Celebrate 50 Years of Tignanello with the Ultimate Maserati

Marchesi Antinori and Maserati have teamed up to celebrate 50 years of the legendary Italian wine Tignanello by creating a unique sports car. This collaboration might raise some eyebrows due to the association between alcohol and driving, but the partnership aims to celebrate the heritage and excellence of both brands. As a huge fan of both, with Maserati's Ferrari-built engines and Tignanello setting the standard for Super Tuscans, I find the collaboration inappropriate given that drinking and driving remain significant issues in vehicular transportation. The European roots of the project may appear obvious, given the cliché that Europeans have a laissez-faire attitude about drinking and driving, but that is not the case, as some European countries have lower blood alcohol thresholds for drinking and driving than the United States.

That's enough morality, I mean this is a wine blog, Tignanello’s first vintage was in 1971, and it was released in 1974. This wine was revolutionary, being the first Chianti Classico to age in barrique and blend Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Even today, Tignanello is highly regarded, with the 2021 vintage selling for $199.99 among independent wine shops.

For those who want to flaunt their love for Tignanello beyond their wine collection, the GranCabrio Folgore Tignanello is the perfect ride. Maserati's head of design, Klaus Busse, describes this collaboration as a pinnacle of their bespoke production, reflecting Italian excellence. Unlike the wine, which requires aging after being bottled, this 100% electric convertible is ready for launch. With three motors generating 818 horsepower, it can go from 0 to 62 mph in just 2.8 seconds so no wonder the car has 'folgore' in its name which means lightening in Italian.  

Piero Antinori, who co-created Tignanello, highlights the shared passion for quality in this collaboration with Maserati, a symbol of Italian craftsmanship. Antinori owns a burgundy-colored helicopter, a nod to the hue of Tignanello, which he uses to hop around his many wineries. It will be interesting to see if he bids on the similarly colored Maserati that will be auctioned for charity at Festival Napa Valley’s Arts for All Gala on July 14.