The fame of their wine expanded over the years, to the extent that in 1506 they could afford to pay 4,000 florins for the Palazzo Antinori, built for the Boni family in the 1460s.

At this time, Alessandro Antinori was one of the richest men in Florence, but like many Florentines he was soon bankrupted by the ravages of Charles V of Spain and the economic effect of his New World gold.

In the second half of the 16th century, Bernardino Antinori had a relationship with Dianora di Toledo, wife of Pietro de' Medici the son of Cosimo I. Pietro, who was known at the time for his brutality and dishonesty, discovered the relationship, accused his wife of adultery and strangled her with a dog leash in July 1576 at the Villa Medici at Cafaggiolo.

He investigated early harvesting of white grapes, different types of barrique, stainless steel vats and malolactic fermentation of red wines.

Emboldened by the success of the 20% Bordeaux blend Tignanello, in 1978 Antinori launched Solaia - containing 80% Cabernet Sauvignon - from the neighbouring vineyard.

They also expanded into Piedmont and Apulia, and set up joint ventures in Bátaapáti, Hungary, Stag's Leap and Col Solare in the USA, Malta, Romania, and Chile.