
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 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.
- Pinot Noir1467
- Cabernet Sauvignon1386
- Bordeaux Red Blends1064
- Syrah/Shiraz984
- Other Red Blends963
- Merlot526
- Rhône Blends458
- Tempranillo402
- Zinfandel354
- Sangiovese311
- Nebbiolo295
- Other Red Wine173
- Cabernet Franc102
- Grenache102
- Malbec102
- Petite Sirah81
- Barbera75
- Gamay49
- Tuscan Blends48
- Mourvedre37
- Pinotage29
- Carmenere23
- Nero d'Avola23
- Dolcetto21
- Aglianico17
- Montepulciano17
- Primitivo15
- Sagrantino10
- Bonarda8
- Petit Verdot8
- Negroamaro7
- Refosco7
- Carignan6
- Touriga Nacional5
- Mencia5
- Lagrein4
- Teroldego4
- St. Laurent3
- Tannat2
- Nerello Mascalese2
- Corvina1
- Valdiguie1
- Agiorgitiko1
- Alicante Bouschet1
- Baga1
- Blaufrankisch1
- Bobal1
- Gaglioppo1
- Grignolino1
- Mondeuse1
- Zweigelt1
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Castello di Velona Brunello di Montalcino 2005Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino 2005Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
- RP
- WE
- W&S
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Il Bastardo Sangiovese di Toscana 2005Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
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Poggio Il Castellare Brunello di Montalcino 2005Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
- WE
- RP
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Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova (scuffed label) 2005Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- RP
- JS
- WS
- WE
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Casanova di Neri Rosso di Montalcino 2005Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Di Majo Norante Sangiovese 2005Sangiovese from Italy
- RP
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Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico RS 2005Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Tenuta Trerose Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2005Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
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Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva 2005Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- W&S
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Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva 2005Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- RP
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Gabbiano Chianti Classico Riserva 2005Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino White Label 2005Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- RP
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Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva 2005Sangiovese from Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
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Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello di Montalcino Vigna del Fiore 2005Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- RP
- W&S
- WS
- JS
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Barone Ricasoli Campo Ceni Toscana 2005Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
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Antinori Marchese Chianti Classico Riserva 2005Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- RP
- WS
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Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione 2005Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
- WS
- RP
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Castello di Monastero Chianti Classico 2005Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- W&S
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Il Palazzone Brunello di Montalcino 2005Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
- RP
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Banfi Belnero Toscana 2005Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
- WE
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Stolpman Vineyards Sangiovese 2005Sangiovese from Central Coast, California
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Falesco Sangiovese 2005Sangiovese from Italy
- RP
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Cecchi Chianti Classico 2005Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino 2005Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- RP
- WE