Carmignano DOCG and Vin Santo di Carmignano DOCSangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Canaiolo, Trebbiano Toscano, San Colombano96 haFounded 1920Contini Bonacossi familyWinemaker Benedetta Contini BonacossiICEACarmignano DOCG
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)
Morellino di Scansano DOCG, Maremma Toscana DOC and Toscana IGTSangiovese (Morellino), Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Alicante, Vermentino80 haFounded 1985Elisabetta Geppetti and familyWinemaker Luca d'Attoma (consulting) with Cosimo Cossutti, estate enologistMorellino di Scansano DOCG
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)
Maremma Toscana DOC and Toscana IGTSangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Vermentino90 haFounded 2005Castellare di Castellina (Paolo Panerai) in joint venture with Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite)Winemaker Carlo FerriniMaremma Toscana DOC
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)
Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG and Toscana IGTVernaccia, Sangiovese, Trebbiano Toscano32 haFounded 1979Simone Niccolai (acquired from the Panizzi family in 2010)Winemaker Davide MazzolaVernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG
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)
Chianti Rufina DOCG and Toscana IGTSangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malvasia Nera250 haFounded 1000Frescobaldi family (Marchesi Frescobaldi)Winemaker Niccolo d'AfflittoChianti Rufina DOCG
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)
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Toscana IGTSangiovese Grosso, Merlot235 haFounded 1989Frescobaldi family (Marchesi Frescobaldi)Winemaker Niccolo d'AfflittoBrunello di Montalcino DOCG
Frescobaldi's Montalcino estate, acquired in 1989. 235 hectares of Sangiovese Grosso in the western reaches of the appellation; Ripe al Convento is the Riserva from oldest vines.
Tasting: Estate tours, Brunello cellar visits and tasting flights by reservation; Luce della Vite is bottled separately on a neighbouring property.
Signature wines: castelgiocondo-brunello-di-montalcino, castelgiocondo-ripe-al-convento-riserva, castelgiocondo-lamaione
Scores: Wine Advocate 96 (2016), Vinous 94 (2016)
