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.
Signature wines: le-pergole-torte, montevertine-rosso, pian-del-ciampolo
Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2019), Vinous 96 (2019)
Address: Localita Montevertine, 53017 Radda in Chianti, Siena, Italy, Tuscany
Castelnuovo dell'Abate estate founded by Piero Palmucci in 1989, now part of the ColleMassari Group (acquired 2011). Long Slavonian-oak ageing and southeastern Montalcino fruit anchor a top-tier modern Brunello.
Tasting: Cellar visits and Brunello tastings by appointment only at the Castelnuovo dell'Abate estate.
Signature wines: poggio-di-sotto-brunello, poggio-di-sotto-brunello-riserva, poggio-di-sotto-rosso-di-montalcino
Scores: Wine Advocate 97 (2016), Vinous 96 (2016)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
