9 editor-picked Vermentino producers across 2 regions.
A guide to Vermentino worth seeking out, by region. We list the estates, how each region expresses the grape, and the bottles that show it best.
Six generations of the Jacono family have farmed these 70 hectares in the Ragusa province. Gaetana Jacono runs the estate, producing organic Frappato and Nero d'Avola that anchor their acclaimed Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG blend.
Tasting: Classic wine tastings, chef-led pairings, cooking courses and vineyard walks at the Acate estate.
Signature wines: valle-acate-cerasuolo-di-vittoria, valle-acate-il-frappato, valle-acate-tane
Antinori's Bolgheri estate, established as a standalone vineyard in 1990 from the family's 1932 land purchase. 320 hectares; Guado al Tasso Superiore is flagship.
Tasting: Cellar visits, vineyard walks and the Osteria Magona village kitchen at Bolgheri; bookings via the Antinori hospitality desk.
Signature wines: guado-al-tasso, il-bruciato, scalabrone, matarocchio
Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2015), Vinous 97 (2018)
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)
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)
Maremma estate built by Elisabetta Geppetti from her 1985 inheritance into the region's reference producer. Saffredi (Cabernet-Merlot-Alicante IGT) and Morellino anchor the range.
Tasting: Cellar tours, vineyard walks and tasting flights by reservation; Saffredi is the long-running Super Tuscan flagship.
Signature wines: le-pupille-saffredi, le-pupille-poggio-valente, le-pupille-morellino-di-scansano
Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2019), Vinous 95 (2018)
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)
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.
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.
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.
More regions are in research. Want Vermentino covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to drink.