The iconic bottles that define Tuscany: what they are, who makes them and what they cost.
The iconic bottles that define Tuscany: what they are, who makes them and what they cost.
The founding Super Tuscan. Bordeaux cuttings planted at Bolgheri in 1944 by Mario Incisa della Rocchetta; granted its own single-estate DOC in 1994.
Tasting notes: Cassis and graphite layered over violet aromatics. The 1985 vintage was the first Italian wine to receive a perfect 100 points from Robert Parker (Wine Advocate, 1992). Source: tenutasanguido.com and robertparker.com.
The Super Tuscan that broke Chianti Classico DOCG rules in 1971 by blending Sangiovese with Cabernet and ageing in French barrique. Still a global benchmark.
Tasting notes: Violet and dark cherry above graphite, with firm tannins and a long savoury finish. Source: antinori.it and Wine Advocate 97 points 2019 vintage.
Cabernet-led counterpart to Tignanello, from the same Tenuta Tignanello hillside. The 1997 vintage was the first Italian wine ever named Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year (2000, 98 points).
Tasting notes: Cassis and graphite intensity over a long Tuscan acid spine. Wine Spectator named the 1997 vintage its Wine of the Year for 2000 (scored 98 points). Source: antinori.it and Wine Spectator Top 100 archive.
Lodovico Antinori's Bolgheri Superiore DOC Bordeaux-blend flagship, founded 1981 and now owned by Frescobaldi. A coastal-Tuscan benchmark for the Bordeaux idiom.
Tasting notes: Black cherry, cassis and sweet cedar built on a graphite-iron mineral spine. Wine Spectator named the 1998 vintage its Wine of the Year for 2001 (scored 96 points). Source: ornellaia.com and Wine Spectator Top 100 archive.
Italy's most prestigious Merlot. A 7-hectare blue-clay parcel inside the Ornellaia estate, with its own dedicated cellar since 2020. A reference Merlot worldwide.
Tasting notes: Black cherry, graphite, sweet cedar over polished oak and salinity. Source: masseto.com and Wine Advocate 100 points for the 2015 vintage (review 2018).
The founding Brunello Riserva, released only in exceptional vintages from the 1888-bottled estate. EPI Group ownership since 2017. Famous library vintages 1955.
Tasting notes: Dried cherry, rose petal, iron and leather across an extraordinarily long finish. Famous library vintages 1955, 1964, 1975, 1988, 2010, 2016. Source: biondisanti.it.
Cult Montalcino estate that left Brunello DOCG in 2013. Bottles continue as Toscana IGT from the original Case Basse and Intistieti vineyards.
Tasting notes: Dried cherry, potpourri, rose petal and iron across a savoury herbal core. Source: soldera.it. Pre-2013 the estate bottled under Brunello DOCG; the 2007 to 2012 Brunello vintages were destroyed in the December 2012 cellar vandalism.
Single-vineyard Brunello from a south-facing parcel above the Asso river. Casanova di Neri's most concentrated cru. One of the iconic Tuscan bottles in 2026.
Tasting notes: Black cherry, graphite, leather and violet with espresso and polished oak. Source: consorziobrunellodimontalcino.it and Wine Advocate 98 points 2016 vintage (Monica Larner review).
Argiano's annata Brunello. The 2018 vintage was named Wine Spectator's 2023 Wine of the Year (95 points), the first Italian wine to claim the title in two decades.
Tasting notes: Black cherry, graphite, leather and violet across a sweet-spice mid-palate. Wine Spectator named the 2018 vintage its 2023 Wine of the Year (scored 95 points). Source: argiano.net and Wine Spectator Top 100 archive.
Giovanni Manetti's flagship pure Sangiovese Toscana IGT from the Conca d'Oro at Panzano. Helped legitimise 100 percent Sangiovese as a Super Tuscan idiom.
Tasting notes: Black cherry, violet, Mediterranean herbs and graphite with dark plum and balsamic depth. Source: fontodi.com and Wine Advocate 98 points 2019 vintage (Monica Larner, February 2023).
Tua Rita's cult 100 percent Merlot from Suvereto. The 2000 vintage was awarded 100 points by Wine Advocate, putting the Val di Cornia on the world map.
Tasting notes: Black cherry, graphite, violet and sweet cedar over polished oak. Source: tuarita.it and Wine Advocate 100 points 2000 vintage.
The cult Vin Santo. Raisined Sangiovese aged 10 plus years in caratelli; widely considered Italy's most ambitious sweet wine. The Saverys Demeter-biodynamic.
Tasting notes: Dried fig, tamarind, walnut, candied orange and burnt caramel with rancio depth. Raisined Sangiovese aged 10 plus years in caratelli. Source: avignonesi.it.
Sergio Manetti's pioneering pure-Sangiovese Toscana IGT, first released 1977 from Radda in Chianti. The canonical IGT-by-choice Sangiovese.
Tasting notes: Red cherry, rose petal and dried herbs over a tobacco-and-iron core; very long, linear finish. Source: montevertine.it. The first pure Sangiovese vinified in the Chianti zone, released 1977.
Petrolo's Val d'Arno di Sopra DOC Galatrona: 100 percent Merlot from the 10-hectare blue-clay parcel at Mercatale Valdarno. First vintage 1994.
Tasting notes: Black cherry, blackberry and violet over a graphite-iron mineral spine. Source: petrolo.it. Italy's reference 100 percent Merlot away from Bolgheri; first released 1994.
Poggio di Sotto's Brunello Riserva from Castelnuovo dell'Abate, around 60 months in large Slavonian botti. Released only in exceptional vintages; ColleMassari Group-owned since 2011.
Tasting notes: Dried cherry, rose petal, leather and dried fig with iron and balsamic depth; very long finish. Source: poggiodisotto.it and Wine Advocate 98 points 2015 vintage. Released only in exceptional vintages.
Peak wine-travel season in Tuscany is spring through autumn, with harvest the standout window.
classified-growth and grand-cru estates require booking days to weeks ahead; smaller family domaines often take walk-ins midweek.
most estates open 10:00 to 17:00 by appointment, often closed Sunday and Monday.
tipping is not expected at tastings; buying a bottle from the cellar door is the customary thank-you.
If you only open one bottle, open Sassicaia by tenuta-san-guido. It is the wine most associated with Tuscany.