“Top 100 Wines of Italy 2026” by Suckling, Brunello and Barolo top. And 15 wines are Toscana Igt

Wine markets are facing difficulties and the grape harvest is in full swing, but it is already time to kick off the season of wine guides and international rankings. And, James Suckling “Top 100 Wines of Italy 2026” shines the spotlight on Italy , which in this edition has primarily celebrated the harvest 2021 of Brunello di Montalcino, described as one of “the best of the last two decades, with wines distinguished by impressive structure, freshness, and balance”. Not surprisingly, the No. 1 wine on the list is the 2021 Brunello di Montalcino by Eredi Fuligni, headed by Roberto Guerrini, one of the historic wineries of the Montalcino area. It is followed at No. 2 by another leading name, San Filippo, with its Brunello di Montalcino Le Lucere 2021. The “Top 10” also includes, at No. 7, Brunello di Montalcino 2021 by Giodo, the winery of Carlo Ferrini, one of Italy most renowned winemakers, and his daughter Bianca. Completing the podium, at No. 3, there is Barolo Brunate 2022 by Roberto Voerzio, one of the great labels of the Langhe region (together with San Filippo Brunello Le Lucere 2021, these are the only two wines in this year ranking to receive a perfect score of 100 out of 100). The ranking, however, as James Suckling notes (whose Italian correspondent is Aldo Fiordelli, ed), is not compiled only on the basis of wine scores. It also takes into account price and market availability, as well as a subjective factor: “what we truly want to drink and which wines move us emotionally.” This is because, “after all, wine is made to be opened and enjoyed at the table. When a wine touches your heart, it gives you something more than just a score. Perhaps younger wine drinkers understand this better than we sometimes think”.
Completing out the 2026 “Top 10”, there are other great classics of Italian wine: at No. 4, there is one of South Tyrol icons, Terlaner I Grande Cuvée 2023 by Cantina Terlano, while No. 5 goes to one of the most admired and sought-after Italian wines in the world, Sassicaia 2023 by Tenuta San Guido. At No. 6 another top Langhe producer comes, G.B. Burlotto, with its Barolo 2022. No. 8 returns to South Tyrol with another of the region most celebrated names, J. Hofstätter, and its Gewürztraminer Alto Adige Vigna Pirchschrait 2016. At No. 9 the ranking moves to Mount Etna with Etna Rosso Calderara Sottana Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino 2024 by Tenuta delle Terre Nere, one of the flagship estates of the “volcano”. At No. 10 it returns to the Langhe, with Barbaresco Paje Riserva 2021 by Produttori del Barbaresco, a cooperative that frequently appears at the top of international rankings.
Looking at the full list of the 100 best wines according to James Suckling (whose selection will also enrich the guide “The 100 Best Wines and Winemakers of Italy 2026” edited by Luciano Ferraro, deputy editor of “Corriere della Sera”), among the denominations, Brunello di Montalcino stands out with 12 wines, meaning more than one in ten of the entire ranking, all from the 2021 vintage. These include prestigious producers such as Eredi Fuligni, San Filippo, Giodo, Il Marroneto, Valdicava, Tenuta Luce di Frescobaldi, Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona, Siro Pacenti, Poggio di Sotto (ColleMassari Group), Pieve Santa Restituta (Gaja), Altesino, and Casanova di Neri. There are also 9 Barolo from producers including Roberto Voerzio, G.B. Burlotto, Bovio, Damilano, Paolo Scavino, Pira-Chiara Boschis, Azelia, Massolino, and Sandrone; 7 South Tyrol wines from Nals Margreid, Pfitscher, Alois Lageder, Elena Walch, and Colterenzio, together with Terlano and J. Hofstätter; as well as 6 Chianti Classico, 5 Bolgheri, and 5 Barbaresco.
The most represented geographical indication by far, however, is Toscana IGT, with no fewer than 15 labels spanning different territories and grape varieties. These include celebrated wines from producers such as Montevertine, Marchesi Antinori, Tenuta del Nicchio di Lodovico Antinori, Castello del Terriccio, Tenuta di Biserno (the wine project founded by siblings Piero, Lodovico, and Ilaria Antinori and now led by Ilaria’s son, Niccolò Marzichi Lenzi), Castello di Bossi, Petrolo, Tenuta Sette Ponti of the Moretti Cuseri family, Caiarossa, Bibi Graetz, Monteverro, San Giusto a Rentennano, Tenuta di Trinoro, Gorgona di Frescobaldi, and Tua Rita. Among the notable highlights is the first appearance in the ranking of the very young winery Moncalisse, the Trentodoc project of sisters Julia and Karoline Walch.
These, then, are the main “highlights” of James Suckling list of the 100 best Italian wines of 2026, selected from among 7,000 Italian wines tasted over the past year, out of more than 30,000 wines evaluated in total.

Focus - La “Top 100 Wines of Italy 2026” by James Suckling
1 - Eredi Fuligni - Brunello di Montalcino 2021
2 - San Filippo - Brunello di Montalcino Le Lucere 2021
3 - Roberto Voerzio - Barolo Brunate 2022
4 - Cantina Terlan - Alto Adige Terlaner I Grande Cuvée 2023
5 - Tenuta San Guido - Bolgheri-Sassicaia Sassicaia 2023
6 - G.B. Burlotto - Barolo 2022
7 - Giodo - Brunello di Montalcino 2021
8 - J. Hofstätter - Gewürztraminer Alto Adige Vigna Pirchschrait 2016
9 - Tenuta delle Terre Nere - Etna Rosso Calderara Sottana Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino 2024
10 - Produttori del Barbaresco - Barbaresco Paje Riserva 2021
11 - Montevertine - Toscana Le Pergole Torte 2023
12 - Il Marroneto - Brunello di Montalcino 2021
13 - Schiopetto - Friulano Collio Mario Schiopetto M 2025
14 - Valdicava - Brunello di Montalcino 2021
15 - San Leonardo - Vigneti delle Dolomiti 2021
16 - Ornellaia - Bolgheri Superiore 2023
17 - Nals Margreid - Chardonnay Alto Adige Nama 2023
18 - Marchesi Antinori - Toscana Tignanello 2023
19 - Castello di Monsanto - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto Il Poggio 2021
20 - Occhipinti - Terre Siciliane Vino di Contrada PT 2022
21 - Capichera - Vermentino di Gallura Superiore Vign’Angena 2025
22 - Tenuta Luce - Brunello di Montalcino 2021
23 - Barone Pizzini - Franciacorta Bagnadore 2017
24 - Cascina Baricchi - Barbaresco Rose delle Casasse Riserva 2019
25 - Foradori - Teroldego Vigneti delle Dolomiti Granato 2023
26 - Bovio - Barolo Gattera Riserva 2021
27 - Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona - Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso 2021
28 - Pio Cesare - Barbaresco Il Bricco 2022
29 - Damilano - Barolo Cannubi Riserva 1752 2019
30 - Tenuta del Nicchio - Toscana Lodovico 2022
31 - Siro Pacenti - Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne 2021
32 - Poggio di Sotto - Brunello di Montalcino 2021
33 - Paolo Scavino - Barolo Bussia Vigna Fantini 2022
34 - Pira (Chiara Boschis) - Barolo Mosconi 2022
35 - Ca’ del Baio - Barbaresco Asili Riserva 2020
36 - Pieve Santa Restituta - Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille 2021
37 - Altesino - Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli 2021
38 - Azelia - Barolo Bricco Voghera Riserva 2016
39 - Massolino - Barolo Vigna Rionda Riserva 2020
40 - Pievalta - Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico San Paolo Riserva 2022
41 - Tenute Gregu - Vermentino di Gallura Superiore Selenu 2024
42 - Romano Dal Forno - Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta 2020
43 - Casanova di Neri - Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 2021
44 - Sandrone - Barolo Le Vigne Sibi et Paucis 2016
45 - Berlucchi - Franciacorta Cuvée Franco Ziliani Riserva Extra Brut 2011
46 - Sottimano - Barbaresco Currà 2021
47 - Castello del Terriccio - Toscana Lupicaia 2021
48 - Tenuta di Biserno - Toscana Colle Mezzano di Biserno 2023
49 - Valentini - Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2022
50 - Ipsus - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2022
51 - Pfitscher - Pinot Nero Alto Adige Vigna Das Langefeld Riserva 2022
52 - Castello di Bossi - Toscana Girolamo 2023
53 - Moncalisse - Trento Montis Arcentarie Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Riserva 2017
54 - Querciabella - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Radda 2021
55 - Joaquin - Taurasi Riserva della Società 2016
56 - Argentiera - Bolgheri Superiore 2023
57 - Bertani - Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2017
58 - Alois Lageder - Cabernet Alto Adige Löwengang 2022
59 - Pietradolce - Etna Rosso Vigna Barbagalli 2022
60 - Pieropan - Soave Classico La Rocca 2024
61 - Petrolo - Trebbiano Toscana Bòggina B 2024
62 - Girolamo Russo - Etna Rosso San Lorenzo 2024
63 - Tenuta Sette Ponti - Toscana Oreno 2024
64 - Blue Zone - Isola dei Nuraghi Vigneti Centenari 2023
65 - Russiz Superiore - Collio Col Disôre 2023
66 - Castell’in Villa - Chianti Classico 2021
67 - Tenuta Santa Caterina - Grignolino d’Asti Monferace 2021
68 - Terreno - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione A Sofia 2021
69 - Michele Satta - Bolgheri Superiore Piastraia 2023
70 - Elena Walch - Alto Adige Beyond the Clouds 2023
71 - Zenato - Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sergio Zenato Riserva 2009
72 - Caiarossa - Toscana 2023
73 - Fontodi - Colli della Toscana Centrale Flaccianello della Pieve 2023
74 - Travaglini - Gattinara Riserva 2021
75 - Bibi Graetz - Toscana Colore 2024
76 - Feudo Maccari - Grillo Terre Siciliane Firraru 2024
77 - Rosset - Pinot Noir Valle d’Aosta Terroir 850 2024
78 - Il Borro - Cabernet Sauvignon Valdarno di Sopra Nitrito 2021
79 - Monteverro - Toscana 2023
80 - Fattoria Le Pupille - Maremma Toscana Saffredi 2024
81 - Inama - Soave Classico Foscarino I Palchi Grande Cuvée 2023
82 - Fèlsina - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colonia 2022
83 - San Giusto a Rentennano - Toscana Percarlo 2022
84 - Passopisciaro - Terre Siciliane Contrada R 2024
85 - Galardi - Campania Terra di Lavoro 2023
86 - Abraham - Pinot Blanc Vigneti delle Dolomiti Art 2023
87 - Avignonesi - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Grandi Annate 2021
88 - Grattamacco - Bolgheri Superiore 2023
89 - Colterenzio - Sauvignon Alto Adige Gran Lafóa Riserva 2023
90 - Tenuta di Trinoro - Toscana Rosso 2023
91 - Les Crêtes - Nebbiolo Valle d’Aosta Costantino Charrère 2021
92 - Emidio Pepe - Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2022
93 - Mastroberardino - Taurasi Radici 2021
94 - Frescobaldi - Toscana Gorgona 2025
95 - Luigi Maffini - Fiano Cilento Pietraincatenata 2021
96 - Maugeri - Etna Bianco Superiore Contrada Praino Frontemare 2024
97 - Tua Rita - Syrah Toscana Keir 2024
98 - La Crotta di Vegneron - Chambave Muscat Valle d’Aosta Attente 2021
99 - Arpepe - Valtellina Superiore Grumello Buon Consiglio Riserva 2018
100 - Tedeschi - Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Capitel Monte Olmi Riserva 2019