Art and lightness: this is what San Leonardo 2020 tells us

The latest vintage of the famous Trentino wine from the Guerrieri Gonzaga family was unveiled at Palazzo Taverna in Rome. The 2020 edition is truly unique: only 12.5% alcohol, offering a delicate, elegant, and graceful sip. Additionally, just 999 bottles from the entire production have been adorned with an artist’s label, marking the third edition of the Arte a San Leonardo project.

The 2020 in the glass

Its color is ruby; the nose reveals notes of small red fruits, a hint of spice and undergrowth, followed by a subtle nuance of cherry jam. The palate is delicate, with soft and caressing tannins, while the freshness typical of great mountain wines is evident, as is the final savoriness. Overall, the 2020 vintage offers a graceful and smooth sip—stripped of excess, devoid of embellishments, yet essential.

It certainly has less flesh and complexity than the great 2019 vintage, but nevertheless, it remains a fascinating expression, adding to the long legacy of San Leonardo—a classic story that, by its nature, is destined to stand among the great wines of the future. It’s a story we will delve into in the upcoming April issue of our magazine, which is entirely dedicated to the wine of the future. The issue will feature a vertical tasting of eight vintages, including the 1988—the first to win Tre Bicchieri—and the 2019, the vintage that contributed to San Leonardo being named Winery of the Year in Vini d’Italia 2025.

The producer's thoughts

Let’s return to the 2020 vintage with the words of Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga: "This is a vintage destined to remain in the estate’s annals as one of the most delicate and captivating expressions. The limited direct solar radiation our lands receive is certainly a unique feature. The vines get just enough light for perfect photosynthesis, yet they are shielded from excessive heat, thus preserving freshness and elegance. The Trentino pergola training system, widely used on the estate, allows the grape clusters to be gently shaded, fostering slow ripening, a good acid balance, and the preservation of aromas, preventing sunburn or overripening of the berries. The 2020 vintage highlights the essence of San Leonardo’s philosophy: a wine that embodies refinement and longevity, capable of thrilling today and astonishing in the years to come with its remarkable aging potential."

Arte a San Leonardo

Now in its third edition, Arte a San Leonardo is a project that, since 2023, has brought the renowned Trentino estate into dialogue with an artist who, after forming a deep connection with the winery, designs and creates several works—including a label adorning 999 bottles of the current vintage.

The first edition featured Simone Berti, while in the second year, the Guerrieri Gonzaga family collaborated with Marzia Migliora. This year, the artist is Linda Fregni Nagler, who drew inspiration from the San Leonardo museum to create five works inspired by the tools and objects housed there.

One of these, Leonardo da Vinci’s colmator, was chosen as the artist’s label for the 2020 vintage, which can be seen in the photo. The project, presented on March 13 in the stunning rooms of Palazzo Taverna in Rome, was conceived by Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga and Ilaria Tronchetti Provera and curated by Giovanna Amadasi. The highly limited-edition bottles featuring the special label will be available in three-bottle cases on sanleonardo.it starting March 27.