
Sangiovese
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 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.
Tasting Notes for Sangiovese
Sangiovese 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.
Perfect Food Pairings for Sangiovese
Sangiovese 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.
- Pinot Noir256
- Cabernet Sauvignon227
- Bordeaux Red Blends149
- Other Red Blends115
- Rhône Blends75
- Tempranillo63
- Sangiovese50
- Syrah/Shiraz49
- Malbec48
- Nebbiolo48
- Merlot44
- Zinfandel20
- Cabernet Franc18
- Grenache17
- Tuscan Blends15
- Barbera12
- Gamay10
- Montepulciano10
- Carmenere8
- Nero d'Avola7
- Other Red Wine7
- Aglianico6
- Mourvedre6
- Agiorgitiko4
- Bonarda3
- Petite Sirah3
- Pinotage3
- Primitivo3
- Mencia3
- Carignan2
- Cinsault2
- Dolcetto2
- Lagrein2
- Negroamaro2
- Gaglioppo2
- Nerello Mascalese2
- Corvina1
- Tannat1
- Blaufrankisch1
- Schiava1
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Mazzei Chianti Classico Riserva Ser Lapo 2016Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- D
- JS
- WS
- RP
- W&S
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Tenuta di Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva 2017Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
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Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino 2015Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- RP
- WS
- WE
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Ziobaffa Organic Toscana 2015Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
- JS
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Antinori Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva 2016Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
- RP
- JS
- D
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Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva 2017Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- WS
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Castellani Sangiovese 2014Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
- JS
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Viticcio Chianti Classico Riserva 2015Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
- JS
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Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2013Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
- RP
- JS
- WE
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Tiamo Chianti 2018Sangiovese from Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva 2014Sangiovese from Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- WE
- JS
- TP
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Tenuta di Capraia Chianti Classico Riserva 2015Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- WS
- V
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Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva 2016Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
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Altesino Rosso di Altesino Toscana 2019Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
- JS
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Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico Riserva Berardo 2016Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- RP
- V
- WE
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Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto 2013Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
- RP
- JS
- D
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Castellare Chianti Classico 2018Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- V
- JS
- WS
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Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Asinone 2016Sangiovese from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy
- WE
- JD
- JS
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Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico Riserva 2016Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- RP
- W&S
- JS
- TP
- JD
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Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione 2017Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
- WS
- JS
- V
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Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico 2016Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- D
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Selvapiana Chianti Rufina Riserva Bucerchiale 2016Sangiovese from Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- V
- WS
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Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (375ML half-bottle) 2017Sangiovese from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- RP
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Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico 2018Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- WE
- WS
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Poliziano Rosso di Montepulciano 2019Sangiovese from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy
- JS