Vineyards and winemaking
Costa di Giulia is made from 70% Vermentino and 30% Sauvignon Blanc grown in Michele Satta's Bolgheri vineyards, including the parcels Costa di Giulia and Querciola. Mediterranean light and warmth are moderated by air from the Tyrrhenian coast, giving the blend ripe flavour without sacrificing freshness or salinity.
The 2018 fruit was harvested from early to mid-September, then gently pressed and allowed to settle naturally at low temperature. Cool fermentation was followed by several months on fine lees in stainless steel before spring bottling, preserving aromatic clarity while adding subtle texture.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Bright straw gold with warm yellow highlights and a clear, gently mature sheen.
Nose
White peach, pear and yellow apple meet acacia blossom, fresh mint and fennel, with lemon peel and a suggestion of sea air adding lift.
Palate
Medium-bodied and harmonious, with ripe orchard fruit, gooseberry and citrus zest shaped by lively acidity. Vermentino brings saline, almond-edged length, while Sauvignon Blanc contributes perfume and herbal freshness. The finish is dry, elegant and distinctly coastal.
Food pairing
Pair with sea bass baked with fennel, linguine alle vongole, chicken with salsa verde, or grilled artichokes and pecorino. Its developed texture also works well with a simple risotto of courgette and lemon.
Background story
Michele Satta settled in Bolgheri and founded his estate in 1983, at a time when the area's modern wine identity was still taking shape. His work has consistently looked beyond a narrow Bordeaux model, embracing Mediterranean and Italian varieties alongside the grapes for which Bolgheri first became famous.
Costa di Giulia is the estate's white expression of that outlook, joining local Vermentino to Sauvignon Blanc without relying on oak for stature. The 2018, awarded 92 points by Vinous, shows how bottle age can deepen the blend's orchard fruit and herbs while its coastal salinity remains intact.
