Sangiovese 101

If Nebbiolo takes the throne in northern Italy, Sangiovese holds court in central and southern Italy. It is one of the two most important Italian red grapes, and in blind tastings, it can actually be confused for Nebbiolo. But unlike Piedmont’s key grape, Sangiovese can work for both quality and quantity. As the most planted grape variety in the entire country, it yields both quaffable table wines and some of the world’s most lauded, age-worthy bottles.

Origins

Thought to originate in southern Italy, Sangiovese is an old grape. Some theorize that the name comes from a Latin phrase meaning “the blood of Jove.” Whatever route to prominence Sangiovese took, today it retains a firm hold as a crowd-pleasing, food-friendly red that is both affordable and reliable enough to find a spot at the weekday dinner table.

Style, Flavors, & Aromas

While most think of Sangiovese as a varietal wine, traditionally vintners blended it with less popular grapes like Colorino and Canaiolo. However, since Sangiovese was typically the dominant variety, it strongly characterized the blended Italian wines. Since it is such an old variety, it has mutated over the years, forming a family of clones that vary from region to region. 

Testamatta is a collector's dream, a pure and scintillating expression of 100% Sangiovese.

Overall, Sangiovese is a late-ripening variety that can grow in many places but is sensitive to the soil in which it is planted. The wines are typically medium to full-bodied with characteristically high acidity and moderate to high tannins. Thus, it isn’t as aggressive as its sometimes-doppelganger Nebbiolo, but the best, most powerful versions often require aging before being optimal to drink. Flavor and aroma-wise, think of a good red sauce: tart red fruits, like sour cherry, commonly mix with savory mixed herbs, canned tomato, iron, and turned earth. Sangiovese may see some new and used oak, in which case it can develop sweet spice and vanilla undertones, and over time, more complex flavors like forest floor, mushrooms, and smoke often appear.

Where it Grows

Unsurprisingly, Italy contains the majority of the world’s Sangiovese vines, most of them located in central and southern Italy. Tuscany is Sangiovese’s mecca, where it sees many different iterations. The most famous is probably Chianti, a fairly large area between Florence and Siena that can produce wines that range from simple and easy-drinking to robust and layered. For high-end wines, Montalcino reigns supreme, producing long-lived, expensive Brunello di Montalcino wines and fresh, fruit-driven Rosso di Montalcino wines. Vino Nobilo di Montepulciano produces a wide range of wines from the Prugnolo Gentile clone of Sangiovese, and producers from across Tuscany can bottle varietal Sangiovese or blend it with Bordeaux grapes to make super-Tuscans labeled as IGT Toscana. Just east of Tuscany in Umbria, the Montefalco region blends Sangiovese with local grape Sagrantino plus other allowed grapes to produce big, rustic reds. The grape also showcases how close France’s island of Corsica is to Italy. Here, Sangiovese is known as Nielluccio, and producers either bottle it as a varietal wine or blend it with local grapes like Sciaccarellu. Beyond Italy, Sangiovese plantings are scarce, but some inspired producers in New World areas like California and Argentina, influenced by Italian predecessors, make Sangiovese wines with more fruit and body.

Food Pairings

They say what grows together, goes together, which is why Sangiovese is a natural pairing for many classic Italian dishes. Whether tomato-based dishes, roasted mushrooms, or slow-roasted meats, Sangiovese is an excellent match. The firm tannins and sharp acidity of Sangiovese make it one of the best food pairing wines overall, cutting through rich dishes and tart ones alike. Here are some recipes for our go-to Sangiovese pairings: Spaghetti Bolognese , Burgers with sautéed mushrooms , Saucy Italian sausage goulash , Margherita pizza.

Recommended Wines

• Felsina Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy
• La Torre Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
• Montevertine ‘Le Pergole Torte,’ Tuscany, Italy
• Il Macchione Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva, Tuscany, Italy
• Yves Leccia Patrimonio Rouge, Corsica, France
• Bibi Graetz Testamatta Toscana 
• I Veroni Chianti Rufina Riserva