
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 Noir129
- Cabernet Sauvignon108
- Bordeaux Red Blends75
- Sangiovese47
- Other Red Blends40
- Nebbiolo34
- Syrah/Shiraz21
- Tempranillo18
- Zinfandel16
- Rhône Blends15
- Merlot14
- Malbec8
- Gamay5
- Petite Sirah5
- Grenache4
- Other Red Wine4
- Nerello Mascalese4
- Aglianico3
- Barbera3
- Tuscan Blends3
- Mencia3
- Cabernet Franc2
- Montepulciano2
- Carignan1
- Carmenere1
- Corvina1
- Negroamaro1
- Nero d'Avola1
- Tannat1
- Touriga Nacional1
- Sagrantino1
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Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino 2015Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- RP
- WS
- WE
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Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino 2015Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- V
- RP
- W&S
- WS
- WE
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Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino 2015Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
- JS
- RP
- WW
- D
- WE
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Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino 2016Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WE
- WS
- RP
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Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino 2015Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- RP
- WS
- WE
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Il Molino di Grace Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Margone 2013Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
- JS
- RP
- WE
- D
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Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino 2016Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WE
- JS
- RP
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Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino Altero 2015Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- RP
- WE
- WS
- D
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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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Frescobaldi Tenuta Perano Chianti Classico 2016Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- D
- JS
- WS
- WE
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Frescobaldi Tenuta Perano Chianti Classico Riserva 2016Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- D
- RP
- WS
- JS
- WE
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Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Rosso di Montalcino 2018Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WE
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Altesino Brunello di Montalcino 2016Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- RP
- JS
- JD
- WS
- WE
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Castello di Ama Chianti Classico San Lorenzo Gran Selezione 2016Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- WE
- RP
- WS
- W&S
- D
- JS
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Castello di Ama Chianti Classico 2018Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- WE
- RP
- JS
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Dei Bossona Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2015Sangiovese from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
- JS
- WE
- RP
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Badia a Coltibuono Cultusboni RS Chianti Classico (375ML half-bottle) 2018Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- WE
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Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico 2018Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- WE
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Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino 2015Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- WE
- D
- WS
- RP
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La Braccesca Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2016Sangiovese from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy
- RP
- JS
- WE
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Antinori Badia a Passignano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2017Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- WE
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Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2016Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- WE
- D
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Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2015Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- WS
- WE
- RP
- JS
- JD
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Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2017Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy
- WE
- RP
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Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino Campo del Drago 2015Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
- JS
- RP
- WS
- WE
- W&S