ITALY'S TOP RED WINES REVEALED: GENTLEMAN MAGAZINE'S 2025 RANKING

FLORENCE, ITALY • The prestigious British magazine Gentleman has released its annual list of Italy's 100 best red wines, with Bolgheri Sassicaia 2021 from Tenuta San Guido in Tuscany claiming the top spot. The ranking, a comprehensive guide for wine enthusiasts, is based on a convergence of evaluations from five leading industry guides.

Florence, Italy, March 6, 2025 – 5:35 PM – The annual list, compiled by the British magazine Gentleman, features the 100 best red wines of Italy, based on a cross-reference of evaluations from five specialized industry guides: "Vini dall’Italia" by Gambero Rosso, "I vini" by Veronelli, "Guida essenziale ai vini dall’Italia" by Daniele Cernilli, "Vitae" by the Italian Sommelier Association, and "Bibenda" by the Italian Sommelier Foundation. This year, Bolgheri Sassicaia 2021 from Tenuta San Guido in Tuscany has secured the top position.

The Top Selections

1st Place - Bolgheri Sassicaia 2021 (Tenuta San Guido, Tuscany) This Tuscan wine, recognized by the magazine as Italy's "best red" of 2025, is produced locally from Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes grown in a DOC area, a cultivation that granted it exclusive DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) status. Its maturation takes place in barriques.

2nd Place - Solaia 2021 (Marchesi Antinori, Tuscany) Tuscany maintains its strong presence with the Solaia 2021 from Marchesi Antinori. This red wine is crafted in the San Casciano in Val di Pesa (Florence) winery using Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Sangiovese grapes, followed by an 18-month refinement process.

3rd Place (Tie) - Barbaresco Sorì Tildin and Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo (Gaja, Piedmont) According to the Gentleman ranking, Tuscany dominates with 43 red wines in the top 100, followed by Piedmont with 23, while the remaining wines are distributed among other Italian regions. Two Piedmontese wines share the bronze medal: Barbaresco Sorì Tildin 2021 and Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo 2021. Both bottles exclusively use Nebbiolo grapes, with refinement occurring in barriques and large wooden barrels.

4th Place - Masseto 2021 (Tuscany) Just off the podium, we return to Tuscany with Masseto 2021, a wine that ferments in new oak barriques and keeps its various lots separate for the first year of aging.

5th Place (Tie) - Brunello, Montiano, Es Sharing the fifth position in Gentleman's ranking are red wines produced in three different regions: Tuscany, Lazio, and Puglia.

• The Brunello di Montalcino 2019 Poggio di Sotto (Tuscany) uses Sangiovese grapes grown in vineyards approximately 22 years old, located around 300 meters above sea level.
• The Montiano 2021 Famiglia Cotarella (Lazio) is derived from Merlot grapes cultivated in Tuscia Viterbese, between the municipalities of Montefiascone and Castiglione in Teverina, an area strongly suited for white grape varieties.
• The Apulian Es 2022 Gianfranco Fino (Puglia) originates from Primitivo grapes grown in the area between Manduria and Sava, in Salento.

6th Place - Poggio al Tesoro (Tuscany) The sixth position is held by another Tuscan red wine: Poggio al Tesoro, cultivated in the hills of Bolgheri (Livorno), where a special microclimate favors the production of Cabernet Franc. The process concludes after 24 months of aging in oak barriques and fermentation in stainless steel and truncated oak vats.

7th Place - San Leonardo 2019 (Trentino-Alto Adige) Trentino-Alto Adige earns the seventh position with San Leonardo 2019, born from the union of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, and Merlot grape varieties. In this case, the 24-month aging is carried out 70% in barriques and 30% in French oak tonneaux, followed by final blending and bottling.

8th Place - Ornellaia 2021 (Tuscany) In eighth position is Ornellaia 2021 (Tuscany), created from the blend of four grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The resting period in barriques lasts 18 months, during which blending occurs after the first 12 months.

9th Place – Lupicaia 2019 (Tuscany) The British magazine assigns the ninth position to Lupicaia 2019, an I.G.T. (Typical Geographical Indication) Tuscan red wine produced in the Castellina Marittima (Pisa) area. Its proximity to the sea stimulates the cultivation of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot grapes, followed by approximately 22 months of aging in French oak tonneaux, blending, and then bottling.

10th Place (Tie) - Kurni, Sagrantino, Trinoro The "top ten" also includes, tied for tenth place, three labels from Marche, Umbria, and Tuscany, respectively.

• The Kurni 2022 from the Marche-based Oasi degli Angeli winery is produced with Montepulciano grapes in a valley near the Sant'Egidio stream in Cupra Marittima (Ascoli Piceno).
• The Sagrantino 25 anni (Umbria) – named to celebrate the anniversary of the Umbrian winery Arnaldo Caprai's founding – draws from a selection of Sagrantino grapes with 24 months of aging.
• The I.G.T. red wine Tenuta di Trinoro 2021 (Tuscany) is derived from a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes, proportioned at 60% and 40% respectively.