best selling wine in italy

With over 17 million app users worldwide scanning labels, sharing ratings, and contributing reviews, the Vivino wine community is largest in the world. And Italy is the biggest wine producing country in the world. 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? 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. 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. 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 Cantine 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! 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:

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: Tignanello by Marchesi Antinori is considered pioneering Super Tuscan movement, with the first vintage made in 1971.
how late can you buy wine in parisIt has always been a reference as a modern, high-quality Tuscan wine.
buy wine online free shipping indiaThe Primitivo di Manduria by Cantine San Marzano is sure enough intriguing!
best wines to go with cheese #5 with an average score of 4.3 stars:
good wine to cook with red

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 RatingWe Americans are raised almost from birth with an intimate knowledge of our country’s various fast food selections.
where to buy wine in seattle waEven small details like the difference between a Wendy’s, McDonalds, and White Castle burger—square, $1, guaranteed stomachache, respectively—are ingrained in our cultural food knowledge.
beer and wine mobile alThat’s how Italians are with wine. A native Italian does not drink cocktails or beer or soda for dinner, he drinks wine—or so boasted my hosts on a recent trip to three-Michelin-star restaurant La Pergola, located at the top of the Rome Cavalieri Hotel.

La Pergola’s chief sommelier Marco Reitano—who this year received the title of best sommelier from Italy’s gourmet guide Identità Golose—is an expert among experts. The La Pergola cellar is home to 3,000 labels—all of which has been tasted and then purchased either by his staff or Reitano himself. “Our selection has representation from each Italian region, representation from every type of Italian grape, and it’s also representative of world wines,” Reitano explains. We asked Reitano for the 10 best Italian wines, and we gave him a catch: They all had to be available for purchase in the United States either in a wine shop or by mail order. Here are his picks.Cà del Bosco Franciacorta Annamaria ClementiThis wine from Northern Italy is full-bodied with notes of citrus and a refreshing finish—perfect for an Italian-style special occasion dinner. “It’s often compared to the French Dom Perignon,” Reitano says.Pair with: Parma ham or spaghetti carbonaraBuy online: $65.19;

Villa Raiano Fiano di AvellinoItaly’s Campania region isn’t only famous for its gulfs and the gastronomic town of Naples. It’s also known for the strong-flavored white Fiano grape, which is grown almost exclusively in Southern Italy. “This 100% Fiano from the southern Campania region is dry, refreshing, and mineral, with apple and walnut flavors,” describes Reitano.Pair with: Mushroom risottoBuy online: $203.88 per case; Venica Ronco delle CimeClosely related to a sauvignon blanc, the Friulano grape is one of the oldest vines in Italy’s northern Fruili region. (It also goes by the name Sauvignonasse and Sauvignon Vert.) Dry and fruity with an herbal finish.Pair with: Sea bass carpaccio or sautéed clamsBuy online: $30.50; Pieropan Soave Classico La RoccaIf you’re browsing your local shop for a bottle on this list, look for this common label. “With exotic flavors and a rich body, this is among the most long-aging Italian white wines,” Reitano says. It’s pressed from 100% garganega grapes, local from the Veneto region.

Pair with: Grilled lobster or scallops saladBuy online: $42.22; Giacomo Conterno Barolo MonfortinoIt’s only appropriate that this wine from old vines is “probably the most long aging Italian red wine,” according to Reitano. Monfortino is a classic Barolo-style wine—designed to be aged in casks for many years and made with native Italian nebbiolo grapes. What’s the payoff of patience (and the hefty price tag)? A deep, mineral flavor with wildberry and spices.Pair with: White truffle ravioli or grilled lambBuy online: $399; Gaja Barbaresco“From the world-famous Gaja winery comes a classical bodied nebbiolo—rich and mineral, with a balsamic finish,” Reitano says. Translation: It’s a wine that’ll put hair on your chest.Pair with: Roasted duckBuy online: $95.49 per case; Zenato Amarone della ValpolicellaFor the classic wine and cheese pairing, offer up this traditional red. The cherry fruit and a spicy tobacco finish complement any strong Italian cheese like Parmesan or pecorino.

Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Poggio all’OroAs every beginning student of wine knows, every vintage has its own characteristics. So what’s a vintner to do when certain year’s weather doesn’t cooperate? They don’t sell it. That’s why you’ll only see this available in specific vintages—and why you can trust that any bottle will be of the highest quality. The taste: “Power and balance with a lot of fruit and soft tannins.”Pair with: T-bone steakBuy online: $109.99; Donnafugata Passito di Pantelleria Ben RyèIf you like sweet wines, try this sugar-rich red from the small island of Pantelleria in Sicily. “The wine has a dense body with lots of dry fruit flavors,” Reitano describes.Pair with: CannoliBuy online: $44.99; Incisa della Rocchetta SassicaiaReitano calls this Bordeaux-style blend from the coast of Tuscany “the king of Italian wines.” It’s known as a Super Tuscan wine—a Chianti-style wine that didn’t technically meet Italy’s strict regulations to be officially labelled as Chianti.Pair with: Baked pigeon, chicken, or game henBuy it: Available at specialty wine shops for around $80/bottle