A leading voice in Tuscany: Campo alla Sughera
Nestled in the heart of Bolgheri, one of Italy’s most celebrated wine regions, Campo alla Sughera is a leading boutique winery combining scientific understanding of the land with meticulous human care to produce elegant, site-driven wines.
Founded by the Knauf family in 1998, the estate covers 22ha in the heart of this leading Tuscan appellation, set against the Colline Metallifere (metalliferous hills) and just a short drive away from the Tyrrhenian coast. Cooling Libeccio and Maestrale winds create an optimal environment for Bolgheri’s signature varieties, yet the real strength of Campo alla Sughera lies in its soils.
To quote the celebrated Argentinian writer, Jorge Luis Borges, ‘Nothing is built on stone; all is built on sand, but we must build as if the sand were stone’. This, the winery’s guiding motto, is a fitting way to describe the ground on which the Campo alla Sughera estate stands – a patchwork of ancient seabeds and sand, intermixed with rocks broken down into mineral-rich pebbles and clay.
From the soil to the glass
'The two Stardust wines are remarkably complex and nuanced. While having Glera’s floral and lemon character along with taut acidity, there is a savoury undertone and richness to each wine which sets them apart from other Proseccos.'
According to Michelle Cherutti-Kowal
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Discover more: campoallasughera.com
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAMPO ALLA SUGHERA
The Knauf family’s penchant for geology, stemming from its long-running activity in building materials extraction, has influenced thorough study and micro-zoning. The vineyard surface – showcasing near-perfect symmetry – is split into 18 units based on soil and climate, then further divided into 42 plots based on ripening patterns, exposure, and vine growth.
The goal is simple: harvest each plot at its peak, vinify it separately, then blend to create wines that authentically express Bolgheri’s terroir. Nothing here is left to chance.
PHOTOS: Supplied by Campo alla Sughera
Published Thursday 1st October 2026
Attention to sustainability guides every vineyard decision, with practices designed to keep each vine balanced and healthy. No chemical fertilisers or herbicides are used; pests are managed through sexual confusion. From the restoring of old vineyards to harvesting, every operation is carried out manually by a team of dedicated agronomists.
In the cellar, the combination of scientific knowledge and traditional craftsmanship defies convention. ‘In Bolgheri, concentration comes naturally… our aim is to go further and seek detail’, says Francesco Gagliardi, winemaker at Campo alla Sughera.
Grapes undergo meticulous hand selection in the vineyard and on the sorting table. After crushing, the juice is moved to the gravity-fed cellar built by Girolamo Michelin in 2010, reaching 10m underground.
All processes are fine-tuned to soften extraction and achieve greater elegance – a pursuit further strengthened under the supervision of Julien Lavenu, who inherited the management of Vignerons Consultants from legendary winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt.
The length of ageing in French oak barrels, tonneaux, and oval casks – roughly 20–60% new – is decided according to the individual character of each vintage; extended bottle ageing ensures full integration.
This philosophy is echoed by Adèo, the estate's Bolgheri Rosso, which offers a taste of the estate’s signature style at an accessible price point.
Campo alla Sughera, meanwhile, combines the depth of Petit Verdot with the delicacy of Cabernet Franc.
Arioso offers a distinctive take on Vermentino, and is zippy yet structured white.
Anima di Arnione is a limited edition single-varietal wine, only available for direct purchase at the winery, reaffirming the exceptional quality of the grapes offered by this extraordinary terroir.
Core wines in the Campo alla Sughera portfolio include:
Arnione, a Bolgheri Superiore red has been the estate’s flagship since 2001. It is a traditional Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend, but is always defined by noteworthy energy. ‘We’ve always tried not just to impress, but to make a wine you’re happy to drink two or three glasses of’ says Gagliardi.
The Campo alla Sughera lineup
Tommaso Alessandri, winery director at Campo alla Sughera