
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 Noir2429
- Cabernet Sauvignon1873
- Other Red Blends1841
- Bordeaux Red Blends1272
- Syrah/Shiraz1217
- Merlot661
- Sangiovese620
- Nebbiolo602
- Rhône Blends587
- Tempranillo554
- Zinfandel523
- Other Red Wine411
- Malbec294
- Cabernet Franc188
- Petite Sirah168
- Grenache159
- Barbera153
- Tuscan Blends103
- Gamay73
- Carmenere64
- Mourvedre61
- Pinotage57
- Montepulciano53
- Nero d'Avola48
- Dolcetto47
- Primitivo47
- Aglianico45
- Blaufrankisch26
- Petit Verdot24
- Mencia24
- Sagrantino22
- Negroamaro19
- Lagrein14
- Refosco14
- Carignan13
- Bonarda12
- St. Laurent9
- Touriga Nacional8
- Zweigelt8
- Teroldego7
- Corvina4
- Xinomavro4
- Pinot Meunier3
- Tannat3
- Alicante Bouschet3
- Valdiguie2
- Gaglioppo2
- Grignolino2
- Nerello Mascalese2
- Lambrusco1
- Agiorgitiko1
- Bobal1
- Trousseau1
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Livio Sassetti Brunello di Montalcino Pertimali 2008Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
- JS
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Barone Ricasoli Campo Ceni Toscana 2008Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
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Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico 2008Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
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Podere Il Palazzino Chianti Classico Argenina 2008Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
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Altesino Brunello di Montalcino 2008Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
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Selvapiana Chianti Rufina 2008Sangiovese from Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico RS 2008Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Fattoria del Cerro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2008Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
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Luna Vineyards Sangiovese 2008Sangiovese from Napa Valley, California
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Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino 2008Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
- WE
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Le Chiuse Brunello di Montalcino 2008Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- WS
- WE
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Il Poggione Rosso di Montalcino 2008Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WE
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Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2008Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- WE
- WS
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Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 2008Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- WS
- WE
- RP
- W&S
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Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2008Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
- RP
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Prode Cavaliere Chianti Colli Fiorentini 2008Sangiovese from Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Castelvecchio Il Castelvecchio Chianti Colli Fiorentini 2008Sangiovese from Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve 2008Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- RP
- WS
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Pietro Beconcini Antiche Vie Chianti 2008Sangiovese from Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Fattoria La Fiorita Brunello di Montalcino 2008Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
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Michele Satta Cavaliere 2008Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
- WE
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La Maialina Chianti Classico Riserva 2008Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
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Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino 2008Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Carpineto Brunello di Montalcino 2008Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
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Le Corti Don Tommaso Chianti Classico 2008Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- RP
- WS