The Faces of Tuscany: Alessia Antinori
At Toscana Privata, our aim is to introduce our clients to the real Tuscany. This includes meeting the people that make Tuscany what it is today. As part of this effort, we bring these vibrant personalities to our audience at home through our series, The Faces of Tuscany.
Alessia Antinori
Marchesi Antinori
Alessia Antinori is Vice President of Marchesi Antinori, one of Italy’s oldest and most prestigious winemaking families. As part of the 26th generation of the Antinori family, she has played a crucial role in balancing tradition with innovation in winemaking. Alongside her sisters, Albiera and Allegra, she is among the first women to lead the family business.
Alessia developed a deep passion for viticulture from an early age. She studied oenology and viticulture and has been instrumental in expanding the brand’s global presence. She is also involved in the Primum Familiae Vini, an association of leading European wine-producing families.
Beyond wine, Alessia has a strong interest in art and culture, spearheading the Antinori Art Project, which integrates contemporary art into the family’s winemaking heritage.
Her leadership continues to shape the future of Marchesi Antinori while preserving its 600-year legacy
When did you decide to join the family business and what was your very first role at Antinori?
Passion for viticulture is something that is in our DNA and it is something that is passed down from generation to generation naturally. This means that it is an essential aspect in our family and in the wine industry because, if you don’t have passion, you can’t be involved in the business. It was never really a formal decision—it’s always been part of my mindset to be involved in the family business. Growing up in such a rich tradition, surrounded by vineyards and conversations about wine, it felt completely natural. It wasn’t about choosing a path; it was simply part of who I am.
I started in the vineyards and cellars learning the practical side of winemaking. It was important for me to understand every layer of the process from the inside out.
Antinori nel Chianti Classico
You and your sisters represent the 26th generation of Antinori winemakers. What would you say is the hallmark of the 26th generation?
I think what defines our generation is the desire to build a bridge—between the legacy we've inherited and the world we live in today. We care for the Earth and want to leave it better than we found it. As stewards, this is one of our tasks: to leave the next generation a better reality than we received it.
It is also continuity and innovation with respect for tradition. We’ve inherited six centuries of heritage, but we also see ourselves as stewards of the future. My sisters and I bring different perspectives, but we’re united in wanting to preserve our heritage while making space for evolution. Whether it’s through new agricultural or oenological techniques, the redemption of new wine territories or embracing contemporary art, we want to carry tradition forward in a way that feels alive and relevant. As we usually like to say: “A tradition is an innovation that succeeded”.
Last but not least, my sisters and I are the 26th generation representing the first women-leadership of the company.
Solaia and Tignanello Vineyards
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned from your father, Marchese Piero Antinori?
Humility, long-term vision, and respect for the land. We plant a vineyard today and harvest the first fruits only after several years. Wine requires us to have patience and to have a vision.
He also showed us the importance of evolution: tradition doesn’t mean standing still, but rather carrying forward the spirit of excellence in new ways. He always says: “Ancient family roots play an important part in our philosophy, but they have never hindered our innovative spirit.”
If you had to pick a favorite Antinori wine and vintage, which would it be?
One wine that feels especially close to me is Guado al Tasso. It’s not just about the wine itself (though it’s elegant, layered and beautifully expressive), but about the place it comes from. Bolgheri is deeply woven into our family’s story. We’ve spent so much time there over the years and it’s where we gather, it’s a place we consider home.
Bolgheri is an extraordinary wine territory, a place of stillness, beauty, and inspiration. Guado al Tasso wine really represents the elegance, complexity and structure of Bolgheri’s unique terroir through Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. I really enjoy the recent 2016 vintage, one of the best of the last decade. It’s very elegant, vibrant and with a great freshness.
Tenuta Guado al Tasso
Marchesi Antinori is one of Italy’s most prestigious and historic winemaking families, with a legacy spanning over 600 years. Founded in 1385, the Antinori family has continuously innovated while preserving tradition, producing some of the world’s finest wines.
Marchesi Antinori offers a range of immersive experiences that showcase its rich winemaking heritage.