The 9 best Bolgheri red and white wines chosen by Gambero Rosso (with a new entry among the Tre Bicchieri winners)

The Bolgheri DOC, established in 1983, is one of Tuscany’s most prestigious appellations, particularly for red wines, though it also includes whites and rosés. It extends across the municipality of Castagneto Carducci (in the province of Livorno), covering the area east of the Via Aurelia, where a line of hills runs parallel to the sea. It is precisely in this hilly strip that vineyards thrive on varied soils, predominantly sandy-clayey, with marine breezes playing a fundamental role in ensuring a healthy climate.

Bolgheri: a land of great Reds from International varieties

Wine has been produced here in the heart of Alta Maremma since ancient times, as evidenced by Etruscan and Roman remains. However, the current ampelographic configuration owes much to the foresight of certain producers between the two world wars and in the years that followed, culminating in the recognition of Sassicaia in the late 1970s and then of other great reds soon after.

Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, owner of Tenuta San Guido, was the first to realise that international grape varieties, particularly Bordeaux blends, could thrive here. His vision was later followed by other pioneering producers such as Marchesi Antinori, Giovanni Chiappini, Pier Mario Meletti Cavallari, Eugenio Campolmi, and Michele Satta.

Today, the most widely cultivated grape varieties in Bolgheri remain Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. On the white wine front, there has recently been a strong focus on the indigenous Vermentino, a variety that has adapted perfectly to the Tuscan coast, producing increasingly remarkable wines.

A new entry among the Tre Bicchieri winners

With its Bolgheri Rosso Sup. Guado de' Gemoli 2021, the Giovanni Chiappini winery—now led by Martina and Lisa—has joined the 52 wineries that have won the Tre Bicchieri award for the first time this year.

Like Marchese Incisa della Rocchetta, Marchesi Antinori, and other visionary producers such as Pier Mario Meletti Cavallari, Eugenio Campolmi, and Michele Satta, Giovanni Chiappini was among the first to believe in Bolgheri’s potential as a great wine-producing region.

The best Bolgheri DOC red and white wines

The following list includes the top-rated Bolgheri red and white wines from the tastings for the Gambero Rosso Vini d'Italia 2025 guide.

First, we present the 7 Bolgheri Rosso wines awarded with Tre Bicchieri, followed by the 2 Bolgheri Bianco wines that earned Due Bicchieri Rossi, having reached the final tastings.

Bolgheri Rosso

Bolgheri Rosso Sup. Atis 2021 - Guado al Melo

Bolgheri Superiore Atis '21 – Guado al Melo
A full-bodied and deep wine, with ripe fruit notes, vegetal nuances, and balsamic hints. It has volume and remarkable persistence on the palate.
Michele Scienza, son of the renowned professor Attilio Scienza, has been producing wine in Bolgheri’s hilly area since 1998, alongside his wife Annalisa Motta, with great dedication and a touch of experimentation.

Bolgheri Rosso Sup. Dedicato a Walter 2020 -  Poggio al Tesoro

Bolgheri Superiore Dedicato a Walter '20 – Poggio al Tesoro
Aromatically intense, with delicate balsamic notes and a well-structured tannic texture, leading to a long and satisfying sip.
Marilisa Allegrini and her daughters Carlotta and Caterina have considered Bolgheri and Tuscany their second home, crafting sustainably produced wines since their first vintage in 2005. Their wines combine generosity and impeccable finesse.

Bolgheri Rosso Sup. Grattamacco 2021 - Grattamacco

Bolgheri Superiore Grattamacco '21 – Grattamacco
Aromas of blueberries and wild blackberries with spicy touches. Juicy and savoury on the palate, featuring vibrant fruit, soft tannins, and solid persistence.
Grattamacco was one of Bolgheri’s pioneering wineries, founded by Pier Mario Meletti Cavallari, a Bergamasque who moved to Castagneto Carducci. Since 2002, the winery has belonged to Collemassari, maintaining its high status in the denomination.

Bolgheri Rosso Sup. Guado de' Gemoli 2021 - Giovanni Chiappini

Bolgheri Superiore Guado de' Gemoli '21 – Giovanni Chiappini
A wine with character and energy, offering a juicy, vibrant, and well-defined sip. The dark fruit notes are enriched with fresh menthol accents.
Giovanni Chiappini, son of Marchigian farmers who settled in Bolgheri in the 1950s, was among the first to believe in Bolgheri’s viticultural potential, shifting away from traditional fruit and vegetable farming.

Bolgheri Rosso Volpolo 2022 - Podere Sapaio

Bolgheri Volpolo '22 – Podere Sapaio
An enticing bouquet of ripe red fruit, floral nuances, and spicy notes. The sip is flavourful, with a crisp, well-defined tannic structure, closing with a juicy and slightly piquant finish.
Massimo Piccin, a Venetian engineer, founded Podere Sapaio in 1999, gradually expanding its vineyards. He has recently favoured larger wooden casks, integrating them with concrete and amphorae.

Bolgheri Sassicaia 2021 - Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia '21 – Tenuta San Guido
This legendary wine confirms its elegance and aromatic complexity, balancing Mediterranean sensations and forest tones. The palate is generous in fruit, with exceptionally refined tannins.
The Incisa della Rocchetta family revolutionised Italian winemaking with Sassicaia, a global benchmark for fine wine, still unrivalled in its prestige today.

Bolgheri Sup. Castello di Bolgheri 2021 - Castello di Bolgheri

Bolgheri Superiore Castello di Bolgheri '21 – Castello di Bolgheri
A wine of density and finesse, with a savoury palate and a long finish enriched by Mediterranean scrub and ripe fruit aromas.
The Zileri dal Verme family has historically safeguarded Castello di Bolgheri, the only winery within the village walls. Since the late 1990s, Federico Zileri has introduced innovative maturation techniques, such as using large wooden casks for Cabernet Sauvignon.

Bolgheri Bianco

Bolgheri Bianco Borgeri 2023 - Giorgio Meletti Cavallari 

Bolgheri Bianco Borgeri '23 – Giorgio Meletti Cavallari
A well-crafted white wine from a Bolgheri-born winemaker, with beautiful savouriness and freshness, featuring clean and rich aromas.

Bolgheri Bianco Costa di Giulia 2023 - Michele Satta 

Bolgheri Bianco Costa di Giulia '23 – Michele Satta
A finely balanced white with pleasant contrast. The winery, founded by Michele Satta and now run by his children Giacomo and Benedetta, has undergone a significant transformation, refining winemaking techniques with precise harvesting and a mix of wood, concrete, and amphora ageing.

These exceptional Bolgheri wines, both red and white, demonstrate the ongoing evolution of the region, blending tradition, innovation, and the unique coastal terroir to create world-class wines.