All of the most sought-after Italian wines have one obvious thing in common.
©Shutterstock | For long-lived barrel-aged red wines, look no further than Italy.
Mamma Mia, it’s that time of year again to check out the hottest wines around the world. This time we focused on Italy, the jewel of the Mediterranean.
When it comes to Italian wine, you automatically assume that the wine is going to be more than just delicious. Tomatoes, cheese, pasta, panettone, anything made in this sunny land is almost guaranteed to be delicious.
With that in mind, the following wines are not even ranked as Italy’s best wines, just the most popular, the lowest score in the top 10 is still a not-so-low 92 points, and the highest score is a pretentious one. The score remained at 96 points.
The same goes for pricing, with two items priced at $1,028 and $1,454, but the rest cost no more than $450, the most affordable of which is a decidedly modest $78.
So what’s the lineup? – you may be wondering, but it’s the usual Italian superstars, and unsurprisingly, both lists feature four wines, featuring some of Italy’s best. There’s a massive crossover of wines – we’ll leave it to your imagination to guess which is which.
Wine-Searcher’s most popular Italian wines in the world:
But when it comes to the world’s most wanted films, only Tenuta San Guido’s Sassicaia takes the top spot.
There are several possible reasons for this. First, there’s the name. Sassicaia, now far more recognized as a brand than as an estate, is one of Italy’s first Supertuscans, a classic Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
The rest of the ratings are, unsurprisingly, a solid 95 points averaged out of 412 reviews, meaning Sassicaia isn’t consistently great, and while it retains at least some of its value, it’s unlikely to do much in the future. It’s almost guaranteed to stay in the cellar for years. .
The last thing that matters is the price. $367 isn’t cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s still well below the thousands of dollars that top Burgundies and some Bordeaux command. In fact, compared to these French giants, Sassicaia is definitely a gem, with all the taste, winemaking skills, collectability and prestige of any superstar. It hits that magic spot of being one of the lofty greats and yet relatively attainable for the average person.
Next on the list of Italy’s most wanted is Marchesi Antinori’s Tignanello. Then again, it’s not at all surprising, especially considering Meghan Markle constantly promotes it. Antinori’s most famous wine, Tignanello, is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, aged for 12 to 14 months in mixed French and Hungarian oak barrels.
Again, like Sassicaia, this is a wine that has it all. From the Super Tuscan’s name and history as one of the original Hero lineup, to its consistent score (94, thank you very much), to its $194 price tag (all things considered, that’s pretty good money considering the name and quality) No wonder it is so widely loved.
In third place is the Masseto Toscana IGT, another famous super Tuscan. Masseto, produced by Bolgheri’s Tenuta del Ornellaia, is best known for its rich complexity and sumptuous fruit flavor and, like his first two, is hugely popular, but that’s where the similarities end. only.
Unlike the first two, especially the Tig, which is considered a near-reasonable price tag, the Masseto seems to have no such limitations, and comes in with a bang at an impressive $1028 price tag. But it certainly has the scorecard to back up its impressive 96-point score, proving what a one- or two-point problem can do to inflation. But its flashy pricing has clearly done little to dampen its popularity.
The fourth is another great supertuscan from Tenuta del Ornellaia, known simply as Ornellaia. This wine is a heady blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with dashes of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, and no particular Sangiovese. Again, this wine is known for its deep herbal aroma of black plum and consistently great reviews with a total critic score of his 94 points.
Prices are also more affordable, with an average price of $272. That’s the beauty of being an affordable classic, and it’s unlikely to ever go out of style.
Marchesi Antinori’s Soraia appears in the middle. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese with a touch of Cabernet Franc. More revered than Antinori’s Tignanello, Soraia comes from the region’s sunniest vineyards, hence its name.
Admittedly, this product boasts an overall critic score of 95 points, and at $396, it’s not exactly affordable. However, the 2019 vintage has been described by Wine Enthusiast as “a deeply flavorful aroma with a rich combination of seaweed, soy sauce, olives, tobacco, black licorice, and cherry, blackberry, and plum.” There seem to be many people willing to cough up a treasure trove of earthly joy.
At long last, Barolo has finally broken through the Super Tuscan ranks – we know it’s eternally popular in the Tuscan sunshine – but finally, Piedmont and one of its best winemakers… I started to develop a little bit of love for him. The person who came to the rescue was Giacomo Conterno Monfortino. Pure Nebbiolo wine is aged for at least seven years in Slovenian oak vats or botti. Botti is a traditional method used to impart oak flavor without being overly sweet.
Monfortino itself is a winner with a total critic score of 96 points, but it’s also very expensive ($1,454 to be exact). Still, it ranks among the top 10 most wanted wines in Italy, proving its perennial popularity. There are some things people are prepared to pay for, and a world-class Barolo is one of them.
Seventh returns to Tuscany with the Fontodi Fraccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT. The Fraccianello delle Pieve produced by Fontodi in the heart of Chianti Classico, despite being a purebred Sangiovese, is still considered one of his Super Tuscans, and with a scorecard of his 95, it is comparable to .
But despite the rave reviews, this wine is a relative stalwart, asking just $173 for something that stimulates the senses. It’s easy to see why it’s popular, and hard to pass up once asked for.
Lucky number 8 is Algiano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG. This is really lucky. Again, this pure Sangiovese from Tuscany has risen up the ranks quite dramatically recently. In October 2023, this wine was ranked 620th in the search rankings for the same category (naturally, other Sangiovese from Brunello di Montalcino), but just one month later, in November, it suddenly dropped to , soared to a dizzying 22nd place.
This rise in the charts can be attributed to one simple factor: good press coverage. Not only was it named Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year, it also received a whopping 97 points in glowing reviews from wine enthusiasts. The magazine said, “Like a fun Valentine’s Day party, everything from strawberries and cranberries to savory notes of pennies, bricks and crisp leather all lend a vibrant, optimistic nose with shades of red.” He praised it highly.
The love fest continued with NBA legend LeBron James acquiring every bottle available directly from the producer. However, not all of that success has gone to Brunello di His Montalcino’s head, and the price remains an absolute steal at $78.
Number 9 is my second Barolo, this time Bartolo Mascarello. One of the most respected wine producers in the region, Mascarello is also a staunch traditionalist.
Bartolo Mascarello does not disappoint. Barolo, which boasts a top score of 94 points, is said to exude “Morello cherries, crushed raspberries, star anise, and firm, refined tannins with hints of tobacco,” according to wine aficionados. I am. However, this piece of Italian tradition costs quite a bit – $430 to be exact.
Last, and definitely not least, to round out Italy’s most notable is, of course, Gaja, Barbaresco. They are credited with elevating Barbaresco and introducing it to a wider audience, and it’s no wonder their wines are still in high demand today.
Scoring 93 points from 227 critics, the wine was described by Falstaff as having a “fine, characterful nose with aromas of raspberry, rose petals and ripe cherries”, all for a not-unreasonable $272. There was no price.
When it comes to Italy’s most sought-after wines, there isn’t much variety. All red, all from Northern Italy, and mostly expensive. But there’s no arguing with the quality.
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