“Wine Spectator”: the “Wine of the Year” 2026 is Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville 2023 Paul Hobbs

Once again, according to “Wine Spectator”, the world No. 1 wine comes from California, and specifically from Napa Valley: Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville 2023 by Paul Hobbs has been named “Wine of the Year” 2026, as revealed today by the renowned American magazine. Italy retains two wines in the “Top 10” of the world most influential and widely followed wine ranking: Barbaresco Rabaja Riserva 2021 by Produttori del Barbaresco, produced by one of Piedmont most internationally acclaimed cooperatives, ranks No. 2, while Brunello di Montalcino 2021 by Caparzo, one of the flagship wines of producer Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini (the “lady of wine”, who also owns Altesino in Montalcino, as well as Borgo Scopeto in Chianti Classico and Doga delle Clavule in Morellino di Scansano, among others), takes the No. 4 position. Separating the two Italian wines at No. 3, there is the celebrated Bin 389 2024 by Penfolds from Australia.
The “Top 10” is completed by Saint-Julien 2023 by Château Saint Pierre, from Bordeaux at No. 5, from Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District Fay 2023 by Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, wine excellence of California, founded by the legendary Warren Winiarski and today owned by Italy Marchesi Antinori, one of the most historic wine families in Italy and the world (already No. 1 in the “Top 100” by “Wine Spectator” with Solaia 1997 in 2000) at No. 6, from Sagacious Adelaida District 2023 by Law Estate, still from California at No. 7, from Pessac-Léognan White 2023 by Château Carbonnieux, from Bordeaux at No. 8; from Ribera del Duero 2022 by Bodegas y Viñedo from Spain at No. 9, and from Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills 2024 by Melville, from California, at No. 10 of the ranking.
Italian wines have now claimed the No. 1 position five times in the history of the ranking: beginning with Antinori Solaia 1997 in 2000, followed by Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia 1998 in 2001 (today owned by Frescobaldi, though at the time it belonged to Lodovico Antinori, ed), Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 2001 in 2006, Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2015 in 2018, and Argiano Brunello di Montalcino 2018 in 2023.
The complete Wine Spectator “Top 100” of 2026 will be unveiled on November 16th. In 2025, as reported by WineNews, the “Top 100” included 20 Italian wines, meaning one out of every 5 wines in the ranking came from Italy. Half of them were from Tuscany, including 5 from Chianti Classico. A result that will be difficult, though not impossible, to surpass.