Marchese Piero Antinori
Piero Antinori was born in 1938, the second of three children of Marchese Niccolo Antinori and Carlotta della Gherardesca He grew up in the family’s 15th-century Palazzo Antinori in Piazza Antinori in the center of Renaissance Florence, where the family has lived and worked since 1506.
Summers and weekends were spent on the family’s wine-producing tenute, or farm estates, where Piero learned winemaking. He began drinking and tasting wine at fifteen, “because for our tradition, for our history, wine has always been an integral part of life,” says Piero. At eighteen, he became more directly involved in the business and began tasting wines from around the world.
Following high school, he obtained his degree in Economics and Commercial Science at the University of Florence while his summers were spent traveling widely and working with international wine-makers, such as world-famed oenologist Emile Peynaud, to become a trained wine technician.
Piero joined Marchesi Antinori in 1962, beginning as a sales supervisor. Many positions later he became managing director and president on his father’s retirement in 1966, “My father gave me full responsibility and I had to prove to him that he made the right choice,” Piero has said.
Among the many positions he has held, from 1970-1981 he was chairman of Consorzio Vino Orvieto, then Instituto del Vino Novello Toscano; in 1975 he served as vice president and one of ten producers to create Istituto Spumante Classico Italiano; in 1982 he became chairman and one of four producers to create Galestro; in 1984, in response to his spearheading efforts over 15 years, the Italian government changed Chianti DOC regulations, to DOCG status to allow for the production of world-class wines; in May, 1987, he was elected to a three-year term as president of Federvini, the Italian association of wine and spirits producers, exporters and importers of which he is still a board member.
Other boards on which he has served include Unione Agricoltori Vini Milano, Unione Agricoltori firenze and Livorno; Florence’s Fondaria, Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze, and Eridania-Beghin-Say in Paris. He is also a member of academia Italiana della Vite e del Vino and Academia dei Georgofili.
Explore All Antica Napa Valley Wine
2013 Chardonnay
Employing a blend of six distinct Chardonnay clones, whole-cluster pressing and sur lies aging in barrel resulted in a rich and creamy Chardonnay with refreshing fruit flavors.
2012 Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon possesses enormous charm and appeal. Its deep purple color is followed by inviting aromas of blackberries, red currants, cassis and chocolate.
2012 Townsend Vineyard
The 2012 Townsend Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic Napa Valley offering with impressive ripeness strengthened by a European finesse and structure.
Explore Tradition
Dig deeper into the Antinori legacy
Request A Tour And Tasting Visit
We invite you to enjoy a private tour and tasting at our estate in the breathtaking eastern mountains of Napa Valley. We accept appointments for groups of up to 8 people at 10 a.m. or at 3 p.m. Monday – Friday, and on Saturdays during the summer. After the tour of the estate and winery, sit down for a tasting of Antica Napa Valley's current releases in our beautiful guest room, which offers expansive views of the estate. Experience lasts approximately 90 minutes.
