
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
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.
- Cabernet Sauvignon298
- Bordeaux Red Blends228
- Pinot Noir184
- Other Red Blends93
- Merlot92
- Syrah/Shiraz83
- Sangiovese80
- Nebbiolo74
- Zinfandel61
- Tempranillo55
- Rhône Blends21
- Barbera11
- Petite Sirah8
- Tuscan Blends8
- Other Red Wine6
- Cabernet Franc5
- Aglianico3
- Corvina2
- Mourvedre2
- Pinot Meunier2
- Dolcetto1
- Grenache1
- Malbec1
- Montepulciano1
- Negroamaro1
- Pinotage1
- Blaufrankisch1
- Grignolino1
- Refosco1
- Sagrantino1
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Tenimenti Luigi d'Alessandro Migliara 1996Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
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Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva (half-bottle) 1996Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Straccali Sangiovese 1996Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
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Forest Glen Sangiovese 1996Sangiovese from California
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Barone Ricasoli Formulae Sangiovese 1996Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
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Ruffino Ducale Chianti Classico Riserva (375ML half-bottle) 1996Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Antinori Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva (375ML half-bottle) 1996Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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San Leonino Chianti Classico 1996Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Sterling Sangiovese Collections 1996Sangiovese from Napa Valley, California
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Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva 1996Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Capezzana Montalbano Chianti D.O.C.G. 1996Sangiovese from Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Nottola Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 1996Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
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Cambria Tepusquet Vineyard Sangiovese 1996Sangiovese from Central Coast, California
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Fattorie Melini Chianti Borgha dElsa 1996Sangiovese from Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Charles Krug Reserve Sangiovese 1996Sangiovese from Napa Valley, California
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Banfi Rosso di Montalcino 1996Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Frescobaldi Sangiovese Di Toscana 1996Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
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Cantina di Montalcino Chianti Classico Riserva 1996Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Cecchi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 1996Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
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Mastrojanni Brunello de Montalcino 1996Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Terra d'Oro Sangiovese 1996Sangiovese from Sierra Foothills, California
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Argiano Brunello di Montalcino 1996Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Capezzana Conti Contini Sangiovese 1996Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
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Barone Ricasoli Rocca Guicciarda Chianti Classico Riserva 1996Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva 1996Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy