Campo alla Sughera

Campo alla Sughera is owned by the Knauf family, German industrialists with a strong interest in high-end viticulture. The estate was founded in 1998 as part of their investment in premium Tuscan wine. The family remains directly involved in strategic decisions, while day-to-day operations are managed by a professional team including agronomists and oenologists. Over the years, the estate has attracted respected consultants and winemakers who have helped refine its style, including work to elevate both viticultural precision and cellar practices to match Bolgheri’s growing international reputation.

Campo alla Sughera was established in the late 1990s during a wave of renewed interest and investment in Bolgheri, following the success of estates like Sassicaia and Ornellaia. From the outset, the Knauf family focused on Bordeaux varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot) and introduced a rigorous approach to both vineyard design and winemaking. The estate built a gravity-fed winery and invested in parcel-level vinification to highlight micro-terroir expression. While a relatively young estate by Tuscan standards, Campo alla Sughera has earned recognition for combining technical innovation with a clear sense of place.

The estate is located within the Bolgheri DOC zone, on the coastal plain between the villages of Bolgheri and Castagneto Carducci in western Tuscany. The vineyards lie at low elevation but benefit from maritime influence from the nearby Tyrrhenian Sea, which moderates the hot summers and enhances diurnal temperature variation. This contributes to the freshness and structure of the wines. Soils are predominantly alluvial, with sand, clay, and gravel, well-suited to Cabernet and Merlot. The location places Campo alla Sughera among a prestigious group of Bolgheri producers focusing on international varietals with Tuscan flair.

Campo alla Sughera farms around 20 hectares of vineyards planted mainly with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, alongside a small portion of Vermentino. The estate is divided into parcels according to soil type and exposure, allowing for detailed vineyard management. Precision viticulture is central, with careful canopy control, green harvesting, and low yields to concentrate flavours. The vineyards are sustainably farmed with minimal chemical intervention. The estate believes in letting the vineyard express itself with minimal manipulation, a philosophy that underpins both their viticultural and winemaking choices.

The winery was designed to allow gravity-fed movement of juice and wine, avoiding aggressive pumping. Fermentations are conducted in stainless steel with temperature control, and macerations are adjusted to suit each parcel and variety. Ageing is typically done in French oak barriques, often 40–60% new, though the percentage and length vary depending on the cuvée and vintage. Micro-vinification by parcel allows the team to make precise blending decisions, aiming for balance between ripeness, tannin structure, and aromatic finesse. 

Campo alla Sughera is known for the flagship Bolgheri Superiore ‘Arnione’, a blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and appreciated for its structure, elegance, and ageing potential. Adèo is the second wine, a younger, more accessible expression of Bolgheri Rosso with the same attention to detail but a fresher, fruit-forward style. The estate also produces a small amount of Vermentino, offering a crisp, saline white that reflects the coastal terroir. There is also a very good full bodied Super Tuscan wine.

Campo alla Sughera welcomes visitors by appointment, offering guided tours of the vineyards and gravity-flow winery. Tastings include a range of current releases and are typically conducted in a contemporary, elegant tasting room that reflects the estate’s modern aesthetic. The estate is easily accessible from the Bolgheri wine road and pairs well with broader enotourism experiences in the region, including visits to historic villages and seaside restaurants. While not focused on hospitality lodging, Campo alla Sughera offers a curated, high-end wine experience for those seeking insight into Bolgheri’s new generation of producers.