Sangiovese is Italy’s most widely planted red grape variety, grown mostly in the central regions under a host of different names. Sangiovese is a late ripening grape and can sometimes even struggle to ripen under the hot Italian sun.

Unknown to most is how prominent Sangiovese figures into the best Italian red wines. Sangiovese is the main grape of Chianti, Chianti Classico and Chianti Classico Riserva. Clones of Sangiovese make up the wines of Brunello (Sangiovese Grosso/Brunello clone) and Vino Nobile di Montipulciano (made from the Prugnolo Gentile clone).

Not only does Sangiovese shine on its own in Italy, but it is also the primary blending grape for the famous Super-Tuscans wines; blended with Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot to produce blockbuster red blends.