IVWA 2010: Best of Italy

Italy not only produces the most wine in the world, but the greatest variety of wine in the world. The diversity of grapes and wine styles represented in this category makes this abundantly clear. The top wines encompass more than a dozen wine styles and a half-dozen regions.

Powerhouses Tuscany and Piedmont, generally better known for high-priced wines, showed extremely well, as did the Veneto’s historically good-value valpolicella-style wines. The successes of Sicily are no surprise, but noticeably absent were wines from Sardinia and Marche, two of Italy’s best value wine-producing regions. Hopefully, more wines from these and other not-so-well-known regions will be submitted to the competition in the future. (Gurvinder Bhatia)

90 Fontanafredda 2008 Piemonte Barbera Briccotondo, Piedmont, Italy $16-$27

90 Frescobaldi 2008 Rèmole, Tuscany, Italy $12-$16

89 Nero by Giorgio & Gianni 2008 Negroamaro, Veneto, Italy $14-$16

88 Masi 2007 Serego Alighieri Bello Ovile, Tuscany, Italy $19-$21

88 MGM 2007 Barbera D’Asti Ricossa, Piedmont, Italy $13-$16

88 Zonin N/V Prosecco, Veneto, Italy $13-$1888 Donnafugata 2009 Anthìlia, Sicily, Italy $16-$23

88 Farnese 2008 Feudi di San Marzano Negroamaro, Taranto, Puglia, Italy $7-$9

87 Montalto N/V Pinot Grigio Brut, Sicily, Italy $18-$21

87 Carpineto 2008 Dogajolo, Greve, Florence, Tuscany, Italy $16-$21

87 Sartori 2008 Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore, Veneto, Italy $16-$19

87 Falesco 2007 Vitiano, Umbria, Italy $15-$18

87 Villa Teresa N/V Prosecco, Veneto, Italy $16-$19

87 Cecchi 2008 Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy $20-$24

87 Cusumano 2008 Nero d’Avola, Sicily, Italy $10-$19

87 MGM N/V Luna Argenta, Piedmont, Italy $16-$21

87 Bertani 2007 Valpolicella Valpantena, Italy $17-$22

87 Settesoli 2009 Inycon Estate Grower’s Selection Fiano, Sicily, Italy $11-$14

More results from the Wine Access 2010 International Value Wine Awards