15 Amazing Italian Wine Brands In 2024 (Best Wines, Prices)

Italy is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious wine-producing countries and has been making wine for over 4000 years. 

There are multiple prestigious Italian wine brands that create an array of mouth-watering wines that lure you in with their delectable aromatics and flavors.

This article explores the top 15 Italian wine brands, including their most outstanding bottles, history, winemaking practices, and unique terroirs.

15 Extraordinary Italian Wine Brands And Bottles To Buy In 2024

Here are 15 famous Italian wine brands that produce some of the best bottles in the world.

1. Benanti (Viagrande, Sicily)

Benanti is a prominent wine producer in Southern Italy established in the late 19th Century. 

The estate’s vineyards sit along the slopes of Mount Etna that houses sandy and volcanic soils - ideal for growing native Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, and Nero davola grape varieties and non-native Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon. 

This Italian winery makes Etna Bianco white wine and red blends, including its signature wine, the Serra Della Contessa (a Nerello Mascalese-dominant wine.)  

Each grape variety is hand-harvested, and the wine matures in steel vats before bottling or placed in oak casks after malolactic fermentation.

Best Wines:

• 2001 Benanti Rovittello 'Particella No. 341' Etna Rosso Riserva ($130): This Italian wine has an ethereal nose of flowers and ripe fruit with a dry and tannic palate.
• 2016 Benanti Pietramarina Etna Bianco Superiore ($88): Here’s an Italian white wine with a ripe fruit nose, medium acidity, and green apple flavor. 

2. Tenuta Biondi Santi (Montalcino, Tuscany)

Tenuta Biondi Santi is a Tuscan wine producer with claims to being the inventor of the Brunello di Montalcino appellation. 

Its 32-hectare vineyards are dedicated to the Sangiovese grape, which it harvests early to preserve the grape’s acidity. 

Its spectacular Brunello wines age for 36 months in large Slavonian oak casks, and Rosso wines age for 12 months in the barrels.

Best Wines:

• 1891 Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG ($23,297): This wine presentsaromas of ripe cherry with red fruit and coffee flavor.
• 1995 Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo 'La Verticale' Brunello di Montalcino Riserva ($1,150): With a vanilla and floral bouquet, this Brunello has fresh acidity and a ripe cherry flavor.

3. Leone de Castris (Salice Salentino, Puglia)

Leone de Castris is a famous wine producer in Southern Italy known for its red wine made from the Negroamaro grape variety. The estate claims to be the first rose wine producer in Italy.

It also produces several other wines like Malvasia Nera, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. 

The fruit is sourced from the estate’s 175-hectare vineyards spread across 14 properties.

Best Wines:

• 1946 Leone de Castris Five Roses Vecchia Riserva Rosato Salento IGT ($97): This wine has ripe fruit and blueberry flavor with black cherry aromas on the nose.
• N.V. Leone de Castris Five Roses Acqua Vite d'Uva ($49): Here’s a slightly sweet rose with pleasing aromas of raspberry and cyclamen.

4. Montevertine (Chianti Classico, Tuscany)

Montevertine was established in Chianti Classico in 1967 and is known as a cult producer of Super Tuscan Italian red wines.

Most Montevertine wines are Chianti Classico blends of Sangiovese with small amounts of Colorino and Canaiolo. 

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

Best Wines:

• 2013 Montevertine Le Pergole Torte 50th Anniversary Toscana IGT ($801): This Italian red wine has a red fruit and leather flavor with oaky aromas. 
• 2004 Montevertine Il Cannaio ($419): This acidic red has blueberry aromas and concentrated notes of dried fruit on the palate.

5. Abbazia di Novacella (Novacella, Trentino Alto Adige)

Abbazia di Novacella is a historic Italian winery in the Trentino Alto Adige region of Northern Italy.

It has two different ranges - the Classic Line comprising young and approachable wines and the Praepositus Range with more age-worthy bottles.

Abbazia di Novacella produces a range of delicious wines including Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Nero, Schiava, and a sweet wine made from the Moscato Rosa grape.

Best Wines:

• 2017 Abbazia di Novacella-Kloster Neustift Praepositus Moscato Rosa Sudtirol ($73): This wine has a powerful nose of red apple and roses. It has sharp acidity with sweet fruit and mineral flavor.
• 2018 Abbazia di Novacella-Kloster Neustift Praepositus Kerner Passito Sudtirol Eisacktaler ($57): This sweet wine has honey and dried fruit aromas with fig, apricot, and pear on the palate.

6. Ferrari (Trento, Trentino Alto Adige)

Ferrari produces award winning wines, especially delectable sparkling wine styles, which compete with the top Champagnes.

The first Italian estate to mass-produce the Chardonnay grape, Ferrari’s range includes Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noir, and rose sparklers.

Ferrari works with around 500 vine-growing families in Trentino and makes wines in Italy’s largest sparkling wine facility packed with millions of wine bottles.

Best Wines:

• 1995 Fratelli Lunelli Ferrari 'Bruno Lunelli' Riserva del Fondatore Metodo Classico Trentodoc ($956): This sparkling white wine has a botanic nose with exotic fruit flavor - perfect with a pasta dish. 
• 2000 Fratelli Lunelli Ferrari 'Giulio Ferrari' Riserva del Fondatore Collezione Metodo Classico Trentodoc ($1,219): This Italian sparkling wine has scents of saffron and fresh flowers with a viscous mouthfeel and some brioche notes on the palate.

7. Tenuta San Guido (Maremma, Tuscany)

Tenuta San Guido is a Tuscan producer famous for its flagship wine - Sassicaia.

Sassicaia is one of the first Super Tuscan wines made with Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount of the Cabernet Franc grape variety. This complex and elegant wine rivals the great Bordeaux wines.

The estate also makes Guidalberto and Le Difese wines from declassified Sassicaia fruit.

Best Wines:

• 1980 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri Vertical Collection ($17,240): This high quality Sassicaia wine has flavors of ripe cherry, roasted herbs, and crisp acidity.
• 1968 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri ($3,264): This Tuscan wine has a bouquet of walnut and smoky tobacco with leather and black plum flavor on the palate.

8. Poderi Aldo Conterno (Monforte d'Alba, Piedmont)

Poderi Aldo Conterno is a family-owned wine estate in Piedmont and was home to one of the greatest Barolo winemakers, Aldo Conterno.

Aldo Conterno, a passionate wine enthusiast, aged his Barolo in large Slavonian oak casks and French barriques to give them depth and complexity.

The wine estate produces approximately 80,000 bottles annually, including Barolo, Barbaresco, and a Langhe red made from a blend of Freisa, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.

Best Wines:

• 2017 Poderi Aldo Conterno Granbussia, Barolo Riserva DOCG ($895): This Italian red wine has red fruit and blackberry aromas with an oily mouthfeel and spicy wood notes.
• 1964 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barbaresco DOCG ($430): This savory Piedmont red wine has a vivid fruit flavor with subtle tobacco smoke and cedar notes.

9. Bruno Giacosa (Barbaresco, Piedmont)

Bruno Giacosa is a famous wine producer known for its perfumy Barolo and Barbaresco Nebbiolo wines.

In exceptional growing years, its Nebbiolo wines are released as Riservas that age in traditional 5000-liter botti made of French oak.

Best Wines:

• 1978 Bruno Giacosa Collina Rionda ($5,236): A deep and virile red wine, this dark Nebbiolo has black cherry flavors and licorice spice aromas.
• 1964 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Speciale DOCG ($1,749): This Riserva has roses and brown sugar on the nose with silky tannins and crisp acidity.

10. Ca’ del Bosco (Franciacorta, Lombardy)

Ca’ del Bosco is one of Italy’s most highly regarded sparkling wine producers and makes various wines using “Metodo Classico” (the traditional method.)

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

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

Best Wines:

• 2003 Ca' del Bosco Cuvee Annamaria Clementi Rose, Franciacorta DOCG ($248): Here’s a deep pink rose with red wine and menthol aromas. The palate has sweet red fruit notes, a taut finish, and great length.
• 1997 Ca' del Bosco Cuvee Annamaria Clementi, Franciacorta DOCG ($188): This white wine has mature apple, peach, and toast aromas followed by sophisticated yeast and pineapple notes on the palate.

11. Marchesi Antinori (Chianti Classico, Tuscany)

In the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany, Antinori produces around 20 million bottles annually across 150 labels.

Tignanello is the most famous Antinori wine and was the region’s first wine to combine the Sangiovese grape with non-native grape varieties. Typically, the Tignanello composition is 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc.

Other popular Marchesi Antinori wines include Solaia, Badia a Passignano, and Le Mortelle 'Botrosecco.’

Best Wines:

• 1971 Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT ($576): Here’s an Italian wine with powerful aromas of black fruit and earth with chocolaty oak flavors.
• 2015 Marchesi Antinori 'Ampio Delle Mortelle' Toscana IGT ($240): Spicy aromatic notes and an elegant structure characterize this red wine with hints of ripe black fruit.

12. Ruffino (Chianti Classico, Tuscany)

Ruffino is an award-winning Italian winery founded in 1877. 

From the official supplier of the Italian royal family to becoming the earliest producer to own an estate in Chianti Classico, this Italian winery has some great achievements under its name.

It famously produces Brunello di Montalcino wine. Recently, it started producing non-Tuscan wines like Orvieto Classico white wine, Pinot Grigio, Moscato dasti, and Prosecco.

Best Wines:

• 1950 Ruffino Riserva Particolare ($1,454): This DOCG wine reveals black cherry and red fruit aromas on the nose with velvety tannins and a fresh rosemary finish.
• 1965 Ruffino Vecchio Gran Sigillo ($170): Here’s an acidic DOCG wine with vibrant fruit on the palate and intoxicating aromas of game meat.

13. Tommasi Viticoltori (Veneto, Piedmont)

One of the largest wine producers in the Veneto region of Piedmont, Tommasi Viticoltori owns estates in Veneto, Lombardy, Montalcino, and Maremma. 

Tommasi is most famous for its Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Ripasso, Recioto, and Amarone wines. 

It also produces distinct red and white blends and varietal wines like Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio.

Best Wines:

• 2008 Tommasi De-Bvris Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva DOCG ($261): This red wine has bramble fruit, jam, and licorice aromas with ripe tannins and dark chocolate flavors.
• 2016 Tommasi Romeo Rosso Delle Venezie IGT ($14): It’s an Italian wine with red berry aromas and hints of blackcurrant.

14. Gaja (Barbaresco, Piedmont)

Gaja is one of the most widely recognized Italian wine producers. The Gaja brand resonates strongly with the Nebbiolo grape. 

It’s famous for modernizing the traditional Piedmont wine style by introducing international grape varieties (like Cabernet Sauvignon) and modern winemaking practices. 

Gaja relegated some of its wines to the Langhe DOC classification because it made the bold decision of adding small amounts of Barbera in its Barolo wines. 

Best Wines:

• 2013 Gaja Sori Assortment Case Langhe ($2,796): Complex aromas of toast and cedar spice fill the nose of this Italian wine. The palate has a lush fruit flavor and subtle tannins.
• 1989 Gaja Sori Tildin Langhe-Barbaresco ($767): This Italian wine has red cherry, clove, and beef aromas with charred oak and ripe fruit notes.

15. Ornellaia (Bolgheri, Tuscany)

Ornellaia is a wine producer on the Tuscan coast and makes some of Italy’s most famous and expensive wines. 

It's famous for its Bordeaux-style wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. This is somewhat controversial since Tuscany’s most famous grape variety is the Sangiovese grape.

It also produces an iconic Merlot-based red wine style, Masseto, under the IGT Toscana classification. The wine’s name comes from the terroir it is planted in - “masso” in Italian means boulder or rock.

Best Wines:

• 2017 Massetino Toscana IGT ($580): The 2017 Massetino red wine has black cherry, plum, and coffee aromas with a lingering aftertaste of vanilla spice.          
• 2009 Ornellaia Vendemmia d'Artista Special Edition Bolgheri Superiore ($1,050): Here’s a wine with ripe red fruit and plum aromas. The palate is deep and rich with bright tannins and a long aftertaste.

Pick Your Favorite Italian Wine Brand Today!

There’s a wide range of spectacular Italian wine brands to choose from that are guaranteed to impress your guests at your next dinner party.

Just pick any of the opulent, sweet, or savory bottles from the list above and enjoy!

Now, if you’re looking to build a portfolio of investment-worthy wines like Chenin Blanc, Pinot Blanc, or Pinot Grigio, visit the Vinovest website for expert help buying, storing, and selling rare and authentic wines from around the world.