Sassicaia, Tignanello (Antinori) and Cavit: Italy on “The World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2019”

The Italian wines on “The World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2019” list compiled by the UK magazine “Drinks International”, in collaboration with Wine Intelligence, was unveiled yesterday in Dusseldorf, during the ProWein Fair. One of the most loved, well-known and multi awarded Italian wines in the world, the legendary Sassicaia of Tenuta San Guido, headed by the Incisa della Rocchetta family, is the first Made in Italy brand and is at number 6. Then, Tignanello, the Antinori family’s famous wine (the first wine in the Chianti Classico area to abandon the use of white grapes, first to be aged in barriques, and first Tuscan “Bordeaux” blend made of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc), is in position number 17. Next is Cavit, leader in production and leading Cooperative in Trentino that took spot number 23. It is a very prestigious ranking, compiled by the votes of professionals from around the world (including wine merchants, restaurateurs, sommeliers, bartenders, critics and so forth), who are called to express their opinions based on parameters such as “consistent quality” of the wine, the basis of price positioning, the ability of the wine to express its territory of origin and the vines from which it is created, the level of professionalism in marketing and distribution, and packaging, in relation to the target audience. The ranking is dominated primarily by Australian and French brands, as well as many of the most important wine names in Chile, the USA and Spain. The icon of Australian wines, Penfolds, holds the number one position, followed by Torres, the most prestigious producer in Spain, which is in 2nd place, while the New Zealand brand, Villa Maria, is in third place, ahead of the Chilean giant Concha Y Toro, at spot number 4, and then M. Chaupoutier, from France, at number five.
The first of the Italians (and the brand that has climbed more than all the others, a whopping 23), is Sassicaia, which continues to collect an impressive number of awards both from Italian and international critics. “We are proud to have received this award that we certainly weren’t expecting”, Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta told WineNews, “and I am glad that it will contribute to the image of Italian wine in the world. What is the secret? Hard work, and keep your feet on the ground”.
“Tignanello and Sassicaia are undoubtedly two of the most renowned wines in Italy”, added Christian Davis, editor of Drinks International, “and are, evidently, wines accessible to those who have a certain spending power. On the other hand, it is positive for Italy to have a Cooperative like Cavit, one of the absolute top brands that sell wine to many retailers around the world, and clearly to a different segment of the public. Therefore, Italy has Sassicaia and Tignanello at the high end of the market, and a company like Cavit, solidly in the “mainstream” market. I can’t say that I’m an expert on Italian wine, but in my opinion, Italy doesn't have a lot of big brands or many big companies, because of your history that is made up of many small producers and small territories. I have not visited Italy extensively, mostly Tuscany and Sicily, but I can say there is a balance between the many small wineries you have, and that perhaps few people can taste, and the large cooperatives, aimed at a broader market, and segmented on different levels of supply. This is a positive sign in this era, because today consumers are looking for reassurance from a brand, and when they taste something they like, they buy it again”.