Just a few days ago, news broke that starting in 2025, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano will include a new designation: wines labelled Pieve will represent the evolution of the project launched in 2020 by the Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The goal is to enhance the historical roots and geographical peculiarities of Montepulciano, a trend gaining momentum in Tuscany for other denominations as well, as we highlighted when discussing the best Chianti Classico Gran Selezione wines.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano: types and characteristics
Produced in the municipality of Montepulciano near Siena, Nobile di Montepulciano is made with at least 70% Sangiovese grapes (locally called Prugnolo Gentile). It holds two records: it was the first Italian wine to receive the D.O.C.G. (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) in 1980, and it became the first Italian designation to achieve sustainability certification through "Equalitas" in 2022.
There are two main versions of Nobile di Montepulciano: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, aged for at least two years (including one year in wood) and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva DOCG, aged for at least three years (including one year in wood and six months in the bottle).
The DOCG version has a ruby red colour with fruity and spicy notes. With its notable structure, it is an elegant wine with prominent tannins, making it particularly suited for ageing.
The Nobile di Montepulciano wines awarded Tre Bicchieri
Here are the Nobile di Montepulciano wines that received the highest recognition, Tre Bicchieri, in Gambero Rosso’s Vini d’Italia 2025 guide.
Refined and delightful, Boscarelli’s Nobile '21 showcases forward fruit on the nose alongside slightly earthy and spicy hints, with touches of aromatic herbs. On the palate, the wine is juicy, savoury, and vibrant, with sweet-acid contrasts that invigorate each sip. A key name in the Nobile di Montepulciano designation, Boscarelli consistently produces wines that retain a natural and vibrant authenticity typical of Sangiovese, regardless of vintage variations. This achievement is thanks to the magnificent soils of Cervognano and the uncompromising choices of the De Ferrari Corradi family, who have built a true Tuscan wine classic over their 60-plus years of activity.
The Nobile Cervognano Alto '20 is intriguing from the first aromas, blending fruit with floral references, flinty notes, and menthol flashes. The palate is structured yet agile and taut, with savoury tannins and sharp acidity that enhance its lively finish. This small family-run winery, owned by the Natalini family, epitomises the Cervognano subzone, which is set to become a "Pieve" in the consortium’s Additional Geographical Units project. For over 15 years, it has stood out as one of Montepulciano’s finest wine producers, offering consistently high-quality wines with a crystalline style, combining lightness with finesse.
The Nobile I Quadri '21 has aromatic features ranging from fruity hints to floral and earthy touches, with spices as a finishing touch. On the palate, the structure is precise, with savoury tannins and persistent sapidity, leading to a satisfying ferric note on the finish. Bindella’s wines have always been appreciated for their reliable quality. Celebrating 40 years of activity this year, the winery is firmly established at the top of Nobile di Montepulciano production, thanks to careful work in both the vineyard and the cellar, and a stylistic approach focusing on balance and elegance.
The Nobile Le Caggiole '21 is a sparkling version of Poliziano’s signature wine. Its refined aromatic bouquet precedes an equally elegant and dynamic gustatory progression. Established in 1978 by Federico Carletti and now involving his children Maria Stella and Francesco, Poliziano pays homage to the humanist Angelo Ambrogini, known as "Il Poliziano", who was born in Montepulciano. Over the decades, the winery has consistently played a leading role in the region, embodying the hallmarks of Tuscan wine excellence.
The Nobile Pagliareto Selezione Bio '20 has a ruby hue and an elegant, complex nose where ripe red fruits are complemented by Mediterranean scrub, spices, and a refined smoky note. On the palate, it offers an elegant yet slender structure with depth, progressive fruitiness, fine tannins, and an impressively long finish. Lunadoro is part of the Schenk group, alongside Bacio della Luna in the Prosecco area and Masso Antico in Puglia. Its 12 hectares of vineyards in Valiano, mainly dedicated to Sangiovese, are almost entirely managed organically.
The Nobile SorAldo '20 features a refined aromatic texture, with floral and fruity hints complemented by spicy touches and flinty tones. The Trabalzini family’s project includes the historic Ricci cellar in Montepulciano, a must-visit for tourists and enthusiasts, as well as vineyards in three areas of the region: Ascianello, Nottola (Croce), and Fontecornino, where the vinification cellar is located. Their contemporary Sangiovese wines, with their radiant expressiveness and refined style, represent some of the finest examples of Nobile di Montepulciano’s potential.
A Neapolitan at La Scala: here’s the dinner menu for opening night
Andrea Picchioni's deeply agricultural Buttafuoco in Oltrepò Pavese: tasting 8 Vintages
"How to open a restaurant in Copenhagen": the story of Lucia De Luca and Valerio Serino
The best value for money wine according to Gambero Rosso
The irresistible charm of oxidative wines: the diaries of a Master of Wine
