Sangiovese

"Riminese" redirects here. For a white Italian wine grape also known as Riminese, see Albana (grape).
"Niella" redirects here. For the Corsican wine grape that is also known as Niella, see Nielluccio.
"Sangioveto" redirects here. For another Tuscan wine grape that is also known as Sangioveto, see Bonamico (grape).
Sangiovese
Grape (Vitis)
Sangiovese grapes
Color of berry skinPurple
SpeciesVitis vinifera
Also calledBrunello, Sangiovese Grosso (more)
OriginItaly
Notable regionsTuscany
HazardsRot-prone
VIVC number10680

Sangiovese[a] is a red Italian wine grape variety that derives its name from the Latin sanguis Jovis, "blood of Jupiter".[5]

Sangiovese Grosso, used for traditionally powerful and slow maturing red wines, is primarily grown in the central regions of Italy, particularly in Tuscany, where it is the dominant grape variety. Here, Sangiovese thrives in various subregions, including Chianti, Montalcino, and Montepulciano, whose diverse terroirs, winemakers put to good use to craft wines that reflect the land's unique nuances.

Sangiovese's ability to express terroir and age gracefully has earned it a revered status among wine enthusiasts worldwide, cementing its place as one of Italy's most cherished grape varieties. Because of its distinctive character and versatility, Sangiovese is the singular or primary grape variety used in iconic Italian wines from Tuscany such as bold and age-worthy Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, to vibrant and fruity wines like Morellino di Scansano, Carmignano and Chianti Classico.

Sangiovese is also cultivated in other parts of central Italy, such as Umbria and Marche, where it is sometimes blended for the production of notable wines like Sagrantino di Montefalco and Rosso Conero. And, while its stronghold is in the central region of the country, it is also grown in smaller quantities in regions like Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, and even as far south as Calabria where it can be used to make varietal wines such as Sangiovese di Romagna and some of the modern "Super Tuscan" wines like Tignanello, a blend of 80% Sangiovese 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc or 'Colore' Bibi Graetz made with 100% Sangiovese from old vines.[6][7]

Sangiovese was already well known by the 16th century. Recent DNA profiling by José Vouillamoz of the Istituto Agrario di San Michele all’Adige suggests that Sangiovese's ancestors are Ciliegiolo and Calabrese Montenuovo. The former is well known as an ancient variety in Tuscany, the latter is an almost-extinct relic from Calabria, the toe of Italy.[8] At least fourteen Sangiovese clones exist, of which Brunello is one of the best regarded. An attempt to classify the clones into Sangiovese grosso (including Brunello) and Sangiovese piccolo families has gained little evidential support.[9]

Young Sangiovese has fresh fruity flavours of strawberry and a little spiciness, but it readily takes on oaky, even tarry, flavours when aged in barrels.[10] While not as aromatic as other red wine varieties such as Pinot noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, Sangiovese often has a flavour profile of sour red cherries with earthy aromas and tea leaf notes. Wines made from Sangiovese usually have medium-plus tannins and high acidity.[11]

  1. ^ "Sangiovese". Collins English Dictionary. HarperCollins. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  2. ^ "Sangiovese" (US) and "Sangiovese". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2020-03-22.
  3. ^ "Sangiovese". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th ed.). HarperCollins. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  4. ^ "Sangiovese". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  5. ^ Robinson, J (1986). Vines, Grapes & Wines. Mitchell Beazley. pp. 150–152. ISBN 1-85732-999-6.
  6. ^ Robinson, J, ed. (2006). The Oxford Companion to Wine (3 ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 606–607. ISBN 0-19-860990-6.
  7. ^ Freedman, Brian (14 July 2022). "Wines Of The Week: Tio Pepe Fino En Rama, Bibi Graetz Colore And A Winter-Perfect Gin From Revivalist Spirits". Forbes.
  8. ^ Robinson, J. "Italian grape mysteries unraveled". jancisrobinson.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2007-04-03.
  9. ^ "Sangiovese". Wine Pros.
  10. ^ J. Robinson, J. Harding and J. Vouillamoz, Wine Grapes - A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins and flavours, pp. 942-946, Allen Lane 2012 ISBN 978-1-846-14446-2
  11. ^ Wine & Spirits Education Trust, Wine and Spirits: Understanding Wine Quality, pp. 6-9, Second Revised Edition (2012), London, ISBN 9781905819157


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