What are the best Italian red wines? Discover the best Italian reds recommended by us with photos and descriptions. To learn more, we also recommend the articles on the best rosé wines, the best white wines and the best sparkling wines.
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INDEX
BEST ITALIAN RED WINES – Recommended by Jean Marco Palmieri
What are the best Italian red wines? Below you will find a list of annually updated labels recommended by Jean Marco Palmieri.
Discover the wines recommended by Italy’s Finest Wines with our tasting so that everyone can find the ideal wine for their tastes and needs.
You will find more iconic and historic companies but also those that have stood out for their unique and original character.
Barolo ‘Bussia’ 2019 – Rinaldi
Description: Rich in nuances, with aromas of wild strawberries, dried flowers, hints of balsamic menthol, and orange zest. On the palate, it unfolds harmoniously with a enveloping tannic texture. A finish of good persistence. Spontaneous fermentation occurs through the action of indigenous yeasts for about 25 days in Slavonian oak vats.
Grape Variety: Nebbiolo 100%
Region: Piedmont
Description: Rich in nuances, with aromas of cherries in spirits, black licorice, dried flowers, and hints of balsamic menthol and orange zest. On the palate, it develops harmoniously with an enveloping tannic texture. A finish of good persistence. Spontaneous fermentation occurs through the action of indigenous yeasts for about 25 days in Slavonian oak vats.
Grape Variety: Nebbiolo 100%
Region: Piedmont
An iconic wine, among the best Italian wines for its sincerity in narrating the sensational expressiveness of Barolo without compromises.
Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie 2019 – Il Marroneto
Description: Clear fragrant and floral varietal notes of violet, sour cherries, wild thyme, and a hint of cider. The sip is characterized by impeccably textured tannins synergistically linked to a pronounced acidity and a savory note that give length and presence to the taste.
Il Marroneto, led by Alessandro Mori and his son Jacopo, is a small winery of 6 hectares on the north side of Montalcino, located in an ancient chestnut drying room, from which it takes its name.
Madonna delle Grazie is their cru obtained from a selection of scattered grapes from the historic vineyard at an altitude of 420 meters, with a north exposure and soils composed of 75% marine sands. Vinification takes place with low intervention without the use of oenological additives. Fermentation lasts about 20/22 days. Aging occurs in 25-quintal oak barrels for 41 months.
Madonna delle Grazie confirms itself among the best Italian wines, representing a virtuous interpretation of Sangiovese with a traditional character that emphasizes finesse more than power.
Barolo 2019 – Bartolo Mascarello
Description: The bouquet unfolds with intense tones of ripe red fruits, dried flowers, progressing towards notes of roasting, tobacco, hints of camphor, and wild autumnal forest suggestions. The mouth is full and dry, with powerful and textured tannins spreading across the palate, well-balanced by a nerve-like acidity. The finish is of great persistence with delicate references to fruit and spices.
Grape Variety: Nebbiolo 100%
Region: Piedmont
A classic and sincere wine with extraordinary evolutionary potential, an ineffable and sublime expression of the Nebbiolo grape’s varietal character.
Soldera 2015 – Soldera Case Basse
Description:
The olfactory profile articulates between fragrant and crisp red fruit tones, nuances of leather, tar, and medicinal herbs.
On the palate, it is dense, compact, with extraordinarily velvety tannins and an unusually persistent dry finish.
Grape Variety: Sangiovese 100%
Region: Tuscany
A legendary wine that once again confirms itself among the best Italian wines for its unique, complex style, and rare aging potential.
Barolo Riserva Monfortino 2015 – Giacomo Conterno
Description: Olfactively unfolds in a kaleidoscope of floral tones, with wisteria and violet standing out, followed by small red fruits and officinal herbs, enriched by austere spice suggestions, tobacco, tar, and hints of blood. On the palate, it is rich and enveloping, with compact and powerful tannins that progress towards an extraordinarily persistent finish where the fruit echoes prominently.
Fermentation occurs in 61 hl oak vats with a long maceration on the skins; malolactic fermentation in barrels of Austrian oak of various sizes.
Grape Variety: 100% Nebbiolo
Region: Piedmont
A historic and iconic wine born from the best vintages and the best grapes of the renowned Francia cru in Serralunga d’Alba in 1978. Undisputed protagonist in the history of the Langhe: expansive, captivating, with sensational persistence and aging potential.
‘ES’ 2021 – Gianfranco Fino
Description: It opens peremptorily in a psychedelic triumph of scents ranging from potpourri of red flowers, plum, dehydrated figs, Modica chocolate, to wild fennel. On the palate, it is voluminous and enveloping, with a sensational phenolic extract that creates a synergistic dialogue with a nerve-like acidity. A perpetually persistent finish where the unmistakable and eloquent terroir of Manduria resonates.
Slightly late harvest. Maceration on the skins for 3 or 4 weeks and fermentation in steel with 2 daily délestages, malolactic fermentation in barriques. Aging for 9 months in small oak barrels of 228 liters, 50% new, and at least 9 months in the bottle. Without clarification or filtration.
Grape Variety: Primitivo 100%
Region: Apulia
Considered one of the most iconic producers in Apulia, Gianfranco Fino’s ES wine is a Primitivo with a Mediterranean, psychedelic, and archaic character. Among the best Italian red wines for its ability to interpret the power of the terroir.
Le Pergole Torte 2020 – Montevertine
Characteristics: Initially, olfaction plays on notes of sour cherry, violet, orange peel, enriched by more enigmatic scents of wild calamint and humus. On the palate, well-defined and compact tannins and great acidity that gives smoothness.
Fermentation for 25 days by indigenous yeasts in cement vats. Aging begins in Slavonian oak barrels for 12 months, continues in Allier barriques for another 12 months, and ends with 6 months of rest in the bottle.
Grape Variety: Sangiovese 100%
Region: Tuscany
A historic and intoxicating wine among the best interpretations of pure Sangiovese for its multifaceted taste and olfactory complexity.
Refined, elegiac, and linear: of interesting iodized sapidity and inexhaustible persistence, where the undisputed prominence of the
Brunello di Montalcino 2019 – Le Potazzine
Description: Ripe fruits, notably cherry and bergamot, followed by medicinal herbs and tar. The palate reveals remarkable concentration, creating tension and rhythm with acidic and mineral components. The finish is of great length, dry, and balanced.
Brunello di Montalcino comes from certified organic Sangiovese grapes, obtained from two vineyards located on the southwest slope, at an altitude ranging from 420 to 507 meters above sea level.
Spontaneous fermentations with indigenous yeasts, long macerations, and aging in medium-sized Slavonian oak barrels.
Le Potazzine is a small, family-run winery (around 5 hectares), led by Gigliola and her two daughters, Viola and Sofia, always distinguished for their commitment to sustainable agronomic practices and artisanal approach.
Undoubtedly among the best Italian wines, it stands out for its elegant and traditional style.
Area: Southwest (Le Prata and La Torre)
Pinot Nero Riserva ‘Vigna Ganger’ 2019 – Girlan
Description: The olfactory profile is complex and intense: ranging from red currant and cinnamon, adding notes of medicinal herbs, violet, and patchouli.
On the palate, it is voluminous, with well-defined silky tannins and good nerve-like acidity that imparts freshness and verticality. A clean, harmonious finish of great length on the fruit.
One of the best Italian Pinot Noir wines for overall complexity and balance, seductive and refined, with very expressive aromas.
Region: South Tyrol
Aton 2019 – Elena Walch
Description: Initially, the scent plays on notes of wild raspberry, caramel, and sour cherries enriched with resin and toasty tones.
On the palate, it is characterized by well-defined and compact tannins, supported by a pleasant salty vein and pronounced acidity that give smoothness and depth to the sip.
An intoxicating wine, among the best expressions of Pinot Noir in Italy for olfactory complexity and a material and penetrating palate. Without a doubt, among the best Italian wines.
Region: South Tyrol
Harlequin 2016 – Zymé
The wine Harlequin 2016 by Zýmē reveals a bright ruby with garnet reflections in aging. Notes of moss, carob, and minty sensations intertwine in a complex olfactory bouquet. On the palate, the phenolic structure is material and elegant, with balanced acidity that imparts smoothness. The wine offers a persistent and harmonious finish.
Production follows a vinification with fermentation of crushed grapes together in a cement vat with indigenous yeasts for about 30 days, followed by punching down, délestages, and sensory control. Aging takes place in new French oak barrels of 225 liters for 30 months, without transfers, and continues in the bottle for at least 2 years. Obtained from a blend of international and indigenous varieties. Harlequin is produced only in important vintages.
A unique work that celebrates the complexity and harmony of flavors and aromas, leaving an indelible mark on the tasting experience.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2021 – Emidio Pepe
Description: It opens incisive with notes of ripe dark berries, withered violets, and licorice root, progressing towards resin, dried figs, and carob reminiscences.
On the palate, it is dense and sumptuous, with well-defined tannins and tied to a long acidic line denoting great aging potential. Grapes are hand-destemmed in wooden vats, spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in glazed cement tanks, and maceration with manual punch-downs. Bottled and decanted by hand without filtration. Ages for 24 months on fine lees in glazed cement tanks and a few months in the bottle.
A true legend among Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wines. A material wine with sublime olfactory expressiveness. Rightly among the best Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wines for extraordinary aging capacity.
Region: Abruzzo
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2015 – Valentini
Characteristics: The aromatic range outlining blackberry under spirits, plum, wild fennel, followed by toasty and spicy notes is surprising. Powerful and compact tannins of excellent maturity and a finish with references to fruit and aromatic herbs.
Fermentation through the sole intervention of indigenous yeasts. Aging for 12 months in large oak and chestnut barrels, followed by a long rest of about 4 years in the bottle.
Grape Variety: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 100%
Region: Abruzzo
From one of the oldest cellars in Abruzzo, a superb wine of unusual eloquence and elegance. Deservedly among the most famous, historic, and best Italian red wines.
Grande Cerzito 2018 – Quintodecimo
Description: Notes of cranberries and blood orange emerge on the nose, violet and eucalyptus, followed by cocoa powder and China. On the palate, it presents a great balance between the phenolic component, acidity, and alcohol, with a finish of great length and freshness with balsamic and fruity echoes.
Aging in new oak barrels for 18/24 months.
Quintodecimo’s Grande Cerzito confirms itself as one of the most interesting interpretations of Taurasi, thanks to its ability to combine organoleptic complexity, aging potential, and drinkability.
Ragnaie Vigna Vecchia 2019 – Ragnaie
Description: Fresh notes of pomegranate and red orange are joined by balsamic and toasty tones. The sip is characterized by an excellent balance between phenolic concentration, acidity, and alcohol. Rhythm, freshness, and volume on the palate.
Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Vecchia from Le Ragnaie is obtained from grapes from the vineyard located at 600 meters above sea level in the Ragnaie area, immediately southwest of Montalcino. Fermentation by only indigenous yeasts in cement and aging for 36 months in large Slavonian oak barrels. The company uses cement tanks for good temperature control and to keep primary and fermentative aromas intact.
The Le Ragnaie winery of Riccardo Campinoti, thanks to the altitude of the highest vineyards in the denomination, manages to obtain wines with an extremely vertical character. Their Vigna Vecchia is probably the wine that, more than all its Crus, highlights balance rather than a dominant character over others.
A virtuous testimony that reminds us that being craftsmen is not an excuse to be approximate but a privilege to work with precision on details.
‘Sassicaia’ 2020 – Tenuta San Guido
Description: Tickles the nose with intense varietal aromas of cherry, myrtle, garrigue, eucalyptus, and hints of green bell pepper. The sip is material and harmonious with powerful and velvety tannins well-balanced by a pressing acidity that creates a sensational palate balance.
Alcoholic fermentation by indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled steel, maceration for 9-12 days in steel. Aging for 24 months in French oak barriques.
Grapes: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc
Region: Tuscany
A wine that has made history for Cabernet in Italy and paved the way for Bolgheri wines: rightfully one of the best red wines for indisputable finesse. A wine of great elegance, refined but imaginative, narrating the eloquence of the Bolgheri terroir.
Etna Rosso San Lorenzo 2020 – Tenuta delle Terre Nere
Description: Strokes of rose petals, plum, and syrupy raspberries give way to clear notes of graphite, humus, and nutmeg. The palate is sumptuous, with a sculptural body animated by a lively minerality that makes it vertical and expansive. Alcoholic fermentation with temperature control at 28°-30°C, followed by spontaneous malolactic fermentation. Aging for 16-18 months in French oak barriques and tonneaux, then 1 month in steel.
Grapes: Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio
Region: Sicily (Etna)
A rare pearl of Sicilian viticulture, impeccably expressing the essence of Etna, incisive and with an unmistakable character. Among the best Italian red wines.
Barolo ‘Bricco delle Viole’ 2019 – Vajra
Description: Teases the nose with incisive notes of withered roses and cherry under spirits, followed by hints of candied orange peel enriched with well-integrated boisé tones.
Galvanizes the palate with a thick but smoothly textured tannin synergistically linked to a nerve-like acidity that promotes drinkability. A finish of great persistence where the Nebbiolo varietal echoes. Ages for 28 months in large Slavonian oak barrels, mainly from 25 and 50 hectoliters.
The historic Bricco delle Viole is one of the most celebrated in Barolo, giving life to wines characterized by elegance and freshness. Vajra once again confirms itself as its virtuoso interpreter.
Description: The aromatic picture is wide and complex, articulating notes of ripe cherry, licorice root, and medicinal herbs.
On the nose, it convinces with synergy between the alcoholic and phenolic components, creating a dense, material, and long-lasting sip, supported by a nerve-like acidity that provides freshness and drinkability.
The iconic Vigna Rionda of Massolino convinces again for its ability to combine complexity and elegance. Definitely among the best interpretations of the 2017 Barolo vintage.
Barolo Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe 2016 – Cavallotto
Description: It presents itself with an intense ruby red color, and the nose opens wide and complex, ranging from intense scents of ripe wild berries to allusions of plum, enriched with alpine flora, sweet spices, and tobacco.
On the palate, it is enveloping with a very thick yet velvety tannic texture, supported by significant acidity that gives great freshness and drinkability.
Undoubtedly one of the best Barolo for the elegance and eloquence of its aromas. Voluminous and harmonious finish with a balsamic note, of great persistence. Excellent aging potential. Deservedly among the best cellars in Barolo.
Region: Piedmont
Riserva Diecianni 2013 – Le Chiuse
Description: A polyhedral and passionate bouquet: it outlines raspberry and cherry under spirits, joined by sensations of roasting, tar, and tobacco.
On the palate, it is material with dense and thick tannins. A long, clean, and enveloping finish. The grapes used for the production of this wine come from different vineyards, with some cultivated on the north and northeast slope of the Montalcino hill.
For the creation of the Riserva, only the best clusters are carefully selected during harvest. Diecianni undergoes a prolonged aging period that extends up to 10 years.
An expansive yet vertical wine, fully among the best Italian wines for extraordinary aging potential, length, and complexity.
Montosoli – Brunello di Montalcino 2019 – Altesino
Description: The scents are fresh and distinguished by exceptional varietal clarity, ranging from violet and blood orange to medicinal herbs and patchouli.
In the mouth, it presents great freshness and balance, with silky tannins of excellent concentration that support the palate and extend towards a savory and persistent finish.
Traditional vinification and long aging in oak barrels. The historic first cru of Montalcino, born in 1972 and facing north, is known for producing wines with lower alcohol content, highlighting a more delicate and elegance-oriented character.
Led by Elisabetta Gnudi and her daughter Vittoria, Altesino is a winery with about 50 hectares of vines, mainly located on the north side. The company has always been committed to meticulous sustainable practices and has solar panels that cover a good part of its energy needs. Altesino’s wines are known worldwide for skillfully combining tradition and modernity, complexity, and immediacy.
One of the best Italian wines for those who want to unequivocally understand the refined character of Montosoli.
Region: Tuscany (Montosoli)
La Botte di Gianni 2016 – Masciarelli
Description: In the olfactory spectrum, ripe cherry and black currant stand out, accompanied by mineral puffs, leather, and medicinal herbs. Well-defined and ripe tannins and sensational iodized sapidity that amplifies the sip.
Fermentation in stainless steel with temperature control system. Aging takes place in 700-liter French oak tonneaux, made from plants over 200 years old, followed by bottling by gravity.
From the historic cellar symbol of Abruzzo winemaking, a wine capable of maximizing the expressive potential of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, reaching very high levels. Deservedly among the best Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wines for complexity and elegance.
Civettaja Pinot Nero 2020 – Podere della Civettaja
Description: At the nose, it suggests fragrant red fruits, medicinal herbs, bloody notes, and orange peel. On the palate, it is voluminous with smooth tannins, captivating iodine-mineral suggestions, and a finish of great persistence echoing the varietal character clearly.
Ferments with indigenous yeasts and ages for 12 months in old barriques, 10 in cement tanks, and at least 9 months in the bottle.
An intriguing, complex, and unpredictably expressive Pinot Nero. A fanciful and artisanal interpretation of Pinot Nero in Tuscany.
Region: Casentino (Tuscany)
‘Arcurìa Sopra il Pozzo’ 2015 – Graci
Description: Tickles the nose with incisive notes of wild strawberries, raspberry, orange peel, enriched with tones of candied Mediterranean scrub, black pepper, and boisé stamps. Galvanizes the palate with a thick yet smooth tannin synergistically linked to a nerve-like acidity that enhances drinkability. A finish of great persistence echoing the fruit and garrigue notes.
Grapes: Nerello Mascalese 100%
Region: Sicily (Etna)
One of the foremost representatives of Etna wines. A Mediterranean character, the olfactory is a delicate prelude that spreads sensationally opulent to the sip: powerful yet silky tannin and penetrating olfactory intensity. Fully among the best Italian wines.
Colore 2018 – Bibi Graetz
Description: Incisive scents of ripe cherry and blackberries expanded by nuances of leather, cloves, and medicinal herbs. On the palate, it presses with a thick, penetrating, and silky tannic texture, mitigated by a nerve-like acidity. Unfolds to a balsamic, very persistent finish.
Grapes: Sangiovese 100%
Region: Tuscany
A sui generis and original wine, among the best Italian wines for expressiveness and enhancement of Sangiovese character in the hills of Fiesole. Extends towards a balsamic and persistent finish, transporting the mind to a madeleine of bucolic sensations.
What are the best red wines in Italy?
What is the best red wine in Italy? Choosing is a difficult undertaking, which in any case is inevitably subject to the limits of a subjective opinion, which as such, by definition, is deficient and arbitrary.
We have simply compiled our own list of favorite interpretations according to our evaluations. However, it remains essential to underline that wine is not born to be prestigious, exhibited or flaunted.
But to get excited and be shared in a genuine way with the people we love, bonding to contingent situations and unrepeatable and intimate moments of our lives.
Therefore, we invite you to visit wineries and get to know the producers who produce wines in their uniqueness, so that you can independently discover and choose the wine that canbe counted among your personal favorite wines for you. If you have had the patience to read this far, I thank you for your attention, but now is the time to fill your glasses and cut off distant hopes, and therefore:
Cheers, Salute, Santé
