The newly released Guida “Vini d’Italia” 2026 from Gambero Rosso has just been unveiled, revealing the winners of its special awards and shining a spotlight on the wines that earned the coveted Tre Bicchieri distinction.
Highlights and Special Awards
This edition (the 39th) of the guide is the product of over 70 contributors and nearly 40,000 tastings, resulting in more than 500 wines achieving the highest “Tre Bicchieri” acclaim. Meanwhile, 1,800 wines received “Due Bicchieri Rossi,” signaling a broader elevation of Italian wine quality.
Among the standout acknowledgments:
- Winery of the Year: The Alejandro Bulgheroni Family Vineyards (with holdings in Tuscany such as Dievole, Tenuta Le Colonne, Tenuta Meraviglia, Podere Brizio)
- Rosso (Red) of the Year: Brunello di Montalcino 2020 by Giodo (Carlo Ferrini & Bianca)
- Bianco (White) of the Year: Roero Arneis Incisa Riserva 2020 by Monchiero Carbone
- Bollicine (Sparkling) of the Year: Franciacorta Brut Nature 2021 by Bosio
- Rosato (Rosé) of the Year: Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo Baldovino 2024 by Tenuta I Fauri
- Meditation Wine of the Year: Lina Passito 2023 by Santa Barbara, Marche
- Best Value Wine: Cirò Bianco Mare Chiaro 2024 by Ippolito 1845, from Calabria
Other honors include Young Producers of the Year, Sustainable Viticulture Award, Emerging Wineries, and more — all reinforcing the guide’s role as both a wine reference and a cultural statement about renewal, curiosity, and quality in Italian wine.
The “Tre Bicchieri” List & Regional Variety
The guide’s “Tre Bicchieri” section reads like a panorama of Italy’s finest wine regions, from Valle d’Aosta to Sardegna, covering classic appellations — Barolo, Brunello, Amarone — along with lesser-known terroirs.
In Lombardy, where Franciacorta plays a starring role, the “Tre Bicchieri” honors include:
- Franciacorta Dosage Zéro Annamaria Clementi Riserva 2016 (Ca’ del Bosco)
- Franciacorta Dosage Zéro Natura 2020 (I Barisei)
- Franciacorta Dosage Zéro Rosé 2021 (Bellavista)
- Franciacorta Dosaggio Zero Gualberto 2015 (Ricci Curbastro)
- Franciacorta Extra Brut Arcadia Vintage 2020 (Lantieri de Paratico)
- Franciacorta Extra Brut EBB 2019 (Mosnel)
- Franciacorta Extra Brut Riserva 2017 (Ferghettina)
- Franciacorta Extra Brut Rosé 2021 (Barone Pizzini)
- Franciacorta Nature 61 2018 (Guido Berlucchi)
- Franciacorta Satèn Montina
The inclusion of Franciacorta Extra Brut Arcadia Vintage 2020 among the Tre Bicchieri underscores its excellence and significance in Franciacorta’s sparkling wine tradition. A luminous and expressive cuvée made from 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir, the Lantieri Franciacorta Arcadia Brut spends over 36 months on the lees, revealing elegance, complexity, and a vibrant spirit. Its selection for “Tre Bicchieri” places it among Italy’s most distinguished sparkling wines, reinforcing Lantieri de Paratico’s place on the national stage.
For the VinoVistara distribution network, having such a wine in the portfolio enhances prestige and signals serious quality. It gives sommeliers, wine buyers, and consumers a benchmark — not just a sparkling wine, but one recognized by Italy’s most authoritative guide.
Implications & Trends Reflected
- Italian Wines in Good Health: The high number of awarded wines indicates that Italian producers continue to push quality, experimentation, and innovation across regions.
- Sustainability & Rarity: The guide renews its “Vini Rari” project (about 50 bottlings produced under 3,000 bottles), highlighting boutique, terroir-driven projects.
- Sparkling Wines on the Rise: The prominence of Franciacorta (and its multiple Tre Bicchieri awardees) confirms that Italy’s high-end sparkling wine sector is increasingly important on the national and international stage.
- Regional Diversity: From Alto Adige to Sicily, the guide underscores that great wines no longer come only from “classic” locales — many up-and-coming regions earned recognition.
"We are not just presenting a guide, but a message: wine is about encounters, curiosity, and culture. It is part of our richness and today needs renewed enthusiasm. Quality Italian wine is in good health, as the tastings demonstrate: there is an increasing demand for independent models, the fruit of research, knowledge, and innovation," commented Lorenzo Ruggeri, editor-in-chief of Gambero Rosso.
The Guida “Vini d’Italia” 2026 reaffirms Gambero Rosso’s role as a central authority in Italian wine, offering not only a catalog of excellence but also a narrative about quality, identity, and renewal.
Source: WineNews