Produttori del Barbaresco and Caparzo (Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini): Italy in Top 10 by Wine Spectator

With Barbaresco Rabaja Riserva 2021 by Produttori del Barbaresco, one of Piedmont most internationally acclaimed wine cooperatives, ranking No. 2, and Brunello di Montalcino 2021 by Caparzo, one of the jewels in the portfolio of producer Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini (the “lady of wine”, who also owns Altesino, also in Montalcino, as well as the Borgo Scopeto winery in Chianti Classico and Doga delle Clavule in Morellino di Scansano, among others), at No. 4, Italy has secured a leading position in Wine Spectator “Top 100”. Today, the magazine unveiled the lower places on the podium (with iconic Bin 389 2024 by Australian Penfolds at No. 3), while tomorrow it will reveal the Wine of the Year, ranked No. 1. On the Italian front, the results reaffirm the prestige of two of the country most important wine-producing regions, the Langhe and Montalcino, symbols of Piedmont and Tuscany.
These three wines join a “Top 10” which, as of today, also includes Saint-Julien 2023 by Château Saint Pierre, from Bordeaux, at No. 5, Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District Fay 2023 by Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, wine excellence of California, founded by the very famous Warren Winiarski, and owned by Italians, by Marchesi Antinori, the historic family of Italian and world wine (already No. 1 of “Top 100” by “Wine Spectator” with Solaia 1997 in 2000), at No. 6 Sagacious Adelaida District 2023 by Law Estate, still from California, at No. 7, Pessac-Léognan White 2023 by Château Carbonnieux, from Bordeaux, at No. 8, Ribera del Duero 2022 by Bodegas y Viñedos Alion from Spain, at No. 9, and Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills 2024 by Melville, from California, at No. 10 of the ranking.
Tomorrow, on November 13th, as mentioned, attention will turn to the Wine of the Year, the No. 1 position, which Italian wines have claimed no fewer than five times: beginning with Solaia 1997 by Antinori in 2000, followed by Ornellaia 1998 by Tenuta dell’Ornellaia in 2001 (now owned by Frescobaldi; at the time, it belonged to Lodovico Antinori, ed); Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 2001 by Casanova di Neri in 2006, Sassicaia 2015 by Tenuta San Guido in 2018 and Brunello di Montalcino 2018 by Argiano in 2023.
Given Italy already significant presence among the top positions revealed today, it is difficult to imagine another Italian wine claiming the top spot. But not impossible, though. To discover the full 2026 “Top 100”, however, we will have to wait until November 16th.