, Verticality & Contemporary Elegance

The hallmark of Le Macchiole is a style defined by:

• remarkable purity of expression ;
• a naturally vertical, lifted structure ;
• precise, elongated texture ;
• refined depth ;
• a subtle interplay of ripeness and freshness.

The estate’s red wines offer a modern, sophisticated reading of Bolgheri’s great grape varieties, while the whites demonstrate rare mastery of tension, salinity and maritime influence.

Signature Wines

Paleo Rosso — 100% Cabernet Franc
The estate’s flagship wine. A floral, refined, high-energy expression of Cabernet Franc with striking verticality.

Scrio — 100% Syrah
A deep, polished and aromatic Syrah, combining intensity, precision and elegance — a unique Tuscan interpretation of the variety.

Messorio — 100% Merlot
The domaine’s prestige cuvée. Dense, sensual and impeccably harmonious; one of Italy’s greatest contemporary Merlots.

Bolgheri Rosso
A precise blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Harmonious, accessible and a direct introduction to the domaine’s pure, tension-driven style.

Paleo Bianco — Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc
A confidential white with marked salinity and crystalline freshness. Subtle élevage, occasionally including amphora depending on the vintage.

Conclusion – A Defining Voice of Modern Bolgheri

Through technical rigor, artisanal vision and an ongoing pursuit of balance, Le Macchiole has earned its place among the estates that have reshaped the modern identity of Bolgheri. Its wines — from Paleo Rosso and Scrio to Messorio and its discreet white cuvées — rank among Tuscany’s most expressive and sought-after interpretations of the region’s coastal terroirs.