The English portal Wine-Lister measures the strength of wine brands by evaluating the frequency with which they are researched on Wine-Searcher and their presence in the wine list of starred restaurants. The result is the ‘Brand Score‘ ranking for each country. In the latest Italian edition, as reported by Wine News, the top five positions of the ranking are occupied by as many iconic Tuscan wines: Sassicaia, Tignanello, Ornellaia, Solaia, and Massetto.
The gold medal goes to Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia, with 998 points out of 1000, which it also happens to be No. 1 of the ‘Top 100‘ of ‘Wine Spectator‘ with the 2015 vintage, and to have received a score of 100/100 for the 2016 vintage by ‘The Wine Advocate‘. The second-ranking is Antinori Tignanello, with 995 points, the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques, and the first modern red wine blended with non-traditional varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. On the bottom step of the podium, there is Ornellaia, another major player in the luxury, wine market with 991 points. These are followed by Solaia, another leading label by Antinori, with 988 points, and Masseto, a wine that dominates, among Italians, in international auctions.
Following the five Tuscan super-wines in Wine-Lister’s top 10 brands, there are five important wines from Piedmont. At number 6, in fact, there is Gaja Barbaresco, with 975 points, in front of Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino Riserva, at number 7 with 969 points. In 8th position, there is another piece of history of the enology from the Langhe, Bartolo Mascarello Barolo with 962 points, followed by Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia with 955 points. The last position of the top 10 is occupied by two great wines, both with 954 points, Gaja Barolo Sperss and Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve, another Tuscan wine.
Franco Del Panta