Tenuta San Leonardo Winery Guide

Winery Overview

Creator of one of Italy’s best Bordeaux-style blends, the southern Trentino winery Tenuta San Leonardo has won more awards than it can keep track of. But few are as significant as the recognition it received in early fall of 2007 when Italy’s most respected wine guides revealed their selections for the country’s top wines. One of only five Italian wines to receive the highest scores in all publications was the San Leonardo 2003, the flagship wine of Tenuta San Leonardo. Still, the achievement is merely another feather in the cap of this prestigious and highly regarded winery. This Italian wine region, close to Trento, is off the beaten track and a unique, fascinating area in Northern Italy where you can enjoy a wine tour.

Founded in 1770, Tenuta San Leonardo sits on a sprawling and gorgeous estate near Avio. Grapes may have been grown here as early as 900 AD, when monks at a monastery on the site made wine for Mass. Part of the ancient monastery survives today and has been incorporated into the winery; its old hospice is now used as a cellar. The aristocratic Guerrieri Gonzaga family inherited the property in the 18th century and has been running it ever since.

Today, Tenuta San Leonardo produces a refined range that extends beyond its celebrated red wines. The flagship San Leonardo is a Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, and Merlot. At the same time, Villa Gresti and Terre di San Leonardo offer complementary expressions of the estate’s Vallagarina terroir. The range also includes varietal Carmenère, Vette Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling Renano, Gemma di San Leonardo rosé from Lagrein, and Trentodoc Blanc de Blancs sparkling wines.

The 300-hectare (vineyards, woods, fields, historic hamlet, buildings, parkland) estate lies in the heart of Vallagarina, between the villages of Masi and Borghetto on the banks of the Adige River. The relatively dry, loose, gravelly soils across the 20 hectares of vineyards here are ideal for producing grapes with concentrated aromas and flavors. Particularly notable is the Carmenère, which, due to the area’s unique terroir, is much less green than usual, giving the San Leonardo blend its tell-tale elegance and longevity.

Cellar Tours clients can arrange a VIP visit to Tenuta San Leonardo as part of a private Trentino wine tour, combined with selected wineries, fine dining, lakeside scenery, and cultural stops between Verona, Lake Garda, Rovereto, and Trento.

Further Reading

Author

Avatar photo

Genevieve Mc Carthy

Genevieve, originally from San Diego, California, has spent the last 25 years living in Europe, primarily in Spain, Ireland, and Italy. She has a background in the wine industry, having worked for a top wine importer in Ireland and a prestigious winery in Italy's Franciacorta region. In 2003, Genevieve founded Cellar Tours, a boutique wine tours company based in Madrid, Spain. She holds wine education credentials from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) in London and has a strong network within the European wine industry. Genevieve specializes in organizing VIP tours to exclusive wineries that are not accessible to the general public. With a passion for food and wine, fluency in multiple languages, and expertise in luxury travel and tourism, Genevieve has built a successful career in creating unique wine experiences.

Read more