To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Tignanello, one of the most influential red wines that was ahead of its times, Maserati crafted a customised Fuoriserie version of its latest creation, GranCabrio Folgore, the most futuristic expression of the current 100% electric production from the Modena-based brand. The bespoke, which was exclusively created for Marchesi Antinori, will be auctioned, on July 14, in California at Festival Napa Valley’s Arts for All Gala—one of the leading arts charity events in the US.
For the 110th anniversary of the Trident, Maserati comes together with Marchesi Antinori, which boasts a family wine history of over 600 years, handed down for 26 generations, and is an elevated, distinctive symbol of Italy. With its solid identity, innovative intuition and the strong value of the centuries-old tradition that has made the Italian winery one of the best companies in the world, the production of Marchesi Antinori and Tignanello reflect the feeling and passion that have always characterised the spirit of Maserati, a lively protagonist and pioneer in the history of motoring. It has always been driven by the desire to anticipate and become a sign of the times.
The inspiration for this car arises from the vineyard, a metaphor for roots and territory. Both houses’ local areas add much value to their end products: from the cellar, the magical place where wine is made, and from the specific Tignanello label, unchanged for half a century and still highly recognisable, just like the Trident’s most iconic creations.
To craft a car that epitomises the characteristics and values of Marchesi Antinori and Tignanello, Maserati has researched the uniqueness that surrounds the history of this wine and it has paid homage to the Florentine family of winemakers through the colours, shades, innovative materials and refined artisan details that make GranCabrio Folgore Tignanello an ode in motion to the prestigious Tignanello vineyard and to the 50 years of this wine.
The exteriors of GranCabrio Folgore Tignanello translate into a customisation of the body colour, created ad hoc: the Terra di Tignanello paint is a chestnut colour inspired by the vineyard’s soil, warmed by a coppery burgundy reminiscent of the central red shades of Tignanello’s characteristic barriques. It has a rich, metallic tint; a prestigious colour inspired by the estate and the atmosphere of the winery. The rims and callipers come in matte and gloss black respectively, whereas the emblems are coloured copper, with the Maserati logo in glossy copper on a gloss background. The soft top fabric is also black.
But the most romantic details lie in the interiors, ‘revealing’ the hallmarks of Tignanello and celebrating the history of both houses, combining tradition, innovation and craftsmanship. The seats feature leather embellished with a multi-material silver and burgundy ribbed weave, made of Vegea, an innovative spreadable fabric derived from the vineyards. It recalls the pattern of the rows of vines on the Tignanello hill, marked out by the Albarese rocks in their midst. The fabric looks and feels like leather, and it is used for the first time in a Maserati car.
Everything else is real material: dark briar wood with lasering – selected to recall the printing burned into the oak barrels – embellishes the panels, featuring textual details on the creation of Tignanello. On the headrest, elegant embroidery combines the Maserati Trident with one of Tignanello’s hallmarks: the sun, long a distinctive feature on the bottle label. The same symbol is lasered on the central tunnel, together with the dates 1971-2021: these refer to the first and current vintage of Tignanello, 50 years since this wine was released on the market.
Klaus Busse, Maserati Head of Design:
“This collaboration with Marchesi Antinori gives us the opportunity to epitomise the essence of Bespoke production, the flagship of our Maserati Fuoriserie customisation programme. It is designed to create ad-hoc experiences for Trident customers, by producing tailor-made cars that can make the driving experience even more sublime and distinctive, the way only an outstanding wine can at the table. Telling a story of Italian excellence is a source of pride for us and serves as constant stimulus for our work, which with Bespoke production aspires to create something absolutely dedicated and inimitable”.
Piero Antinori:
“A never-ending challenge, the obsession to improve and constantly question ourselves, to find higher and higher quality margins: these are the cornerstones of the collaboration with Maserati, a brand acknowledged worldwide as a symbol of Made in Italy quality.
A one-of-a-kind model, inspired by Tignanello for its 50th anniversary, a car with a great identity and recognisability, just like our wine. An initiative that makes our family particularly proud: this special GranCabrio Folgore will be auctioned at Festival Napa Valley’s 2024 Arts for All Gala, with the proceeds to be donated to charity”.
GranCabrio Folgore is Maserati’s latest addition, as the first 100% electric convertible in the luxury segment and the fastest on the market. Performance, comfort, style and elegance give this car equipped with a battery system based on 800V technology – developed with cutting-edge technical solutions based on Formula E – the ability to offer outstanding performance combined with the Trident’s typical comfort and elegance.
Maserati GranCabrio provides four true seats, made possible by the soft top. It also comes with a series of innovative systems and details, such as the neck warmer to travel with the top down even when the temperature drops, and the wind stopper to reduce turbulence inside the passenger compartment.
Tignanello was the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques, the first contemporary red wine blended with untraditional grape varieties (specifically Cabernet) and one of the first red wines from Chianti Classico that did not use white grapes. Tignanello is a milestone, a wine that fully represents the spirit of the Antinori family’s motto, “Te Duce Proficio”, which means “Following your guide I flourish”. The wine is crafted from a careful selection of Sangiovese and Cabernet harvested from the eponymous vineyard located on Tenuta Tignanello, in the heart of Chianti Classico on an area covering 57 hectares (141 acres) with south-west sunlight exposure.
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