The 7 Best Italian Red Wines to Buy Right Now in 2026
Ratti, Planeta, Elvio Cogno
Italy produces more wine than any other country in the world and is home to over 350 recognized indigenous grapes and 20 wine regions. We are big fans of Italy’s native reds but also enjoy wines made from the “international varieties” including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc.
There’s so much greatness throughout the country, it’s hard to know where to begin. Tuscany is home to Brunello de Montalcino and Chianti, where Sangiovese is king, and Bolgheri, home of Super Tuscans that may include Sangiovese but also feature international varieties that you might expect to find in Bordeaux. The island of Sicily is known for wine made from indigenous grapes such as Nerello Mascalese and Nero d’Avola, but we’re really enjoying some very nice wines made there from Cabernet Franc. And Amarone della Valpolicella is a full-bodied red from the Veneto made using a process that dries the Corvina grapes and gives the wine power and finesse. Amarone is a great wine to pair with rich dishes like risotto made with truffle and strong cheese. Piemonte is home to rolling hills covered with Nebbiolo, the base for Barolo and Barbaresco. With this wealth of options to choose from, we struggled to narrow it down, but here are the seven best Italian red wines to drink right now.
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Elvio Cogno 2020 Cascina Nuova Barolo
Image Credit: Elvio Cogno Elvio Cogno left his job at Marcarini La Morra in 1990 and purchased a historic 18th century farmhouse. The house sat in the middle of 27 acres of vines, and for many years he made well-respected wines on his own. Cogno’s son-in-law Valter Fissore has worked beside him for 25 years and currently is in charge of winemaking at the estate. The 2020 Cascina Nuova is crafted from the youngest vines and has aromas of pink peppercorn, red plum, and dried fruits that transition to full on fruit flavors of red cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, and plum.
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Renato Ratti 2021 Marcenasco Barolo
Image Credit: Ratti Renato Ratti returned to Piedmont in 1965 and purchased his first vineyard, Marcenasco, located below the local abbey with the intention of making fine Barolo from a single plot. His nephew Massimo Martinelli joined him in 1969 and together they shortened the length of barrel aging and extended the aging time in bottle. Ratti 2021 has aromas of red and black peppercorn, rose hips, and red cherry. It is full bodied with flavors of cherry, cassis, saddle leather, and plum.
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Zenato 2018 Sergio Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva
Image Credit: Zenato Zenato estate, located in the center of Lugana in Peschiera del Garda on the shore of Lake Garda, benefits from the body of water’s unique microclimate. The family has 234 acres of vines between their two estates. This stunning wine, named for Sergio Zenato who founded the winery in 1960, is only produced in exceptional years. It is ruby red in the glass and is made of 80 percent Corvina, 10 percent Rondinella, 5 percent Oseleta and 5 percent Croatina. It is aged for two years in oak barrels and has aromas of dark red cherry, raisins, black cherry preserves, and dark chocolate. This full-bodied selection offers flavors of ripe red raspberry, cocoa powder, and black plum.
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Gaja 2019 Pieve Santa Resituta Brunello di Montalcino
Image Credit: Gaja Giovanni Gaja started his winery in 1859 to supply his family’s restaurant in Barbaresco. His great grandson Angelo Gaja was born in 1940 and under his leadership the winery and business has grown immensely. Angelo has stepped back recently, and his daughter Gaia has become the international face of the brand, working alongside her sister Rossana and her brother Giovanni. Gaja 2019 is drinking beautifully right now and has aromas of brown baking spices, red plum, and cassis that transition to flavors of raspberry, plum, and a touch of black licorice in the finish.
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Barone Ricasoli 2020 CeniPrimo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Image Credit: Ricasoli One of the oldest wineries in Italy, Ricasoli has been producing in the Chianti Classico region for more than 800 years. Their current estate holdings exceed 3,000 acres, with 590 acres of vines and an additional 50 acres of olive trees. We first tasted this wine when it was released a few years ago and found another bottle in the back of our wine cooler. We’re happy to say that it is drinking perfectly right now. CeniPrimo 2020 has heady aromas of rose petals, saddle leather, cassis, and red cherry. The tannins are soft and silky and support flavors of cherry, red plum, cedar plank, and fennel frond.
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Bibi Graetz 2020 Testamata
Image Credit: Bibi Graetz Bibi Graetz founded his eponymous winery in 2000 on the hillside of Fiesole, overlooking the city of Florence. Since that time, he has earned well deserved international acclaim for both his red and white wines. His Testamata is a Super Tuscan made from 100 percent Sangiovese grapes sourced from old vines perched on hill tops around his winery. It has aromas of candied orange peel, strawberry, and freshly picked Bing cherry. It is bold and juicy with flavors of cherry, plum, and just a touch of cigar box in the finish.
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Planeta 2018 Didacus Cabernet Franc
Image Credit: Planeta Planeta has been making wine for 17 generations across five centuries. The family’s first estate was established in Sambuca di Sicilia in the 1600s and today they have six boutique wineries: Dispensa at Menfi, Ulmo at Sambuca di Sicilia, Dorilli at Vittoria, Buonvini at Noto, Sciara Nuova on Mount Etna, and La Baronia at Capo Milazzo. We have visited numerous times and have always been impressed with the quality, breadth, and depth of their wines. Planeta Didacus is made from Cabernet Franc grown in Sicily and has enticing aromas of plum, brown baking spices, sour cherry, and a whiff of freshly ground black pepper. The tannins are sturdy and pleasantly grippy and support flavors of blueberry, plum, and dried Mediterranean herbs.
