
Sangiovese Wine
Learn about Sangiovese — taste profile, popular regions and more ...
The perfect intersection of bright red fruit and savory earthiness, Sangiovese is among Italy's elite red grape varieties and is responsible for the best red wines of Tuscany. While it is best known as the chief component of Chianti, it is also the main grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and reaches the height of its power and intensity in the complex, long-lived Brunello di Montalcino wines.
Elsewhere throughout Italy, Sangiovese wine plays an important role in many easy-drinking, value-driven red blends and on the French island of Corsica, under the name, Nielluccio, it produces excellent bright and refreshing red and rosé wines with a personality of their own. Sangiovese has also enjoyed success growing in California and Washington.
Sangiovese Tasting Notes
Sangiovese wine is a dry, red wine with a medium body and qualities of tart cherry, plum, sun dried tomato, fresh tobacco and herbs. High-quality, well-aged examples can take on tertiary notes of smoke, leather, game, potpourri and dried fruit. Corsican Nielluccio is distinguished by a subtle perfume of dried flowers.
Sangiovese Food Pairings
Sangiovese wine is the ultimate pizza and pasta red—its high acidity, moderate alcohol, and fine-grained tannins create a perfect symbiosis with tomato-based dishes, braised vegetables, roasted and cured meat, hard cheese and anything off the barbecue.
Sommelier Secrets for Sangiovese
Although it is the star variety of Tuscany, cult-classic “Super-Tuscan” wines may actually contain no Sangiovese at all! Since the 1970s, local winemakers have been producing big, bold wines as a blend of one or more of several international varieties—usually Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot or Syrah—with or without Sangiovese.
- Cabernet Sauvignon697
- Pinot Noir665
- Bordeaux Red Blends664
- Other Red Blends347
- Tempranillo219
- Rhône Blends194
- Sangiovese171
- Syrah/Shiraz146
- Malbec143
- Merlot120
- Nebbiolo118
- Zinfandel91
- Cabernet Franc57
- Grenache56
- Tuscan Blends51
- Gamay33
- Barbera29
- Other Red Wine24
- Carmenere22
- Petite Sirah22
- Mourvedre18
- Montepulciano16
- Mencia16
- Dolcetto14
- Carignan12
- Primitivo11
- Nero d'Avola8
- Pinotage8
- Nerello Mascalese7
- Aglianico6
- Bonarda6
- Cinsault5
- Negroamaro4
- Petit Verdot3
- Agiorgitiko3
- Blaufrankisch3
- Frappato3
- Corvina2
- Tannat2
- Touriga Nacional2
- Alicante Bouschet2
- Gaglioppo2
- Pais2
- Xinomavro2
- Zweigelt2
- Valdiguie1
- Freisa1
- Grignolino1
- St. Laurent1
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Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva 2018Sangiovese from Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Castellani Sangiovese 2016Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
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Altesino Brunello di Montalcino 2017Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Castellani Chianti Classico Riserva 2017Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino 2017Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2017Sangiovese from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy
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Capanna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2015Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Antinori Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva 2018Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Tenuta di Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva 2018Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Borgo Scopeto Chianti Classico 2019Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Frescobaldi CastelGiocondo Brunello di Montalcino 2016Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico Riserva Berardo 2016Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Poggio Antico Rosso di Montalcino 2020Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Tenuta di Capraia Chianti Classico Riserva 2016Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Banfi Rosso di Montalcino 2019Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Tenuta di Capraia Chianti Classico Effe 55 Gran Selezione 2016Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2016Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
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Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva 2018Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- V
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Il Marroneto Brunello di Montalcino 2017Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WE
- RP
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Argiano Brunello di Montalcino 2017Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Torrebruna Sangiovese 2019Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
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Altesino Brunello di Montalcino (375ML half-bottle) 2017Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
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Capanna Brunello di Montalcino 2016Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2016Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- RP
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- WE
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La Lecciaia Brunello di Montalcino 2016Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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