Fame di Sud Il sud Italia come non lo avete mai visto
Yearbook of the best Italian wines 2017 (Annuario dei Migliori Vini Italiani 2017) – Ph. © Ferruccio Cornicello
At the end of every year, guides to Italian wines get published, and among them, the Yearbook of the best Italian wines by Luca Maroni. Thousands of evaluations and pieces of information about wine and wine-producers, and focus on excellences. The 49 top wines produced in the eight regions of Southern Italy. Southern companies also at the top of two special national lists.
by Ferruccio Cornicello
Conceived and edited by the sensory analyst Luca Maroni since 1993, the Yearbook of the best wines of Italy 2017 (Annuario dei Migliori Vini Italiani 2017) is at its twenty-fourth edition. Due to the amount of information in it, the voluminous publication is one of the most appreciated about the world of Italian wine. In order to complete this year’s edition, between September 2015 and September 2016, 1,490 companies were involved, 8,872 wines were indicated, and 35,488 wine tastings and evaluations were made solely by the Author.
Grading system and adopted score
In brief – for further details please refer to the volume – in order to assess the quality of the wines awarded, the guide combines the three basic organoleptic parameters common to every wine, namely consistency, balance, and integrity. They determine the index of quality, pleasantness, and fruitiness. The high quality of a wine, according to Maroni, is determined not by a single parameter of those abovementioned, but by their combination. Each of these parameters, which define the Index of Pleasantness (IP) designed by the author, gets a score (max 33 per parameter) up to a maximum of 99, indicating a wine “that is the embodiment of fruitiness, that is the pleasantness.”
Deep red is the color of the Italian wine excellence
The Author tasted 2,123 wines produced in the 8 regions of Southern Italy, evaluated 49 as real excellent ones, and first-classified them on the national Yearbook of the best Italian wines. They are wines from autochthonous grapes (Italy has around 700 varieties) and international grapes, not only in purity, namely 33 red wines, 6 white wines, 6 rosé wines, 4 sweet wines. Among these, only 7 wines received the highest score (99/99): they are produced in Abruzzo (2 red wines), Campania (1 red and 1 white wine), Puglia (1 red wine) and Sicilia (1 sweet and 1 red wine). The regions that, for various reasons, received the highest scores are Abruzzo, Campania, and Puglia. Finally, the production area receiving the highest number of awards, both for quantity and quality, is the Taranto area in Puglia.
The following are the winning wines divided by regions with indication of label, type (red, white, rosé, sweet), grapes, year of the tasted wine, producer and location, score up to 99/99.
Abruzzo
Winning wines – 5
Tasted wines – 415
Assessed producers – 52
Edizione Cinque Autoctoni (red) – Montepulciano 33%, Primitive 30%, Sangiovese 25%, Negramaro 7%, Malvasia 5% – year 2013, Azienda Farnese Vini (Ortona, CH), wine score 99/99
Moltepulciano d’Abruzzo Janù (red) – Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 85%, Cabernet 15% – year 2013, Azienda Jasci & Marchesani (Vasto, CH), wine score 99/99
Amaranta Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (red) – Montepulciano d’Abruzzo in purity – year 2013, Azienda Tenuta Ulisse (Crecchio, CH), wine score 98/99
Chardonnay Rudhir Historium (white) – Chardonnay in purity – year 2014, Jazienda Jasci & Marchesani (Vasto, CH), wine score 98/99
Il Rabdomante (red) – Montepulciano d’Abruzzo in purity – year 2013, Azienda Feudi Bizantini (Crecchio, CH), wine score 98/99
Basilicata
Winning wines – 5
Tasted wines – 60
Assessed producers – 14
L’Autentica (sweet) – Moscato 70%, Malvasia 30% – year 2014, Azienda Cantine del Notaio (Rionero in Vulture, PZ), wine score 97/99
Il Rogito (rosé) – Aglianico in purity – year 2015, Azienda Cantine del Notaio (Rionero in Vulture, PZ), wine score 95/99
Aglianico del Vulture Piano del Cerro (red) – Aglianico in purity – year 2012, Azienda Vigneti del Vulture Gruppo Farnese Vini (Acerenza, PZ), wine score 94/99
L’Atto (red), – Aglianico in purity – year 2015, Azienda Cantine del Notaio (Rionero in Vulture, PZ), wine score 94/99
La Firma Docg (red) – Aglianico in purity – year 2012, Azienda Cantine del Notaio (Rionero in Vulture, PZ), wine score 94/99
Calabria
Winning wines – 8
Tasted wines – 50
Assessed producers – 22
G B Giovan Battista Odoardi (red) – Gaglioppo 25%, Magliocco 25%, Nerello Cappuccio 25%, Greco Nero 25% – year 2013, Azienda Agricola Odoardi (Nocera Terinese, CZ), wine score 97/99
Alarico (red) – Nerello in purity – year 2015, Azienda Tenuta Terre Nobili di Lidia Matera (Montalto Uffugo, CS), wine score 96/99
Donna Giovanna (white) – Greco Bianco in purity – year 2015, Azienda Tenuta Iuzzolini (Cirò Marina, KR), wine score 96/99
Donna Rosa (rosé) – Gaglioppo in purity – year 2015, Azienda Fattoria San Francesco (Cirò, KR), wine score 95/99
Grayasusi Etichetta Argento (rosé) – Gaglioppo in purity – year 2015, Azienda Ceraudo (Strongoli, KR), wine score 95/99
Lumare (rosé) – Gaglioppo 80%, Cabernet Sauvignon 20% – year 2015, Azienda Tenuta Iuzzolini (Cirò Marina, KR), wine score 95/99
Ronco dei Quattroventi (red) – Gaglioppo in purity – year 2013, Azienda Fattoria San Francesco (Cirò, KR), wine score 95/99
Teodora (red) – Nerello in purity – year 2013, Azienda Tenuta Terre Nobili di Lidia Matera (Montalto Uffugo, CS), wine score 95/99
Campania
Winning wines – 6
Tasted wines – 434
Assessed producers – 81
Eremo San Quirico Aglianico Campi Taurasini Cru (red) – Aglianico in purity – year 2013, Azienda Nativ (Partenopoli, AV), wine score 99/99
Neroametà (white) – Aglianico in purity – year 2014, Azienda Mastroberardino (Atripalda, AV), wine score 99/99
Donnalaura Falanghina Vendemmia Tardiva (white) – Falanghina in purity – year 2015, Azienda Masseria Frattasi (Montesarchio, BN), wine score 98/99
Mammasantissima Primitivo Riserva (red) – Primitive in purity – year 2013, Azienda Montemajor (Avellino, AV), wine score 98 /99
Maravento Terre Siciliane Vendemmia Tardiva (red) – Syrah in purity – year 2015, Azienda Montemajor (Avellino, AV), wine score 98/99
Taurasi Radici Riserva (red) – Aglianico in purity – year 2009, Azienda Mastroberardino (Atripalda, AV), wine score 98/99
Molise
Winning wines – 5
tasted wines – 25
Assessed producers – 4
Triassi (red) – Cabernet 55%, Merlot 35%, Aglianico 10% – year 2013, Azienda Tenimenti Grieco (Portocannone, CB), wine score 96/99
Dajje Tintilia Rosé (rosé) – Tintilia in purity – year 2015, Azienda Cantine Cieri (Termoli, CB), wine score 95/99
Bianco Gironia Biferno (white) – Trebbiano 70%, Uve bianche 20%, Malvasia 10% – year 2015, Azienda Cantine Borgo di Colleredo (Campomarino, CB), wine score 94/99
Lenda (red) – Aglianico in purity – year 2014, Azianda Tenimenti Grieco (Portocannone, CB), wine score 93/99
Rosso Gironia Biferno Riserva (red) – Montepulciano 80%, Aglianico 20% – year 2009, Azienda Cantine Borgo di Colleredo (Campomarino, CB), wine score 93/99
Puglia
Winning wines – 10
Tasted wines – 502
Assessed producers – 91
62 Anniversario Primitivo Riserva (red) – Primitive in purity – year 2013, Azienda Cantine San Marzano (San Marzano di San Giuseppe, TA), wine score 99/99
Collezione Cinquanta + 1 (red) – Primitive 50%, Negroamaro 50% – year 2013, Azienda Cantine San Marzano (San Marzano di San Giuseppe, TA), wine score 98/99
F Negramaro Salento (red) – Negroamaro in purity – year 2013, Azienda Cantine San Marzano ( San Marzano di San Giuseppe, TA), wine score 98/99
LùLi (red) – Primitive 50%, Negroamaro 50% – year 2015, Azienda Masca del Tacco (Erchie, BR), wine score 98/99
Papale Primitivo di Manduria Linea Oro (red) – Primitive in purity – year 2014, Azienda Varvaglione Vigne & Vini (Leporano, TA), wine score 98/99
Primitivo di Manduria Es (red) – Primitive in purity – year 2014, Azienda Gianfranco Fino Viticultore (Sava, TA), wine score 98/99
Primitivo di Manduria Sessantanni (red) – Primitive in purity – year 2013, Azienda Cantine San Marzano (San Marzano di San Giuseppe, TA), wine score 98/99
Primitivo di Manduria Vigne Vecchie Gold Series (red) – Primitive in purity – year 2013, Azienda Vigneti del Salento Gruppo Farnese Vini (Manduria, TA), wine score 98/99
Salestre Nero di Troia (red) – Nero di Troia in purity – year 2015, selection of wines for the Swiss market (importer for Switzerland Bataillard & Cie AG, Rothenburg, Schweiz), wine score 98/99
Silentium Riserva (red) – Primitive in purity – year 2012, Azienda Silentium (Giubiasco, TA), wine score 98/99
Sardegna
Winning wines – 5
Tasted wines – 52
Assessed producers – 28
Nieddera Rosato Valle del Tirso (rosé) – Nieddera 90%, other red grapes – year 2015, Azienda Còntini (Cabras, OR), wine score 95/99
Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva ‘Inu (red) – Cannonau in purity – year 2013, Azienda Còntini (Cabras, OR), wine score 92/99
Oirad (sweet) – Moscato 33%, Malvasia 33%, Nasco 33% – year 2014, Azienda Ferruccio Deiana (Settimo San Pietro, CA), wine score 92/99
Thurcalesu (red) – Cannonau in purity – year 2014, Azienda Cantina Berritta (Dorgali, NU), wine score 92/99
Vermentino di Gallura Canayli Vendemia Tardiva (white) – Vermentino in purity – year 2015, Azienda Cantina Gallura (Tempio Pausania, OT), wine score 92/99
Sicilia
Winning wines – 5
Tasted wines – 585
Assessed producers – 80
Ben Ryé Passito di Pantelleria (sweet) – Zibibbo in purity – year 2014, Azienda Donnafugata ( Marsala, TP), wine score 99/99
Tosone Nero D’Avola Terre Siciliane Igt (red) – Nero d’Avola in purity – year 2015, Azienda Tosone (Salemi, TP), wine score 99/99
Malvasia Tenuta Capofaro (sweet) – Malvasia delle Lipari – year 2015, Azienda Tasca d’Almerita (Sclafani Bagni, PA), wine score 97/99
Sole di Sesta (red) – Syrah in purità – year 2013, Azienda Cottanera (Messina, ME), wine score 97/99
Il Passo (red) – Nerello mascalese 50%, Nero d’Avola 50% – year 2015 Azienda Tenimenti Zabù Gruppo Farnese Vini (Sambuca di Sicilia, AG), wine score 96/99
The prominence of Southern oenology in the national context
This edition of the Yearbook gives great recognition to producers of the Southern regions, and their wines, and two special lists of 20 and 21 selected producers appeared. We picked the top three producers of both lists, some of them awarded ex-aequo. In this selection, Puglia dominates with four wine producers, while other awards go to producers of Abruzzo, Sicilia, Toscana, and Umbria. At the top of the two lists we find two producers, respectively, from Abruzzo and Sicilia.
National list of the best producers (Top three for Total Qualitative-Quantitative Index TQQ – the most diffusely pleasant)
– Azienda Farnese Vini – Abruzzo, Index TQQ 11,3
– Azienda Cantine San Marzano – Puglia, Index TQQ 11,28
– Azienda Barbanera – Duca di Saragnano – Toscana, Index TQQ 11,11
National list of producers for Index of average pleasantness (Index of average pleasantness equal or superior to 91)
– Azienda Tosone – Sicilia, Organoleptic average 99
– Azienda Salestre – Puglia, Organoleptic average 98
– Azienda Gianfranco Fino Viticoltore – Puglia, Organoleptic average 98
– Azienda La Loggia Wines – Umbria, Organoleptic average 98
– Azienda Silentium – Puglia, Organoleptic average 97
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
For further details:– Luca Maroni, Annuario dei migliori vini italiani 2017, Sens, Formello (RM), 2016, 1116 p.
– Fabio Giavedoni, Maurizio Gily (a cura di), Guida ai vitigni d’Italia. Storia e caratteristiche di 700 varietà autoctone, Bra (CN), Slow Food Editore, 2016, 688 p.
– Mauro Rosati, Atlante Qualivita 2015 Food&Wine. I prodotti agroalimentari e vitivinicoli italiani DOP IGP STG. Le bevande spiritose IG italiane, Siena, Fondazione Qualivita, 2015, 960 p.
– Antonio Calò, Angelo Costacurta, Attilio Scienza, Vitigni d’Italia. Le varietà tradizionali per la produzione di vini moderni, Bologna, Edagricole, 2006, 920 p.
– Attilio Scienza (a cura di), Atlante geologico dei vini d’Italia, Firenze, Giunti, 2015, 360 p.
– Andrea Zanfi, Attilio Scienza, Italia. Terre di vino, Prato, SeB Editori, 2016, 725 p.
