When was the last time you sipped a glass of Amarone della Valpolicella? For some, this famed red might feel traditional, perhaps even a bit dated. Others associate it with bold fruit, high alcohol or a hint of sweetness. Yet some might overlook it entirely, favoring Italy’s fresher, balanced reds for their top-shelf selections.
But this year, our Italian Wine of the Year is none other than Bertani’s Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2015, a must-try. It was also our 2024 World Wine of the Year, which was made public a few days ago!
This classic red, with its refined structure and distinctive terroir, embodies Bertani’s legacy and craftsmanship. It is a wine deeply tied to the grandeur of one of Italy’s iconic regions. That’s why Senior Editor Aldo Fiordelli, Tasting Editor Jo Cooke and I awarded it a perfect 100 points. We found it to be full-bodied, but there’s a restraint and finesse to the wine that gives it great pedigree and length as well as complexity. It is a historical, proportioned wine in a modern neoclassical style.
My first visit to Verona as a young journalist in 1985 left me with a lasting impression of Bertani. The family’s commitment to excellence was evident, and their Amarones exuded a sense of place, just as they do today. Moments like those fostered my respect and appreciation for great Italian wines. Bertani’s Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2015 reminds me of this experience and my beginnings in loving Italian wines and much earlier.
This wine also represents a broader trend among Italy’s traditional appellations, where vintners are refocusing their methods to craft pristine wines, aligned with regional authenticity rather than trends. Bertani has championed dry, subtly austere Amarones for over a century, and today, their aged wines – from 50 to 60 years – are remarkably enjoyable.
My team and I tasted more than 9,100 Italian wines this year to assemble this list and reviewed more than 40,000 wines worldwide in the process over the last 12 months. As always, we ranked all of them based on quality and price. This approach recognizes the rising costs of top wines and ensures that value plays a part in each wine’s standing. We also used what we call the “wow factor,” which is something very emotional. It’s basically how you feel about the wine when you drink it.
The CEO of Bertani, Alberto Lusini (right) with his team at the Tenuta Novare estate.
Red wines dominate our Top 100 Italy list with 80, alongside 16 whites and just four sparkling wines, three of which are rosés. Tuscany leads with 41 entries, with super Tuscans taking the most spots, showcasing wines from sangiovese to merlot and cabernet. Notably, two 2022 releases, the Petrolo Valdarno di Sopra Galatrona 2022 and Bibi Graetz Toscana Colore 2022, earned perfect scores of 100 points, presenting vibrant freshness and elegance despite coming from such a hot and dry vintage. We thought the wines would be denser and more alcoholic, but they strike a beautiful balance and energy.
The list also highlights the 2021 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione wines, produced from one of the region’s coolest, latest harvests, yielding linear reds with fine tannins. Bolgheri’s seven entries include the newcomer Tenuta del Nicchio Toscana Lodovico 2020, a pure cabernet franc by Lodovico Antinori, plus the Ornellaia white from 2021.
You may notice that there are fewer Brunellos than normal because we included many from the sublime vintage of 2019 in our Top 100 Italian wines last year in anticipation of release this year. The best 2020 Brunellos, which are very good to outstanding quality, will be included in next year’s Top 100 reports.
From Piedmont we included mostly 2020 Barolos and 2021 Barbarescos, which definitely contrast: the former open and aromatic, ideal for newcomers or those loving fruity and perfumed young nebbiolos, while the latter’s tannic strength appeals to those who favor wines that age with tannic tension.
Sicily’s Etna wines are also a highlight. After a week of vineyard visits and tastings last summer, we found the quality undeniable. Our selection includes seven Etna wines, among them two whites that underscore the region’s progress.
Don’t overlook the handful of wines from Trentino-Alto Adige. They are mostly whites but there’s also a structured Bordeaux-blend, the San Leonardo Vigneti delle Dolomiti 2019, and the always delicious Alois Lageder Pinot Noir Alto Adige Krafuss 2022.
Sardinia has a couple of topflight reds, including the longtime classic Argiolas Isola dei Nuraghi Turriga 2020 as well as the Blue Zone Isola dei Nuraghi Vigneti Centenari 2021, a new wine from the most interesting vineyard area we visited in 2024, Mamoiada. The small region has some of the oldest vines in Italy, and the wines they are producers full of character and a sense of place.
The same can definitely be said about out two reds on the list from Campania: the Feudi di San Gregorio Taurasi Piano di Montevergine Riserva 2018 and Galardi Campania Terra di Lavoro 2021. The latter, from aglianico and piedirosso, is a longtime favorite and produced in low mountains not far from Naples. There’s a clarity and elegance to this wine that is rare in the region.
READ MORE ETNA 2024 TASTING REPORT: EYEING THE SUMMIT OF QUALITY
Finally, we are happy to have a trebbiano from the heralded winery of Valentini in our list. It is a legend among so many Italian wine cognoscenti and deserves its lofty reputation.
We think that this year’s Top 100 Wines of Italy offers something for everyone – from Sicily and Abruzzo to Sardinia and all the way to Piedmont and Alto Adige – for every taste and budget.
– James Suckling, Aldo Fiordelli and Jo Cooke. Part of the report appears in our Top 100 report in the annual wine guide of Corriere della Sera, Italy’s largest daily newspaper.
Note: The list of wines below is comprised of bottles tasted and rated in 2024 by the tasters at JamesSuckling.com. You can sort the wines by country, vintage, score and alphabetically by winery name. You can also search for specific wines in the search bar.
