Tre Bicchieri 2024, Lazio's best wines awarded by Gambero Rosso

Tre Bicchieri 2024 from Lazio

Lazio's Tre Bicchieri 2024. Excellent results, but not from Doc
production zones and Docg designations

In 2023, the winemakers of Lazio will remember the challenges they faced, as they grappled with both drought and late, violent hailstorms. These difficulties were not just felt by those practicing organic or biodynamic farming, but impacted vine growers throughout the region. However, there's hope that those who tended to their vineyards with the utmost care and passion will still produce wines of good quality, albeit in smaller quantities.

Regarding our tastings, Lazio remains consistent, with its merits and flaws alike. On the one hand, we can only acknowledge the region's capacity to yield excellent wines throughout. Four out of five provinces boasted at least one "Tre Bicchieri", with Rieti being the sole exception. Though historically less involved in wine production, Rieti too has been witnessing a slow yet steady improvement in quality and an increase in production over the past years. A striking array of grapes have contributed to these successes, both native ones—like bellone, biancolella, cesanese, and grechetto—and international varieties, from cabernet sauvignon and merlot to grenache, syrah, and viognier.

Yet, the ever-present issue is Lazio's lack of a distinct territorial identity. Only two out of the eleven "Tre Bicchieri" wines were appellation labeled. Even if a Frascati had made the cut—and a couple came close—it wouldn't have significantly altered the narrative. After all, this is a region with 27 Doc production zones and 3 Docg designations. Thus, this year Lazio still marches to its own beat, achieving commendable outcomes primarily through individual endeavors rather than a collective effort.

Lazio's Tre Bicchieri 2024. New entries and returners

This year, we warmly welcome back three wineries to our highest accolades and are delighted to introduce a newcomer. Two of these achieved recognition not for their flagship wines, but for those which captivated us due to their refreshing palatability: Coletti Conti with its Cesanese del Piglio Superiore Hernicus and Ciolli with the Cesanese di Olevano Romano Superiore Silene. Tenuta La Pazzaglia, on the other hand, earned accolades for its most ambitious wine: the Grechetto Poggio Triale. For the first time, the estate run by Paolo and Noemia d’Amico enters the elite club with its Chardonnay Calanchi di Vaiano.