
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 Sauvignon877
- Pinot Noir832
- Bordeaux Red Blends616
- Other Red Blends417
- Tempranillo246
- Rhône Blends209
- Sangiovese191
- Syrah/Shiraz168
- Merlot164
- Malbec162
- Zinfandel117
- Nebbiolo110
- Grenache66
- Cabernet Franc62
- Tuscan Blends58
- Gamay46
- Barbera34
- Carmenere25
- Petite Sirah25
- Other Red Wine24
- Mourvedre21
- Mencia18
- Montepulciano16
- Nero d'Avola15
- Dolcetto14
- Carignan12
- Pinotage10
- Aglianico9
- Nerello Mascalese9
- Primitivo6
- Bonarda5
- Agiorgitiko5
- Cinsault4
- Corvina4
- Petit Verdot4
- Tannat4
- Negroamaro2
- Valdiguie2
- Blaufrankisch2
- Frappato2
- Gaglioppo2
- Xinomavro2
- Lagrein1
- Touriga Nacional1
- Alicante Bouschet1
- Freisa1
- Pais1
- Refosco1
- Sagrantino1
- Schiava1
- Zweigelt1
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Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva 2018Sangiovese from Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- D
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Antinori Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva 2018Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- V
- WS
- RP
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Castellani Sangiovese 2016Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- WW
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Tenuta di Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva 2018Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- WS
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Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2016Sangiovese from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
- JS
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Cerbaia Brunello di Montalcino 2015Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- RP
- D
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Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico Riserva Berardo 2016Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- WS
- RP
- WE
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Ziobaffa Organic Toscana 2017Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
- JS
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Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2017Sangiovese from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- WE
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Tenuta di Capraia Chianti Classico Riserva 2016Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- V
- WS
- RP
- JS
- WE
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La Lecciaia Brunello di Montalcino 2015Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- V
- RP
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Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2016Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- RP
- WE
- WS
- JD
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Argiano Brunello di Montalcino 2017Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- RP
- WE
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Dei Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2018Sangiovese from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
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Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino 2017Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- RP
- WS
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Santa Margherita Chianti Classico Riserva 2018Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Tomaiolo Chianti Classico Riserva 2016Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- WW
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Castello di Ama Chianti Classico 2019Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
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Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello di Montalcino 2016Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
- JD
- JS
- RP
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Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino (375ML half-bottle) 2016Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
- JS
- D
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Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2016Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- RP
- JS
- WE
- WS
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Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino Ripe di Convento Riserva 2013Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- D
- WS
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Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico 2019Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- V
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Antinori Badia a Passignano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2018Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- WS
- W&S
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Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico 2019Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- WS