Italy is one of the most famous and oldest wine-producing nations globally. It has been producing wine for more than 4000 years.

Numerous prestigious Italian wine companies produce a variety of delicious wines.

15 Unique Italian Wine Brands and Bottles to Buy in 2022

These 15 Italian wineries are some of the most renowned in the world.

Benanti (Viagrande, Sicily)

Benanti, a well-known wine producer in Southern Italy, was established in the latter part of the 19th century.

The vineyards are located on the slopes of Mount Etna’s volcanic soils. They are ideal for growing native Sangiovese and Nebbiolo grape varieties and non-native Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

This Italian winery produces Etna Bianco red wine and white blends. It also makes its signature wine, Serra Della Contessa, a Nerello Mascalese wine.

Each grape variety is hand-harvested. The wine matures in steel vats before bottling or in oak casks following malolactic fermentation.

Best Wines:

  • 2001 Benanti Rovittello ‘Particella No. 341’ Etna Rosso Ristauta ($130 strong> This Italian wine is characterized by a delicate bouquet and ripe fruits and a dry and tannic taste.
  • 2016 Benanti Pietramarina Etna Superiore ($88).This is an Italian white wine with a ripe apple nose, medium acidity and green apple flavors.

Tenuta Biondi Santi (Montalcino, Tuscany)

Tenuta Biondi Santi, a Tuscan wine producer, claims to be the inventor of Brunello di Montalcino.

Its 32-hectare vineyards are dedicated Sangiovese grape. The grape is harvested early to preserve its acidity.

Its stunning Brunello wines are aged 36 months in large Slavonian oak barrels. Rosso wines last 12 months in the barrels.

Best Wines:

  • 1891 Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva Brunello di Montalcino DoCG ($23,297) This wine displays aromas of ripe cherries with red fruits and coffee flavors.
  • 1995 Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Brunello di Montalcino (£1,150): This Brunello is a blend of vanilla and floral aromas. It has fresh acidity and a strong cherry flavor.

Leone de Castris (Salice Salentino, Puglia)

Leone de Castris, a well-known wine producer from Southern Italy, produces red wine using the Negroamaro grape varietal. This estate claims to have been the first rose wine manufacturer in Italy.

It also produces a variety of wines, including Malvasia Nera and Chardonnay.

The estate has 175-hectares of vineyards spread over 14 properties.

Best Wines:

  • 1946 Leone de Castris Five Roses Velchia Riserva Rosato Salento ($97): This wine is full of ripe fruit, blueberry and black cherry aromas.
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Montevertine (Chianti Classico, Tuscany)

Montevertine was founded in Chianti Classico, Tuscany, in 1967. It is a well-known cult producer of Super Tuscan Italian red wine wines.

The majority of Montevertine wines are Chianti Classico Sangiovese blends with Canaiolo and Colorino.

It is most well-known for its Le Pergole Torte Sangiovese, a wine aged one year in Slavonian oak and one year in French oak.

Best Wines:

  • 2013 Montevertine Le Pergole Torte50th Anniversary Toscana It ($801): This red wine from Italy has an oaky flavor and red fruit aromas.
  • 2004 Montevertine Il Cannaio (419): This acidic red is full of blueberry aromas, concentrated notes of dried fruits and a sweet finish.

Abbazia di Novacella (Novacella, Trentino Alto Adige)

Abbazia di Novacella, a historical winery in Northern Italy’s Trentino Alto Adige Region, is called “Abbazia di Novacella”.

There are two types of wines: the Classic Line, which includes young and approachable wine, and the Praepositus Range, which contains more mature bottles.

Abbazia di Novacella makes various delicious wines, including Pinot Grigio and Riesling.

Best Wines:

  • 2017 Abbazia di Novacella–Kloster Neustift Prepositus Moscato Rosa Südtirol ($73). This wine has the strong aromas of red apples and roses. It is a sharp acidity wine with sweet fruits and mineral flavors.
  • 2018 Abbazia di Novacella–Kloster Neustift Prepositus Kerner Pasito Sudtirol Iceacktaler ($57). This sweet wine is sweetened with honey and aromas of dried fruits, including fig, pear, and apricot.

Ferrari (Trento, Trentino Alto Adige)

Ferrari wines are award-winning, particularly sparkling wines that rival the best Champagnes.

Ferrari was the first Italian estate to mass-produce Chardonnay grapes.

Ferrari collaborates with approximately 500 Trentino vine-growing families and produces wines in Italy’s largest sparkling vinification facility, packed with millions of wine bottles.

Best Wines:

  • 1995 Fratelli Lunelli Ferr ‘Bruno Lunelli’ Riserva del Fondatore Metodo Classico Trentodoc (956): This sparkling white wine is perfect for pairing with pasta.
  • 2000 Fratelli Ferrari ‘Giulio Ferr’ Riserva Del Fondatore Metodo Classico Trentodoc (1,219): This sparkling Italian wine has fresh floral and saffron aromas. It also has some brioche flavors.

Tenuta San Guido (Maremma, Tuscany)

Tenuta San Guido, a Tuscan producer, is well-known for its Sassicaia flagship wine.

Sassicaia was the first Super Tuscan wine made with Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount from the Cabernet Franc grape varietal. This wine is complex and elegant, rivaling the best Bordeaux wines.

Guidalberto, Le Difese and Guidalberto are also made from Sassicaia declassified fruit.

Best Wines:

  • 1980 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri Vertical Collection ($17,240). This high-quality Sassicaia wine is full of flavors, including ripe cherries, roasted herbs and crisp acidity.
  • 1968 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri ($3,264): This Tuscan wine has a bouquet that includes walnut, smoky tobacco, and leather. It also has black plum and leather flavors.

Poderi Aldo Conterno (Monforte d’Alba, Piedmont)

Poderi Aldo Conterno, a family-owned wine property in Piedmont, was once home to Aldo Conterno.

Aldo Conterno is a passionate wine lover. He aged his Barolo with large French barrels and Slavonian oak casks to add depth and complexity.

A total of 80,000 bottles are produced annually by the wine estate, including Barolo, Barbaresco, and a Langhe Red made from Freisa and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Best Wines:

  • 2017 Poderi Aldo Conterno Granbussia Barolo Riserva DoCG ($895): This red wine from Italy has red fruits and blackberry aromas, with an oily mouthfeel. It also contains spicy wood notes.
  • 1964 Poderi Conterno Barbaresco DoCG ($430). This savory Piedmont red wine is rich in fruit flavors and has subtle tobacco smoke, cedar, and aroma.

Bruno Giacosa (Barbaresco, Piedmont)

Bruno Giacosa is a well-known wine producer known for perfumy Barolo wines and Barbaresco Negiolo wines.

The Nebbiolo wines are made into Riservas in exceptional years of growth. They age in traditional 5000-liter Botti with French oak and are released as Riservas.

Best Wines:

  • 1978 Bruno Giacosa Collina Rionda $55,236): This dark Nebbiolo is a deep, vibrant red wine with black cherry flavors and licorice spices aromas.
  • 1964 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Spezia DOCG ($1,749):This Riserva is a blend of roses, brown sugar and crisp acidity.

Ca’ del Bosco (Franciacorta, Lombardy)

Ca’ del Bosco, one of Italy’s most prestigious sparkling wine producers, makes a variety of wines using the “Metodo Classico”, the traditional method.

The Cuvee Annamaria Clementi Riserva white and rose wines are its flagship bottles. The white wine is a Pinot Bianco and Chardonnay blend, while the rose is 100% Pinot Noir.

Ca’ del Bosco handpicks its 184-hectare vineyard before washing, sorting and crushing the grapes. Wines can age in small oak barrels or large wooden vats in underground cellars.

Best Wines:

  • 2003 Ca’ del Bosco Cuvee Annamaria Clementi Rose Franciacorta DoCG ($248):Here’s a deep rose with red wine aromas and menthol. It has a rich, sweet, red fruit-flavored palate with a long finish.
  • 1997 Ca’ del Bosco Cuvee Annamaria Clementi Franciacorta DoCG ($188). This white wine features mature apple, peach and toast aromas, followed by complex yeast and pineapple flavors on the palate.