The Best Italian Wine Producers to Add to Your Collection

Gaja, Bruno Giacosa, and Roberto Voerzio are among the best Italian wine producers.

 
It’s common for even the most experienced collectors to struggle when learning about Italian wine. However, one technique for overcoming this struggle is to sample a range of wines from some of the best Italian wine producers. You don’t necessarily have to spend time living in Italy, as Demai eventually did, in order to learn firsthand which winemaking techniques, grape varieties, and flavors make Italian wine so unique. We’ve put together a comprehensive list of some of the best Italian wine producers to help you get started on your journey. While there are many other producers also worth consideration, the producers in this guide represent some of the finest in terms of wine quality, value, and overall reputation, and our selection can help you narrow your choices down to the producers that are most worth your time and that suit your goals for your collection.

Top Italian Wine Producers and Labels on the Liv-Ex Power 100

Every year, Liv-ex organizes its Power 100 list, a detailed ranking of the highest-performing wines on the market. The most recent 2017 Power 100 list included seven of the best Italian wine producers and labels in the country, including Masseto, Sassicaia, Gaja, Solaia, Dell’Ornellaia, Antinori Tignanello, and Giacomo Conterno. Not only did these producers and labels perform particularly well on the secondary market last year, Italy’s total market sales increased as a whole by ten percent in 2017. With the popularity of Italian wine on the market increasing, there’s never been a better time to learn about the best Italian wine producers. If you’re looking for a few promising investment ideas, or you’re dipping your toes into fine Italian wine for the first time, then it may be worthwhile to start with a few vintages from the producers on Liv-ex’s Power 100 list.

1. Masseto

Position on the Power 100 List: 20.
Varieties: Merlot.
Typical Characteristics: Lively and powerful.
Region: Bolgheri, Tuscany.
Notable Recent Vintages: 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013.
Best for: New-World wine lovers who want to try Italian wine.

Dell’Ornellaia’s Masseto label is currently the best-performing Italian wine on the market in terms of value and sale volume. Masseto grew in price by 24% between 2016 and 2017, and it’s expected to continue to increase in value over the next few years. Liv-ex founder Justin Gibbs explains, “It has top scores, the supply is limited, and it seems to be successfully distributed through ‘La Place.’” Masseto is both an excellent source of profit for serious collectors and a delicious, complex wine for drinking.

I generally recommend this wine to collectors who already adore New-World wines (especially Napa Valley Merlot) and who want to ease their way into Italian wine for the first time. I once knew a man who claimed not to be a fan of Italian wine at all—he assumed that Italian producers only made light, earthy reds, and he preferred bolder California reds. But everything changed for him when he tried Masseto at a recent tasting event. The wine was full of dark cherry, spice, and chocolate notes, and its powerful flavors reminded him a bit of his favorite Merlot from Hourglass in Napa. However, he found that the Masseto had a unique finesse and depth. It shared some similarities with New-World wines, yet the underlying structure was very Old-World and distinctly Italian. Today, he owns many bottles of Masseto, as well as a few other offerings from Dell’Ornellaia.

You might have noticed that Masseto and Dell’Ornellaia appear at different positions on the Power 100 list. That’s because, although Masseto is made by the Dell’Ornellaia estate, the producer encourages a distinct separation between Masseto and the winery’s other labels. Masseto also typically garners a much higher price per bottle than Dell’Ornellaia’s signature wine, Ornellaia, putting it in a class by itself.

2. Sassicaia

Position on the Power 100 List: 33.
Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
Typical Characteristics: Rich, dense, and powerful.
Region: Bolgheri, Tuscany.
Notable Recent Vintages: 2006, 2008, 2009.
Best for: New-World wine lovers who want to try Italian wine.

The Sassicaia label, made by the San Guido estate, is the producer’s most successful wine. While San Guido makes other wines worth trying (Guidalberto and Le Difese), choose the flagship Sassicaia label if you love bolder wines or want to make a profit on the secondary market. San Guido was one of the first in Italy to embrace a bolder, fruit-driven style of Cabernet, and it would later take on the name “Super Tuscan,” influencing countless other producers that wanted to make a beefier Italian red. In this way, it differs significantly from Italy’s traditionally dry, earthier red wine varieties.

Although Sassicaia is one of the most valuable Super Tuscans in Italy and makes an excellent investment for resale, it’s also a wine you should try yourself at least once. A wine collector writes on the Wine Berserkers forum that in 1992 he found six bottles of 1985 Sassicaia on sale for just $80 apiece. After opening the first bottle to try it, he found the wine so delicious that he ended up drinking the rest of the bottles before the year was over. As much as he wanted to store this wine long-term, he couldn’t resist the temptation to drink them. His story isn’t unusual; I’ve heard from a number of collectors who feel the same way. This is a great wine for collectors who prefer to drink their own wines, or who have enough willpower to wait patiently for their bottles to mature so that they can resell them later.

3. Gaja

Position on the Power 100 List: 56.
Varieties: Nebbiolo, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Syrah, Sangiovese.
Typical Characteristics: Nebbiolo wines are medium-to-full-bodied and tannic; the Super Tuscans are floral, earthy, and spicy.
Region: Langhe, Piedmont (known for Barbaresco and Barolo), Bolgheri, Tuscany (the Ca’Marcanda estate wines).
Notable Recent Vintages: 2004, 2011.
Best for: Anyone who generally drinks New-World wine but has enjoyed some earthier wines as well and would like to try more Nebbiolo.

Gaja wines have experienced a 13.37% increase in value between 2016 and 2017, and this upward trend is expected to continue through 2018. What makes this producer so popular among serious collectors is that Gaja wines age especially well. Additionally, Gaja is modern without losing its Old-World charm; the producer was the first in the area to use temperature-controlled fermentation and small-cask aging. These techniques help create a structured, flavorful wine that will last for decades in a cellar. Barbaresco is the most successful Gaja wine, and you can find some particularly fascinating vintages of the estate’s Costa Russi, Sori Tildin, and Sori San Lorenzo labels. Since the 1996 vintage, these have been reclassified from Barbaresco DOCG to Langhe DOC, which has given the producer more freedom to experiment with unique winemaking techniques.

The biggest question you may ask yourself when investing in Gaja wine is which style will best meet your needs. The obvious choice for the majority of collectors will be the estate’s cru Barbaresco, as it is the most valuable label and a big hit among wine critics. This is the label that I recommend to collectors just getting started with Gaja wine. If you’re looking for a wine with enormous finesse and integrated oak flavors, then Sorì Tildin may also be an excellent choice. Meanwhile, Ca’Marcanda is a polished, memorable wine that often appeals to those who already own and collect plenty of Bordeaux—you may find some similarities between classic Bordeaux and Ca’Marcanda.

4. Solaia

Position on the Power 100 List: 80.
Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese.
Typical Characteristics: Full-bodied, spicy, and very dark in color.
Region: Chianti Classico, Tuscany.
Notable Recent Vintages: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010.
Best for: New-World wine lovers who want to try Italian wine.

Like Masseto and Sassicaia, the Solaia label from Marchesi Antinori is so valuable and sought-after that it has earned its own unique ranking on the Liv-ex list apart from the producer’s other labels. The wine gets its famous ripeness from the ample sunshine of Tignanello Hill—it’s grown in the sunniest section of the vineyard. Due to Antinori’s focus on high quality and careful grape selection, Solaia vintages will last for decades in a cellar. This is especially good news for collectors who wish to lay down some of these wines for future resale—the wine has increased in value by more than 14% since the beginning of 2017.

Before you buy a few vintages of Solaia for your collection, be aware that these wines tend to be very fruit-forward, even more so than some of the other Super Tuscans on this list. During a blind tasting event last year, one wine enthusiast initially misidentified a bottle of 1990 Solaia because the wine tasted so ripe. The enormous fruit flavors in the nose made the attendee believe that he was drinking a late harvest California Cab. For this reason, Solaia typically appeals most to drinkers who love New-World wines and fully ripened fruit flavors. It’s one of the best examples of this style in Italy, and it’s downright hedonistic in personality. If you prefer an earthier, more restrained wine, then you may opt to invest in one of the other Italian wine producers on this list instead.

5. Dell’Ornellaia

Position on the Power 100 List: 86.
Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Sangiovese (and Merlot for the Masseto and Le Volte labels).
Typical Characteristics: The Super Tuscan blends are full-bodied, balanced, and elegant.
Region: Bolgheri, Tuscany.
Notable Recent Vintages: 2011, 2007, 2006.
Best for: Collectors who enjoy both the finesse and elegance of Old-World wines and the plush fruit of New-World wines.

Along with its Masseto label, Dell’Ornellaia’s Super Tuscan proprietary blends—the most important being Ornellaia—also made it onto the Power 100 list. While Ornellaia often isn’t as high in value on the secondary market as Masseto, it tends to be slightly more elegant in style, making it appealing to those who drink other Old-World wines. And because these wines can last for 20 years or more in storage, they make a potentially valuable investment in addition to being an enjoyable drinking experience.

When you’re starting an Italian wine collection for the first time, the Dell’Ornellaia estate can teach you a great deal about the environment in which these wines are made. The Ornellaia label is a near-perfect expression of Bolgheri as a region, so if you’re not that familiar with the Bolgheri region, or even with Tuscan wine as a whole, then Ornellaia can give you a good sense of what Bolgheri’s typical style is. Once you have some knowledge of Bolgheri under your belt, you may choose to move on to other great Dell’Ornellaia wines, like Masseto, that will give you a glimpse into a single-vineyard, single-variety wine from this area.

6. Tignanello

Position on the Power 100 List: 88.
Varieties: Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc.
Typical Characteristics: Full-bodied, concentrated, and velvety.
Region: Chianti Classico, Tuscany.
Notable Recent Vintages: 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010.
Best for: New-World wine lovers who want to try Italian wine.

The very first Super Tuscan to hit the market, Antinori’s Tignanello label is still thrilling collectors today. Although the wine doesn’t garner quite as much attention as its Solaia sister, it is still one of the best offerings from the Antinori estate. It claimed many firsts when it was introduced: the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques, the first Italian wine blended with non-traditional grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, and the first red blend in Chianti Classico to use purely red grape varieties. This subregion is known for mixing white grapes into red blends, but Antinori was the first to ignore this common practice. As a result, these wines still have plenty of Italian personality (in part from the traditional Sangiovese grape), yet will taste very familiar to New-World wine lovers as well.

The Tignanello label will always hold a special place in my heart in part because it was one of the first Italian wines that I invested in on a serious level. When I first began drinking fine wine, I stuck mainly to California proprietary blends, Bordeaux, and Burgundy. But one night a taste of a 1997 Tignanello absolutely fascinated me. The wine was full-bodied, yet had soft, supple tannins, and the finish seemed to last for ages. The quality of the wine made me want to learn more about Antinori and Tuscany’s many other collectible producers. To this day, I still adore the Tignanello label, and I’ve continued to buy these wines over the years.

7. Giacomo Conterno

Position on the Power 100 List: 96.
Varieties: Nebbiolo.
Typical Characteristics: Medium-bodied, tannic, and aromatic.
Region: Langhe, Piedmont.
Notable Recent Vintages: 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006.
Best for: Old-World wine enthusiasts who want to try more Nebbiolo.

Giacomo Conterno has long been one of the best Italian wine producers, and over the decades, the estate has made Barolo into fine art. At the turn of the century, in 1900, it was difficult to find an age-worthy Nebbiolo. Conterno was one of the first producers to work to change this. By using longer fermentation techniques and allowing the Nebbiolo to fully express its tannic nature, Conterno was able to produce wines that could last decades in a cellar. The estate’s vineyards receive a great deal of sunlight from the southwest, and the angle of the hill on which the vines grow positions the grapes perfectly to capture as much light as possible in the spring and summer. The result is a fully ripened, traditional Italian wine that can be a little too bracing in its youth, but mellows into an elegant, mature wine as the years wear on.

It’s important not to uncork a bottle of Giacomo Conterno Barolo too early. These wines are often intensely aromatic, however, if they haven’t been given the chance to fully mature, the tight structure of the wines can prevent some of their subtler aromas from coming through. This is frequently true for the Cascina Francia label. In some cases, even after Cascina Francia has aged for ten years, it may still be too young to showcase its true potential. The Monfortino label is often slightly richer and more lush in its youth than Cascina Francia, yet this is another wine that prospers with aging. I recommend laying down any Giacomo Conterno vintage for a minimum of 15 years. If you can wait, many of these wines will only become more incredible as they approach the 25- or 30-year mark.

These seven Italian producers and labels on Liv-ex’s Power 100 list are each excellent, but they are by no means the only producers worth trying or collecting. If you’re looking for investments or are just starting to get acquainted with Italian wine, they’re a good place to start, but there are plenty of other Italian producers making fantastic, ageable wines. We’ll explore some others in the next section.

Other Producers That Make Age-Worthy Reds

If you want to get to know the best Italian wine producers, you’ll want to look at more than just Liv-ex statistics. I’ve known a few collectors over the years who thought that the only wines in Italy worth buying were those on the Power 100 list. But in the process of collecting only the best vintages from these producers, they missed out on a number of fantastic Italian reds that fall outside of the “Super Tuscan” category. Recently, one of these collectors in particular has made it a goal to start tasting wines from a variety of areas, and he has become much more open-minded about Italian wine, branching out to try offerings from other great producers like Bruno Giacosa and Vietti. Today, his Italian wine collection is diverse and well-rounded, and he’s discovering a new passion for aged Barolo and Brunello in particular.

All of the Italian producers on Liv-ex’s list are located in Tuscany and Piedmont, as those two regions offer some of the most collectible Italian wines. But there are more great producers in these two regions than the handful that made it onto Liv-ex’s Power 100 list. Here are some other Italian wine producers that craft legendary red wines in these areas:

1. Bruno Giacosa

Region: Piedmont.
We Recommend Trying: The Barolo Falletto label.
Varieties: Nebbiolo.
Typical Characteristics: Medium-bodied, rich, tannic, and complex.
Notable Recent Vintages: 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2012.
Ageability: 20+ years.
Value: Frequently gains in value as it ages—wines sell for an average of $150 in the first few years and can grow in price to $300 or more per bottle as they reach maturity.

2. Biondi Santi

Region: Tuscany.
We Recommend Trying: The Brunello di Montalcino Riserva label.
Varieties: Sangiovese.
Typical Characteristics: Complex aromas, refined tannins, and a velvety finish.
Notable Recent Vintages: 2006, 2010.
Ageability: 25+ years.
Value: These wines slowly gain in value as time goes on—they run anywhere from $300 to $500 per bottle, on average.

3. Roberto Voerzio

Region: Piedmont.
We Recommend Trying: Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata Riserva.
Varieties: Nebbiolo.
Typical Characteristics: Finessed, weightless, and silky.
Notable Recent Vintages: 2000, 2001, 2007, 2011.
Ageability: 20+ years.
Value: The wines steadily increase in value over time, beginning around $200 per bottle, and selling for more than $300 per bottle after a decade or so in storage.

4. Vietti

Region: Piedmont.
We Recommend Trying: Barolo Ravera.
Varieties: Nebbiolo.
Typical Characteristics:  Intense, aromatic, and complex.
Notable Recent Vintages: 2010.
Ageability: 20+ years.
Value: This wine sells at $150 per bottle on average upon release, but in the best years can increase in value by more than $200 over the course of just ten years in storage.

5. Casanova di Neri

Region: Tuscany.
We Recommend Trying: Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova.
Varieties: Sangiovese.
Typical Characteristics: Full-bodied, floral, and slightly smoky.
Notable Recent Vintages: 2001, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012.
Ageability: 20+ years.
Value: These wines start around $150 per bottle shortly after release, and can very slowly gain in value over time—some are valued at $200 or more as they approach maturity.

6. Paolo Scavino

Region: Piedmont.
We Recommend Trying: Barolo Cannubi.
Varieties: Nebbiolo.
Typical Characteristics:  Powerful and structured, yet elegant.
Notable Recent Vintages: 2007, 2010.
Ageability: 15-20 years.
Value: The Cannubi Barolo is considered one of the finest that Scavino produces, and although it gains relatively little in value as it matures, it makes a perfect wine to age and drink at a later date.

One of the struggles of getting into Italian wine is figuring out which styles you most enjoy. As someone accustomed to drinking bold New-World wines, I discovered that Super Tuscans, Tuscan Sangiovese, and young, ready-to-drink Barolo were excellent gateway wines for me. These styles are more modern and international than some of Italy’s other classic wines, but they have enough local flavor to ease New-World drinkers into more traditional Italian wines. Likewise, mature Barolo, Barbaresco, and Brunello di Montalcino typically appeal more to those who already collect Old-World wines, as these usually taste more elegant and subtle.

Producers That Make Collectible Whites

While Italy’s red wines tend to receive the most attention from serious wine collectors, there are a number of Italian whites that are both collectible and potentially age-worthy, if you choose to cellar them. As wine journalist Michael Apstein explains, age-worthy Italian white wine is not an oxymoron; you just have to know where to find the best bottles. They can be difficult to find, largely because there aren’t a lot of them in Italy. Apstein says, “Unlike grand cru white Burgundies, there are precious few Italian whites that require a decade to hit their stride.” Here are some of the best Italian wine producers that make collectible white wines:

1. Livio Felluga

Region: Friuli-Venezia Giulia
We Recommend Trying: Terre Alte.
Varieties: Friulano, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon.
Typical Characteristics: Intense, complex, and well-balanced.
Notable Recent Vintages: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012.
Ageability: 5-7 years.
Value: The wine typically sells for less than $50 per bottle upon release, but as it ages, it can gain as much as $100 in value, depending on the vintage quality.

2. La Monacesca

Region: Le Marche.
We Recommend Trying: Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva.
Varieties: Verdicchio.
Typical Characteristics: Citrusy, complex, and intense.
Notable Recent Vintages: 2010, 2012, 2013.
Ageability: 5-10 years.
Value: Selling at just $25 per bottle, this wine has an excellent price-to-quality ratio. It may only increase in price by $25 on average (for a total $50 value) as it approaches maturity, but if you’re looking for a wine to cellar and drink yourself, then this is an excellent choice.

3. La Scolca

Region: Piedmont.
We Recommend Trying: Black Label.
Varieties: Gavi.
Typical Characteristics: Medium-bodied, mineral-driven, and lemony.
Notable Recent Vintages: 2014.
Ageability: 5-10 years.
Value: This wine sells for an average of $25 per bottle upon release, but as it approaches maturity, it can increase to $40 or $50 in value. This wine may not be worth reselling for a profit, but it is worth drinking after a few years in the cellar. 

4. Mastroberardino

Region: Campania.
We Recommend Trying: Fiano di Avellino.
Varieties: Fiano.
Typical Characteristics: Full-bodied, savory, and saline.
Notable Recent Vintages: 2002, 2008, 2010.
Ageability: 10-15 years.
Value: This wine has a very healthy price-to-quality ratio. It sells for less than $20 per bottle, and yet has the potential to age beautifully over the course of 15 years. While the resale value is low, it’s worth buying for the pleasure of drinking. 

5. Pieropan

Region: Veneto.
We Recommend Trying: Soave Calvarino.
Varieties: Soave.
Typical Characteristics: Complex, aromatic, and citrusy.
Notable Recent Vintages: 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014.
Ageability: 5-7 years.
Value: The price of this wine typically falls under $30 upon release, however, as the wine ages, it tends to increase in value. For instance, the 2009 vintage was valued at less than $20 per bottle on average in 2016, but today, that wine is worth $50 per bottle on average.

Any of the producers above craft beautiful white wines that are certainly worth trying at least once. In addition to these iconic producers, I also recommend tasting Italian white wines like Etna Bianco, Kerner, Gewürztraminer, Müller-Thurgau, Vermentino, Verdicchio, as well as Franciacorta, Lombardy’s traditional-method sparkling wine. The suggestions below may help you decide which of these best suits your palate:

If you love white Burgundy…choose Etna Bianco.

If you love fun, aromatic whites…choose Kerner, Gewürztraminer, or Müller-Thurgau from Alto-Adige.

If you love acidic, citrusy whites…choose Vermentino or Verdicchio.

If you love Champagne…choose Franciacorta.

As you can see, Italy isn’t just about red wines. It produces a wide range of diverse white wine styles that could potentially appeal to any discerning palate. The key to finding whites you enjoy is to choose traditional Italian wines that share some similarities with wines or regions you already love. From there, if you choose, you can branch out to even lesser-known and more unusual styles—such as the orange wines of Friuli.

Other Notable Producers

One of the most exciting things about Italian wine is the sheer number of wine styles made in the country. Italy has more than 511 different documented styles of wine, and there are fantastic wines and producers in nearly every region. But with so many wines on the market, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. When I first started drinking Italian wine, I wanted to taste nearly every style that I could get my hands on—from Grignolino to Schiava to Frappato, I wanted to experience it all. However, my hunt for obscure Italian wines was completely haphazard at first; sometimes, I would buy a wine simply because I had never heard of it before. In my early years, I was buying based on obscurity, not necessarily on quality. I’ve since become more selective about the wines I buy, and I choose wines that are more than just rarities or novelties—they’re truly worth drinking and collecting.

Here are some additional Italian wine producers that I’ve discovered over the years, and that I believe you may enjoy as well:

Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Jermann, Radikon, Ronchi di Cialla

Piedmont: Aldo Conterno, Produttori del Barbaresco, Damilano, Vajra

Trentino-Alto Adige: Elisabetta Foradori, Elena Walch, Manincor

Tuscany:  Monteraponi, Felsina, Castellare, Bibi Graetz

Umbria: Scacciadiavoli, Paolo Bea, Arnaldo Caprai

Sicily:  Benanti, Cos, Girolamo Russo, Terre Nere

Sardinia: Argiolas, Contini, Sella & Mosca

Veneto: Giuseppe Quintarelli, Dal Forno Romano,  Masi, Pieropan

Campania:  Colli di Lapio, De Conciliis, Marisa Cuomo

Any of the producers above will offer you a wide range of diverse wines, including plenty of easy-drinking bottles that are worth uncorking while you wait for your Barolo to mature.

Vintages Worth Collecting

While it’s clearly important to seek out the best Italian wine producers when starting or expanding upon an Italian wine collection, it’s also a good idea to consider which vintages were most successful overall. While certain wine styles and subregions may have had different growing conditions, overall, the following recent vintages produced the most age-worthy, collectible wines all over the country:

If you’re looking for vintages that produced excellent early-drinking wines, then you’ll want to consider wines from the following years:

Research each vintage before you invest in any wines, especially if you’re going to store them long-term. The best vintages come from years when the spring season was cool, when summer temperatures were relatively high, and when the harvest occurred in October. Late harvests often produce jammier wines, while early harvests tend to produce wines that taste too green and astringent.

How to Choose the Best Italian Wine Producers

When shopping for Italian wine, it’s easy to get overwhelmed—there are so many excellent producers, and so little time to try all of the wines that they offer. This is why we recommend starting off small at first, beginning with the best Italian wine producers in the classic regions of Piedmont and Tuscany. Collectors who love bold New-World red wines may have the best luck with producers that make Super Tuscans with some Sangiovese in the blend as a gateway to wines made from primarily traditional Italian grapes. If, on the other hand, you love Old-World finesse, then Barolo, Barbaresco, or Brunello di Montalcino may suit you best. If you’re interested in whites as well, Soave Classico and Etna Bianco will round out your collection nicely. It’s also useful to have easy-drinking but high-quality red wines like Barbera, Dolcetto, and Chianti Classico in your cellar while you wait for your collectible wines to mature. Finding great Italian wines to add to your collection doesn’t have to be a struggle. A little guidance can make exploring Italy’s huge variety of great producers and unique, traditional wines a joy.  

Whether you are starting your high-end wine collection or adding to an established portfolio, Vinfolio is your partner in buying, selling, and professional storage. Contact us today to get access to the world’s finest wine.