
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.
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Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva 2018Sangiovese from Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Tenuta di Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva 2018Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Piancornello Brunello di Montalcino 2016Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Argiano Brunello di Montalcino 2017Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Altesino Brunello di Montalcino 2017Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Ruffino Greppone Mazzi Brunello di Montalcino 2014Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello di Montalcino 2016Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2015Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Antinori Marchese Chianti Classico Riserva 2019Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Bibi Graetz Testamatta 20th Anniversary Label 2019Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
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Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2016Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino 2017Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Caparzo Rosso di Montalcino 2020Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Carpineto Brunello di Montalcino 2016Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2017Sangiovese from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy
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Salcheto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2018Sangiovese from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy
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La Lecciaia Brunello di Montalcino 2015Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Donatella Cinelli Colombini Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne 2015Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Ruffino Ducale Chianti Classico Riserva 2018Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino 2017Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Banfi Chianti Classico 2019Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Podere Brizio Rosso di Montalcino 2019Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Brancaia Chianti Classico Riserva 2018Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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TorCalvano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2017Sangiovese from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy
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Frescobaldi CastelGiocondo Brunello di Montalcino 2016Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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