The following is a list of the most common and important of Italy's many grape varieties. Typical Characteristics: Full-bodied, floral, and slightly smoky. Complimentary Paperback for Supporters. While San Guido makes other wines worth trying (Guidalberto and Le Difese), choose the flagship Sassicaia label if you love bolder wines or want to make a profit on the secondary market. At the turn of the century, in 1900, it was difficult to find an age-worthy Nebbiolo. Value: The price of this wine typically falls under $30 upon release, however, as the wine ages, it tends to increase in value. These techniques help create a structured, flavorful wine that will last for decades in a cellar. Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Varieties: Sangiovese. It may only increase in price by $25 on average (for a total $50 value) as it approaches maturity, but if you’re looking for a wine to cellar and drink yourself, then this is an excellent choice. ITALIAN WINE WINERIES VENDORS. Since the 1996 vintage, these have been reclassified from Barbaresco DOCG to Langhe DOC, which has given the producer more freedom to experiment with unique winemaking techniques. Buying the fine Italian wines in our cellar means focusing on the most prestigious labels. Value: This wine has a very healthy price-to-quality ratio. It sells for less than $20 per bottle, and yet has the potential to age beautifully over the course of 15 years. Wisdom, competence and dedication of the producer are the winning keys for the production of a precious wine. Region: Campania. This is a great wine for collectors who prefer to drink their own wines, or who have enough willpower to wait patiently for their bottles to mature so that they can resell them later. Region: Le Marche. The wine was full of dark cherry, spice, and chocolate notes, and its powerful flavors reminded him a bit of his favorite Merlot from Hourglass in Napa. Suite 100 Once you have some knowledge of Bolgheri under your belt, you may choose to move on to other great Dell’Ornellaia wines, like Masseto, that will give you a glimpse into a single-vineyard, single-variety wine from this area. This is why we recommend starting off small at first, beginning with the best Italian wine producers in the classic regions of Piedmont and Tuscany. Contact us today to get access to the world’s finest wine. Ageability: 5-7 years. By combining these with the Sangiovese grape, they created Super Tuscan wines, an unofficial category of Tuscan wines that is not recognized within the Italian wine … Region: Piedmont. Position on the Power 100 List: 86. Conterno was one of the first producers to work to change this. But everything changed for him when he tried Masseto at a recent tasting event. Notable Recent Vintages: 2002, 2008, 2010. These styles are more modern and international than some of Italy’s other classic wines, but they have enough local flavor to ease New-World drinkers into more traditional Italian wines. Best for: New-World wine lovers who want to try Italian wine. Ageability: 20+ years. The obvious choice for the majority of collectors will be the estate’s cru Barbaresco, as it is the most valuable label and a big hit among wine critics. These seven Italian producers and labels on Liv-ex’s Power 100 list are each excellent, but they are by no means the only producers worth trying or collecting. Notable Recent Vintages: 2007, 2010. Typical Characteristics: Citrusy, complex, and intense. Scroll down tasting notes and scores for top value wines from Italy’s top producers However, these producers are considered some of Italy’s best for a reason, so if you want an insight without splashing out for the top labels then it’s often worth picking up another wine … Position on the Power 100 List: 80. It claimed many firsts when it was introduced: the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques, the first Italian wine blended with non-traditional grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, and the first red blend in Chianti Classico to use purely red grape varieties. It’s important not to uncork a bottle of Giacomo Conterno Barolo too early. Producer : Wines:27: 13 Via Zafferana, Santa Venerina 95010, Sicily Secure-Orders: Nastro D'oro: Producer : Wines:16: piazza santa croce 5 Lubrense mass Naples 80061, Campania Secure-Orders: Nino Franco Spumanti: … We partner with these families, rooted in tradition with a twist of new ideas, to bring their … Varieties: Verdicchio. Sangiovese di Romagna, Brunello di Montalcino, Lugana, Valdobbiadene and many other traditional wines are waiting for you! Due to Antinori’s focus on high quality and careful grape selection, Solaia vintages will last for decades in a cellar. Varieties: Sangiovese. 94503, Monday to Friday You might have noticed that Masseto and Dell’Ornellaia appear at different positions on the Power 100 list. Italian Wine Producers Poggio Rubino is one of my favourite Italian wine producers and one of the loveliest wine estates in Tuscany. If you love acidic, citrusy whites…choose Vermentino or Verdicchio. When I first started drinking Italian wine, I wanted to taste nearly every style that I could get my hands on—from Grignolino to Schiava to Frappato, I wanted to experience it all. Although the wine doesn’t garner quite as much attention as its Solaia sister, it is still one of the best offerings from the Antinori estate. During a blind tasting event last year, one wine enthusiast initially misidentified a bottle of 1990 Solaia because the wine tasted so ripe. Consorzio Tutela Prosecco DOC. Typical Characteristics: Intense, complex, and well-balanced. Additionally, Gaja is modern without losing its Old-World charm; the producer was the first in the area to use temperature-controlled fermentation and small-cask aging. Likewise, mature Barolo, Barbaresco, and Brunello di Montalcino typically appeal more to those who already collect Old-World wines, as these usually taste more elegant and subtle. Gaja wines have experienced a 13.37% increase in value between 2016 and 2017, and this upward trend is expected to continue through 2018. Denomination rebrand signals sweet success for Italian wine producer 18 January 2021 . Best for: New-World wine lovers who want to try Italian wine. The result is a fully ripened, traditional Italian wine that can be a little too bracing in its youth, but mellows into an elegant, mature wine as the years wear on. But over the last month, many people in natural-wine … We have jumpstarted the merchant database by drawing extensively from our parent company database featuring comprehensive Italian wine importer, exporter and producer lists, as well as by researching public records, both in Italy … Meanwhile, Ca’Marcanda is a polished, memorable wine that often appeals to those who already own and collect plenty of Bordeaux—you may find some similarities between classic Bordeaux and Ca’Marcanda. Italy's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MIPAAF), has documented over 350 grapes and granted them "authorized" status. Ageability: 5-10 years. For this reason, Solaia typically appeals most to drinkers who love New-World wines and fully ripened fruit flavors. We Recommend Trying: Soave Calvarino. 200 Green Street In my early years, I was buying based on obscurity, not necessarily on quality. While there are many other producers also worth consideration, the producers in this guide represent some of the finest in terms of wine quality, value, and overall reputation, and our selection can help you narrow your choices down to the producers that are most worth your time and that suit your goals for your collection. By using longer fermentation techniques and allowing the Nebbiolo to fully express its tannic nature, Conterno was able to produce wines that could last decades in a cellar. The wine was full-bodied, yet had soft, supple tannins, and the finish seemed to last for ages. I’ve since become more selective about the wines I buy, and I choose wines that are more than just rarities or novelties—they’re truly worth drinking and collecting. From north to south, Italy's leading winemakers continue to captivate with their benchmark wines, but while these are often out of reach of the majority, there is usually value to be found elsewhere in their ranges. When I first began drinking fine wine, I stuck mainly to California proprietary blends, Bordeaux, and Burgundy. If you love fun, aromatic whites…choose Kerner, Gewürztraminer, or Müller-Thurgau from Alto-Adige. Region: Bolgheri, Tuscany. Italy has more than 511 different documented styles of wine, and there are fantastic wines and producers in nearly every region. The Tignanello label will always hold a special place in my heart in part because it was one of the first Italian wines that I invested in on a serious level. WINE MANUFACTURING SUPPLIERS. treasured bottles of wine. San Francisco, CA This is the label that I recommend to collectors just getting started with Gaja wine. While it’s clearly important to seek out the best Italian wine producers when starting or expanding upon an Italian wine collection, it’s also a good idea to consider which vintages were most successful overall. Varieties: Nebbiolo. In addition to these iconic producers, I also recommend tasting Italian white wines like Etna Bianco, Kerner, Gewürztraminer, Müller-Thurgau, Vermentino, Verdicchio, as well as Franciacorta, Lombardy’s traditional-method sparkling wine. After opening the first bottle to try it, he found the wine so delicious that he ended up drinking the rest of the bottles before the year was over. 94111, 644 Hanna Dr The three other major wine-producing … While Ornellaia often isn’t as high in value on the secondary market as Masseto, it tends to be slightly more elegant in style, making it appealing to those who drink other Old-World wines. And because these wines can last for 20 years or more in storage, they make a potentially valuable investment in addition to being an enjoyable drinking experience. Gaja, Bruno Giacosa, and Roberto Voerzio are among the best Italian wine producers. How Do I Buy Wine Direct From a Producer? Centuries of experience have made the wine producers of Italy's Friuli region true wine experts. Below is a selection of the best Italian wines, based on reviews by our experts, with full tasting notes on each wine … Typical Characteristics: Complex aromas, refined tannins, and a velvety finish. Apstein says, “Unlike grand cru white Burgundies, there are precious few Italian whites that require a decade to hit their stride.” Here are some of the best Italian wine producers that make collectible white wines: Region: Friuli-Venezia Giulia Ageability: 10-15 years. We Recommend Trying: Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova. Great price Free delivery starting from €99 Easy and secure payment Any of the producers above craft beautiful white wines that are certainly worth trying at least once. The most recent 2017 Power 100 list included seven of the best Italian wine producers and labels in the country, including Masseto, Sassicaia, Gaja, Solaia, Dell’Ornellaia, Antinori Tignanello, and Giacomo Conterno. Best for: Anyone who generally drinks New-World wine but has enjoyed some earthier wines as well and would like to try more Nebbiolo. You don’t necessarily have to spend time living in Italy, as Demai eventually did, in order to learn firsthand which winemaking techniques, grape varieties, and flavors make Italian wine so unique. Value: This wine sells at $150 per bottle on average upon release, but in the best years can increase in value by more than $200 over the course of just ten years in storage. Ageability: 20+ years. The best bottles of wine directly from wineries throughout Italy, without intermediaries, to your home. Notable Recent Vintages: 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006. 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