Discovering the Top 25 Most Popular Italian Wines on Vivino

The International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) estimated Italy’s wine production from the 2015 harvest at 4950 million liters, just ahead of France. That’s the equivalent of 6.6 billion bottles of 2015 vintage Italian wine, or nearly one bottle per human being on the planet!

But which Italian wines have captured the attention of the global wine community most? And what do we learn from analyzing these wines?

Good Italian Reds are a Community Favorite

All of the most-rated Italian wines are red. No surprise, as Italy is particularly famous for its production of reds. But did you know that about 47% of the country’s wine outcome is white?

Nevertheless, it seems the memorable Italian wines, the ones worth rating, reviewing, and sharing, are reds. We were surprised not to see any sparkling in the ranks, since Italian Prosecco and Moscato Spumantes like Asti are such popular styles worldwide. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject in the comments.

Tuscans and Valpolicella Leading

Is it a surprise that Tuscan wines are the type of wine most represented in the Top 25? Perhaps not so much. Chianti is the classic in Italian wine, so it’s logical it features here. But the list’s stars are the wildly popular Super Tuscans.

Super Tuscans were designed to be pleasing, using reliable Bordeaux grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, often blended with the local Sangiovese, to make the most of Tuscany’s favorable terroir. They are also extensively exported to all corners of the globe; accordingly, they’re 16 of the Top 25 most-rated wines. That’s counting the Bolgheri wines, classified as Super Tuscans, and providing arguably the two most famous Italian wines:Sassicaia and Ornellaia.

Tuscany also stands out with two very popular Brunello di Montalcino wines by famous producers Banfi and Castelgiocondo.

The various wineries of Marchesi Antinori, with their winemaking and marketing power, are the clear winners with five wines in the Top 25: Tignanello, Villa Antinori, Santa Cristina, Il Bruciato, and Marchese Antinori.

The presence of 7 wines from the Valpolicella (and surrounding Verona region) is less expected. Though the four wineries represented here are very famous and strong ambassadors for their region: Masi, Tommasi, Zenato and Allegrini.

The Odd Ones

Only two wines from outside Tuscany and Verona have made their way into the Top 25 most rated Italian wines. There’s a Primitivo di Manduria called Sessantanni by Feudi San Marzano, and the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Ciccio Zaccagnini Il Vino ‘Dal Tralcetto’. Since they’re so popular among Vivino users, and I haven’t tried them yet, I can’t wait to give them a taste!

Top 5 Most Highly Rated Italian Wines out of the Top 20

The most solid trend is that all most popular wines have rather high scores. All achieved an average rating above 3.3 stars, many above 4 stars even. But now to the most interesting bit. We know which Italian wines are the most scanned and rated in the world. But which ones are actually the best and highest rated?

Here are the top five for you:

#1 and #2 with an average score of 4.6 stars:

• Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia
• Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore

These are expected international super star Super Tuscans, widely acknowledged as being among the very best wines in the world. It looks like Vivino users know what they’re talking, and tasting, about!

#3 and #4 with an average score of 4.4 stars:

• Marchesi Antinori Tignanello
• Feudi San Marzano Sessantanni

Tignanello by Marchesi Antinori is considered pioneering Super Tuscan movement, with the first vintage made in 1971. It has always been a reference as a modern, high-quality Tuscan wine. The Primitivo di Manduria by Feudi San Marzano is sure enough intriguing!

#5 with an average score of 4.3 stars:

 

• Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

 

Only one thing left for me to say: thank you Vivino users for rating all these wines and sharing your scores with our community! Check out the full list, and let us know which of your favorites are missing.

Rank – Wine Name – Region/Style – Average Star Rating

1. Marchesi Antinori Tignanello – Rosso Toscana – 4.4
2. Marchesi Antinori Villa Antinori – Rosso Toscana – 3.8
3. Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia – Bolgheri Sassicaia – 4.6
4. Masi Costasera – Amarone della Valpolicella Classico – 4.2
5. Masi Campofiorin – Rosso Veronese – 3.7
6. Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico – Amarone della Valpolicella Classico – 4.3
7. Ciccio Zaccagnini Il Vino ‘Dal Tralcetto’ – Montepulciano d’Abruzzo – 3.8
8. Feudi San Marzano Sessantanni – Primitivo di Manduria – 4.4
9. Santa Cristina Toscana – Rosso Toscana – 3.4
10. Zenato ‘Ripassa’ Superiore – Valpolicella Ripasso – 4.0
11. Ruffino Chianti – Chianti – 3.3
12. Castello di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva – Chianti Rufina – 3.7
13. Tommasi Valpolicella Ripasso – Valpolicella Ripasso – 4.0
14. Banfi Brunello di Montalcino – Brunello di Montalcino – 4.2
15. Marchesi Antinori Guado al Tasso Il Bruciato – Bolgheri – 3.9
16. Le Volte dell’Ornellaia – Rosso Toscana – 3.8
17. Piccini Memoro – Rosso Toscana – 3.7
18. Ruffino Riserva Ducale – Chianti Classico – 3.7
19. Marchesi Antinori Tenuta Tignanello ‘Marchese Antinori’ Riserva – Chianti Classico – 4.0
20. Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino – Brunello di Montalcino – 4.2
21. Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore – Bolgheri – 4.6
22. Allegrini Palazzo della Torre – Rosso Veronese – 3.9
23. Carpineto Dogajolo – Rosso Toscana – 3.6
24. Masi Nectar Costasera – Amarone della Valpolicella Classico – 3.9
25. Gaja Ca’Marcanda Promis – Rosso Toscana – 4.0