Sangiovese around the world

Marchesi Antinori ★ 4.9

The Antinori family has produced wine in Tuscany since 1385. Anchored by the Tignanello estate in Chianti Classico, the parent house also owns Bolgheri's Guado al Tasso under a separate producer slug.

Tasting: Antinori nel Chianti Classico cellar at Bargino offers visits, tastings and the Rinuccio 1180 restaurant; multi-tier tasting programmes by reservation.

Signature wines: tignanello, solaia, marchese-antinori-chianti-classico-riserva, villa-antinori-chianti-classico-riserva

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 96 (2019)

Castello di Ama ★ 4.8

Founded in 1972 in the hamlet of Ama at Gaiole in Chianti, the estate produces single-vineyard Gran Selezione bottlings from Bellavista and La Casuccia and pairs the wine programme with a contemporary art collection.

Tasting: Cellar tour, hamlet walk, art collection and tasting flight bookable through the estate; the property hosts a contemporary art programme with installations by Anish Kapoor and Louise Bourgeois.

Signature wines: castello-di-ama-vigneto-bellavista, castello-di-ama-vigneto-la-casuccia, castello-di-ama-haiku, castello-di-ama-l-apparita

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 95 (2018)

Felsina ★ 4.7

Castelnuovo Berardenga estate established 1966 by Domenico Poggiali. Sangiovese-focused with the Rancia Gran Selezione and the IGT Fontalloro forming the core of the range.

Tasting: Cellar visits and tasting flights by appointment; the Rancia single-vineyard Gran Selezione is the estate's flagship.

Signature wines: felsina-rancia-chianti-classico-riserva, felsina-fontalloro, felsina-berardenga-chianti-classico

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 95 (2019)

Fontodi ★ 4.9

Panzano estate in the Conca d'Oro amphitheatre, owned by the Manetti family since 1968 and ICEA-organic certified since 1990. Flaccianello della Pieve is the flagship Sangiovese IGT.

Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings by appointment in the Conca d'Oro amphitheatre of Panzano; organic since 1990 and certified by ICEA.

Signature wines: fontodi-flaccianello-della-pieve, fontodi-vigna-del-sorbo, fontodi-chianti-classico

Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2019), Vinous 96 (2019)

Isole e Olena ★ 4.8

Founded in 1956 by the De Marchi family; the EPI Group acquired the estate in 2022. The Cepparello pure Sangiovese IGT remains the flagship alongside the Chianti Classico.

Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings by appointment; Cepparello (100% Sangiovese IGT) is the long-running flagship from the De Marchi era.

Signature wines: isole-e-olena-cepparello, isole-e-olena-chianti-classico, isole-e-olena-collezione-de-marchi-syrah

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 95 (2018)

San Felice ★ 4.6

Castelnuovo Berardenga estate combining a Relais & Chateaux resort with a Chianti Classico programme that recovered the indigenous Pugnitello grape from near-extinction.

Tasting: The Borgo San Felice resort hosts cellar tours, tasting flights and a vineyard experience programme; the property includes a Relais & Chateaux hotel.

Signature wines: san-felice-il-grigio-gran-selezione, san-felice-vigorello, san-felice-pugnitello

Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2019), Vinous 94 (2018)

Castello di Volpaia ★ 4.7

ICEA-organic certified estate on a fortified hamlet at 600 metres in Radda in Chianti, with the cellar dispersed through medieval buildings owned by the Mascheroni Stianti family.

Tasting: The fortified medieval hamlet of Volpaia houses the cellar across the village buildings; tastings, cellar walks and Bottega lunches by booking.

Signature wines: castello-di-volpaia-coltassala, castello-di-volpaia-il-puro-gran-selezione, castello-di-volpaia-chianti-classico

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 94 (2018)

Querciabella ★ 4.7

Greve in Chianti estate founded 1974 by the Castiglioni family. Demeter-certified biodynamic with vegan vinification practices; Camartina is the long-running Sangiovese-Cabernet IGT.

Tasting: Tastings and estate visits by appointment; the entire farming operation is Demeter biodynamic and the cellar uses no animal products in vinification.

Signature wines: querciabella-camartina, querciabella-batar, querciabella-chianti-classico

Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2018), Vinous 94 (2018)

Castell'in Villa ★ 4.6

Castelnuovo Berardenga property owned since 1968 by Principessa Coralia Pignatelli, producing some of Chianti Classico's longest-lived traditionally-styled Riservas.

Tasting: Estate visits and tasting flights by appointment; lunch available in the borgo with prior reservation.

Signature wines: castell-in-villa-chianti-classico-riserva, castell-in-villa-poggio-delle-rose-riserva, castell-in-villa-santacroce

Scores: Vinous 95 (2016), Wine Advocate 94 (2016)

Riecine ★ 4.7

Tiny Gaiole estate of 13 hectares founded in 1971 by Englishman John Dunkley. Organic since 2014, vegan vinification, and now producing 100% Sangiovese under the La Gioia Toscana IGT flagship.

Tasting: Small-group estate tastings by reservation; vegan-vinified wines.

Signature wines: riecine-la-gioia, riecine-chianti-classico-riserva, riecine-chianti-classico

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2018), Vinous 95 (2019)

Castello di Querceto ★ 4.4

Francois family estate in Greve in Chianti dating to 1897, set around a medieval castle. Il Picchio Gran Selezione anchors a Sangiovese-led range alongside Super Tuscan IGT bottlings.

Tasting: Cellar tours and tasting flights from the medieval castle property; on-site agriturismo accommodation.

Signature wines: castello-di-querceto-il-picchio, castello-di-querceto-la-corte, castello-di-querceto-chianti-classico-riserva

Scores: Wine Advocate 93 (2019), Vinous 92 (2018)

Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera ★ 4.9

Cult Montalcino estate founded 1972 by Gianfranco Soldera. Withdrew from Brunello DOCG in 2013 after a cellar sabotage incident; bottles continue as Toscana IGT from the original Intistieti and Case Basse vineyards.

Tasting: Not currently open to the public; allocation-only sales via mailing list.

Signature wines: soldera-case-basse-toscana-igt, soldera-case-basse-intistieti-vineyard

Mastrojanni ★ 4.8

Castelnuovo dell'Abate estate founded in 1975 and acquired by the Illy family in 2008. The Vigna Loreto and Schiena d'Asino crus are among Montalcino's most idiosyncratic Sangiovese expressions.

Tasting: Estate tours and cellar visits by appointment; the southeast-facing Vigna Loreto cru is the property's calling card.

Signature wines: mastrojanni-vigna-loreto, mastrojanni-brunello-di-montalcino, mastrojanni-schiena-d-asino

Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2016), Vinous 95 (2016)

Le Macchiole ★ 4.8

Family estate founded 1983 by Eugenio Campolmi; Cinzia Merli has led the property since his death in 2002. Single-varietal Cabernet Franc (Paleo), Merlot (Messorio) and Syrah (Scrio) bottlings; CCPB-organic certified.

Tasting: Cellar visits and tutored tastings by appointment; vegan vinification practices used since 2014.

Signature wines: le-macchiole-paleo-rosso, le-macchiole-messorio, le-macchiole-scrio, le-macchiole-bolgheri-rosso

Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2015), Vinous 96 (2019)

Grattamacco ★ 4.7

The second estate to release a Bolgheri red after Sassicaia, founded 1977. Acquired by Claudio Tipa's ColleMassari group in 2002; CCPB-organic certified since 2014.

Tasting: Cellar visits, vineyard walks and tastings by appointment; certified organic since 2014.

Signature wines: grattamacco-bolgheri-superiore, grattamacco-bolgheri-rosso, grattamacco-grattamacco-bianco

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 95 (2018)

Michele Satta ★ 4.6

Bolgheri's enduring artisan: Michele Satta arrived in 1974 and bottled his first wine in 1983. Notable for keeping a 100% Sangiovese (Cavaliere) on the Bordeaux-dominated coast.

Tasting: Cellar tours and tasting flights by appointment; Michele Satta personally hosts on advance booking.

Signature wines: michele-satta-piastraia, michele-satta-i-castagni, michele-satta-cavaliere

Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2018), Vinous 93 (2018)

Tenuta di Capezzana ★ 4.7

Contini Bonacossi family estate at Carmignano with vineyard records back to 804 AD on the property. Wine production formalised in 1920; certified organic and a Carmignano DOCG benchmark.

Tasting: Cellar tours, Vin Santo vinsantaia visits, vineyard walks and on-site agriturismo accommodation; certified organic.

Signature wines: capezzana-villa-di-capezzana, capezzana-trefiano-riserva, capezzana-vin-santo-di-carmignano-riserva

Scores: Wine Advocate 93 (2018), Vinous 93 (2018)

Rocca di Frassinello ★ 4.6

Joint venture between Castellare di Castellina and Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), housed in a Renzo Piano-designed cellar at Gavorrano. Baffonero, a 100% Merlot, is the prestige bottling.

Tasting: Tours of the Renzo Piano-designed cellar, vineyard walks and tasting flights by reservation; the cellar's underground barrel hall is a destination in itself.

Signature wines: rocca-di-frassinello, rocca-di-frassinello-baffonero, rocca-di-frassinello-le-sughere

Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2018), Vinous 94 (2018)

Panizzi ★ 4.5

San Gimignano's leading Vernaccia specialist, founded 1979 by Giovanni Panizzi and acquired by Simone Niccolai in 2010. The Riserva ages in a mix of stainless steel, tonneau and acacia wood.

Tasting: Cellar tours, tasting flights and an on-site museum dedicated to Vernaccia; guided visits at the Santa Margherita property.

Signature wines: panizzi-vernaccia-di-san-gimignano, panizzi-riserva-vernaccia-di-san-gimignano, panizzi-vertigo-chianti-colli-senesi

Scores: Wine Advocate 93 (2022), Vinous 92 (2021)

Castello di Nipozzano ★ 4.7

Frescobaldi's Rufina estate, in the family since 1000 AD and on its current 250-hectare scale since the mid-19th century. Montesodi single-vineyard Sangiovese is the long-running flagship.

Tasting: Castle tours, cellar visits, vineyard tastings and lunch in the medieval estate by reservation; one of the Frescobaldi estate-visit anchors.

Signature wines: nipozzano-vecchie-viti, nipozzano-montesodi, nipozzano-chianti-rufina-riserva

Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2019), Vinous 94 (2018)

Frescobaldi Tenuta di Castiglioni ★ 4.5

The Frescobaldi family's oldest property, in continuous family ownership since the 11th century. 110 hectares of vines in Montespertoli; Giramonte is the Bordeaux-blended IGT flagship.

Tasting: Cellar visits, vineyard walks and tasting flights at the Castiglioni manor; Tenuta di Castiglioni is the historical Frescobaldi family property.

Signature wines: castiglioni-giramonte, castiglioni-chianti, castiglioni-tenuta-di-castiglioni

Scores: Wine Advocate 95 (2019), Vinous 93 (2018)

Frescobaldi Tenuta di Pomino ★ 4.5

High-elevation Frescobaldi estate at Pomino (550 to 700 metres) bordering Chianti Rufina. Pinot Nero and Chardonnay vineyards date to 1855; Benefizio Riserva is one of Tuscany's pioneering barrel-aged Chardonnays.

Tasting: Estate visits and tastings by reservation at the high-altitude Pomino property; the cellar specialises in white-grape work unusual for the region.

Signature wines: pomino-benefizio-riserva, pomino-bianco, pomino-pinot-nero

Scores: Wine Advocate 94 (2021), Vinous 93 (2020)

Fattoria Selvapiana ★ 4.8

Family-owned Chianti Rufina estate since 1827, certified organic by ICEA. The Bucerchiale single-vineyard Riserva is among Tuscany's most consistently age-worthy Sangiovese under €40.

Tasting: Cellar visits, vineyard walks and tastings by appointment; the Bucerchiale single-vineyard is the long-running flagship.

Signature wines: selvapiana-bucerchiale, selvapiana-chianti-rufina, selvapiana-fornace

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), Vinous 95 (2019)

Tua Rita ★ 4.8

Suvereto estate founded 1984; Redigaffi, a 100% Merlot, scored 100 points from Wine Advocate for the 2000 vintage and put the Val di Cornia on the Super Tuscan map.

Tasting: Cellar tours, vineyard walks and tasting flights by appointment at Suvereto, just south of Bolgheri.

Signature wines: tua-rita-redigaffi, tua-rita-giusto-di-notri, tua-rita-perlato-del-bosco

Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (2000), Vinous 97 (2019)

Fattoria Le Fonti ★ 4.4

Small Chianti Classico estate at Poggibonsi run by Vicky Schmitt-Vitali since 1999. Certified ICEA-organic; the Vin Santo del Chianti Classico is aged 10 years in caratelli.

Tasting: Small-group estate tastings and cellar visits by appointment; agriturismo rooms available; certified organic.

Signature wines: le-fonti-chianti-classico-riserva, le-fonti-vito-arturo, le-fonti-vin-santo

Scores: Vinous 92 (2019), Wine Advocate 91 (2019)

Barone Ricasoli Castello di Brolio ★ 4.8

1,200-hectare estate at Gaiole in Chianti with 240 hectares under vine. Bettino Ricasoli codified the modern Chianti formula here in 1872; the family has owned the castle since 1141 and produces Gran Selezione plus the Casalferro IGT.

Tasting: Cellar visits, guided tastings, wine shop, agriturismo, and the Osteria del Castello restaurant at the Madonna a Brolio property. Open daily 10:00 to 19:00.

Signature wines: castello-di-brolio-gran-selezione, colledila-gran-selezione, casalferro, brolio-bettino

Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2019), James Suckling 96 (2019)

Montevertine ★ 4.9

Sergio Manetti founded Montevertine at Radda in 1967 and walked out of the Chianti Classico consortium in 1981 to bottle pure Sangiovese as Toscana IGT. Le Pergole Torte (1977 first vintage) is the canonical pure-Sangiovese IGT.

Tasting: Cellar tour and tasting by appointment only; small-group visits hosted at the estate cellar at Radda in Chianti.

Signature wines: le-pergole-torte, montevertine-rosso, pian-del-ciampolo

Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2019), Vinous 96 (2019)

Marchesi Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli ★ 4.8

Mazzei has owned Castello di Fonterutoli at Castellina since 1435. Today 117 hectares of vineyards across 120 parcels, with the Castello Fonterutoli Gran Selezione, the Sangiovese-Merlot Siepi IGT, and the 1981-launched Concerto.

Tasting: Estate tour and tasting at the Fonterutoli hamlet, plus the Osteria di Fonterutoli restaurant; booking via mazzei.it. The cellar at Castellina is open by appointment.

Signature wines: castello-fonterutoli-gran-selezione, siepi, concerto-di-fonterutoli, poggio-badiola

Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2019), James Suckling 97 (2019)

Petrolo ★ 4.8

31-hectare estate in upper Val d'Arno owned by the Sanjust family since 1947. The Galatrona vineyard produces a 100 percent Merlot widely cited among Italy's top Merlots; Torrione and Boggina cover Sangiovese under the Val d'Arno di Sopra DOC.

Tasting: Estate tasting and cellar visits by appointment; multiple agriturismo properties (La Villa, Boggina, La Vigna, La Costa, Feriale) on the estate.

Signature wines: galatrona, boggina-c, torrione

Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2019), James Suckling 97 (2019)

Azienda Agricola Cesani ★ 4.5

Cesani family estate at Pancole near San Gimignano, founded 1951 when Guido and Annunziata Cesani acquired the property. Long-time organic producer of Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG plus Chianti Colli Senesi and Toscana IGT reds.

Tasting: Estate tastings, vineyard walks, and agriturismo at Pancole 6 km from San Gimignano; booking via the estate site.

Signature wines: cesani-vernaccia-di-san-gimignano, cesani-clamys-vernaccia, cesani-luenzo, cesani-chianti-colli-senesi

Scores: Wine Advocate 92 (2021), Vinous 91 (2021)

Antinori nel Chianti Classico Tasting Cellars ★ 4.8

Marchesi Antinori's signature Chianti Classico cellar in Bargino, opened 2012. Spiral staircase and rooftop vineyard architecture; flights cover the estate wines including Tignanello and Solaia.

Enoteca Italiana Siena ★ 4.5

Italy's oldest official wine promoting organisation, set inside the Medicean Fortress in Siena. Showroom with more than 1,600 Italian wines and a tasting bar across the bastion vaults.

Le Volpi e l'Uva ★ 4.6

Founded 1992 just behind Ponte Vecchio, this Oltrarno wine bar sources from small independent Tuscan producers. Rotating by-the-glass list shows Chianti Classico, Vernaccia and lesser-known appellations.

Enoteca Falorni ★ 4.5

Tuscany's largest enoteca with over 1,000 wines and 100 simultaneously available for sampling via Enomatic dispensers. Underground vaulted cellars on the site of Greve's first wine merchant.

Enoteca La Fortezza di Montalcino ★ 4.5

Founded 1980 inside the medieval fortress walls of Montalcino, with Val d'Orcia panoramas from the ramparts. Specialises in Brunello di Montalcino verticals and Rosso di Montalcino flights.

Tenuta di Capezzana Tasting Cellars ★ 4.7

Tasting cellars at one of Tuscany's oldest estates, documented at 804 AD. The Vinsantaia is included on tours; flights cover Carmignano DOCG, Trefiano Riserva, and the Vin Santo di Carmignano DOC.

Castello di Verrazzano Tasting Cellars ★ 4.4

Tour the cellars of this organic Greve estate, named for the navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano. Flight programme covers Chianti Classico, Riserva, the Sassello IGT, and Vin Santo of the property.

Grattamacco Tasting Room ★ 4.7

Bolgheri's second-oldest winery, with a hilltop tasting terrace overlooking the Tyrrhenian coast. Flights include Bolgheri Rosso DOC, L'Alberello and Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore DOC.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano Wine Experience ★ 4.4

The consortium tasting room inside the medieval Rocca di Montestaffoli at the top of San Gimignano. Sommelier-led flights cover the DOCG Vernaccia plus the San Gimignano Rosso DOC.

Stella di Campalto (Podere San Giuseppe) ★ 4.8

Five-and-a-half hectares of biodynamic Sangiovese in Sant'Angelo in Colle, certified Demeter since 2005, and a Brunello that's become a cult reference among natural-leaning collectors.

Tip: There is no public-facing booking page; allocations move via specialist importers like Polaner Selections. Track release windows via the importer rather than the estate.

Le Ragnaie ★ 4.7

High-altitude, multi-cru Montalcino estate owned by Riccardo Campinoti. The Brunello bottlings (V.V., Petroso, Montosoli, Casanovina) read Montalcino terroir by terroir.

Tip: Visits are by appointment via the estate site; ask Riccardo for the side-by-side flight of Le Ragnaie, Petroso and Montosoli to taste the altitude ladder.

Pacina ★ 4.6

Tenth-century monastic estate east of Siena. Giovanna Tiezzi and Stefano Borsa make age-worthy, naturally fermented Sangiovese with no filtration and minimal sulfur.

Tip: Pacina is also a working farm; cellar visits often include olive oil, cereals and pulses tastings beyond wine.

Podere Le Boncie ★ 4.6

Three-hectare Giovanna Morganti estate near Castelnuovo Berardenga. Le Trame, her single wine, is unoaked Sangiovese-led IGT Toscana and a natural-wine reference.

Tip: Allocations are small; book through Rosenthal Wine Merchant in the United States or via the estate directly.

Massa Vecchia ★ 4.5

Massa Marittima estate working biodynamically since 2004. Native-yeast, low-sulfite reds, whites and roses from the Maremma's metalliferous hills.

Tip: Tastings are by appointment only; ask for the rose and the white Vermentino alongside the Sangiovese-led reds.

Podere Poggio Scalette ★ 4.6

Vittorio Fiore's old-vine Sangiovese estate at Ruffoli above Greve in Chianti. Il Carbonaione, from vines planted in 1924, is a Tuscan purist single-vineyard benchmark.

Tip: Il Carbonaione drinks magnificently around 8 to 12 years post-vintage; visit the Greve cellar by appointment for vertical comparisons.

Querciavalle (Losi) ★ 4.4

Losi family Chianti Classico estate at Pontignanello, certified organic since 2014. Classic Sangiovese governo all'uso toscano and a Vin Santo aged a decade in caratelli.

Tip: Book the Vin Santo vertical with the family directly; the Vin Santo del Chianti Classico Millennium ages for 10-plus years in caratelli before release.

Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico DOCG ★ 4.5

High-elevation Radda annata from the medieval Volpaia village. Cool-site Sangiovese gives mountain-Chianti lift and red-cherry-and-violet poise for under twenty euros at the cellar door.

Tip: The 18-euro at-cellar price for the latest annata is one of the best deals in Chianti Classico; order a case before leaving the village.

Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG ★ 4.6

Felsina's entry-level Berardenga from the warm southern edge of Chianti Classico. Pure Sangiovese, dense plum-and-leather profile, the most reliable benchmark annata in the appellation.

Tip: Always stable in style across vintages; great choice when shopping a Tuscan wine shop without scoring guidance.

Fontodi Chianti Classico DOCG ★ 4.7

Fontodi entry-level annata from Conca d'Oro in Panzano, certified organic since 2008. 100 percent Sangiovese, concentrated dark cherry and mineral, and one of the most consistently over-delivering values in the appellation.

Tip: Best value Conca d'Oro Sangiovese in the under-25 band; cellar five years to taste it at its best.

Selvapiana Chianti Rufina DOCG ★ 4.5

Certified-organic Sangiovese from the cool Sieve valley east of Florence. Pencil-shaving aromatics and a high-acid spine give Rufina its longevity reputation, all for under twenty euros.

Tip: Rufina ages longer than most Chianti annate; lay one down for three to five years for a softer mid-palate.

Le Pupille Morellino di Scansano DOCG ★ 4.4

Elisabetta Geppetti reference Morellino. Sangiovese-led but generous and warm in the Maremma idiom: dark plum, Mediterranean herb and soft tannin for under twenty euros.

Tip: Earlier-drinking than Chianti Classico annata; serve with grilled cinta senese pork or wild boar pappardelle.

Moris Farms Morellino di Scansano DOCG ★ 4.3

Parentini family Morellino, with a Sangiovese-led blend that captures the coastal Mediterranean Maremma character. Forward fruit, soft tannin, sub-twenty-euro price band.

Tip: A textbook Maremma Sangiovese for dinner with rosemary lamb or pappa al pomodoro.

Castello Banfi Centine Toscana IGT ★ 4.1

Castello Banfi entry-level IGT, named after a 19th-century farmhouse on the Montalcino estate. Sangiovese-Cabernet-Merlot blend made for everyday drinking at around twelve to thirteen euros.

Tip: True under-15-euro Tuscan wine that punches above its weight on weeknight pasta with red sauce.

Rocca delle Macie Famiglia Zingarelli Chianti Classico DOCG ★ 4.0

Castellina-based Zingarelli family blend pouring under twenty euros at most Italian retailers. A reliable Chianti Classico annata template: Sangiovese fruit, light international wood polish, ready to drink.

Tip: Available in most Tuscan supermarkets; pair with cinghiale-sauce pappardelle on weeknights.