Here lines up the qualitative apex of our pyramid for this 12th edition of The Essential Guide to Italian Wines. These are for us the best Italian wines for the coming season, absolutely great wines that, it goes without saying, will remain great for years to come. We are talking about the DoctorWine 2026 Double and Triple Seals (98/100 and 99-100/100).

As we have seen in recent days, our recognition snaps above the 95/100 score with the DoctorWine seals. It means that Daniele Cernilli “puts his face on it,” that is, he exposes himself in the first person (DoctorWine is his pseudonym) whether he assigned it personally or one of the contributors suggested it.

As part of the seals, i.e., wines awarded the the seal of the DoctorWine logo, there is a further hierarchy of our ratings, in a way that is also visually evident: the double facet to the wines that achieved 98/100 (this year there are 49) and for those that reach 99/100 and even 100/100 we trigger the triple seals(14 wines).

These are very few wines, 1.8 percent of our already drastic selection, and represent the true tip of the quality pyramid of national vitienology. We felt it was right to emphasize this more prominently.

99/100

Barbaresco Crichet Pajé 2016 Roagna I Paglieri, Piedmont
Barolo Bricco Rocche 2021 Ceretto, Piedmont
Barolo Monprivato Riserva Cà D’Morissio 2016 Giuseppe Mascarello e Figlio, Piedmont
Barolo Riserva Monfortino 2019 Giacomo Conterno, Piedmont
Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto 2019 Casanova di Neri, Tuscany
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2019 Cupano, Tuscany
Campania Fiano Cupo 2023 Pietracupa, Campania
Collio Sauvignon Extempore 2019 Venica&Venica, Friuli Venezia Giulia
Marche Rosso Kupra 2022 Oasi degli Angeli, Marche
Marsala Vergine Riserva VR1898 1998 Florio, Sicily
Umbria Chardonnay Il Nibbio 2021 Castello della Sala, Umbria
Veneto Rosso Harlequin 2017 Zýmē, Veneto
Venezia Giulia Ribolla 2017 Gravner, Friuli Venezia Giulia
2020 San Leonardo Dolomites Vineyards, Trentino

98/100

Alto Adige Gewürztraminer VT Epokale 2017 Cantina Kellerei Tramin, Alto Adige
Alto Adige Grande Cuvée Terlaner I 2022 Cantina Terlano / Kellerei Terlan, Alto Adige
Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva 2015 Giuseppe Quintarelli, Veneto
Amelia Vinsanto 10 Years La Palazzola, Umbria
Barbaresco Riserva Asili 2020 Bruno Giacosa, Piedmont
Barbaresco Sorì Tildin 2022 Gaja, Piedmont
Barolo 2021 Bartolo Mascarello, Piedmont
Barolo Bussia 2021 Giuseppe Rinaldi, Piedmont
Barolo Ester Canale Vigna Rionda 2021 Giovanni Rosso, Piedmont
Barolo Lazzarito 2021 Vietti, Piedmont
Barolo Ravera Riserva Vigna Elena 2019 Elvio Cogno, Piedmont
Barolo Riserva Lazzarito 2019 Ettore Germano, Piedmont
Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda 2019 Massolino Vigna Rionda, Piedmont
Barolo Vite Talin 2019 Luciano Sandrone, Piedmont
Bolgheri Superiore Dedicated to Walter 2021 Poggio al Tesoro – Marilisa Allegrini, Tuscany
Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie 2020 Il Marroneto, Tuscany
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 123 2019 Patrizia Cencioni, Tuscany
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2019 Fuligni, Tuscany
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2019 Poggio di Sotto, Tuscany
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2019 San Filippo, Tuscany
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Filo di Seta 2019 Castello Romitorio, Tuscany
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Nello 2019 Baricci, Tuscany
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva PS 2019 Siro Pacenti, Tuscany
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Ruello 2021 Boschetto Campacci, Tuscany
Colli Berici Riserva Oratorio S. Lorenzo 2020 Inama, Veneto
Colli Piacentini Vin Santo di Vigoleno 2013 Lusignani, Emilia
Etna Rosso San Lorenzo Piano delle Colombe 2022 Girolamo Russo, Sicily
Fiorano Rosso 2020 Tenuta di Fiorano, Lazio
Friuli Isonzo Chardonnay Cortesar 2018 Vie di Romans, Friuli Venezia Giulia
Gioia del Colle Primitivo Riserva 2018 Tenute Chiaromonte, Apulia
Grave di Stecca 2018 Nino Franco Sparkling Wines, Veneto
Malvasia di Bosa Riserva 2019 G. Battista Columbu, Sardinia
Marche Rosso Il Tolentino 2022 Il Pollenza, Marche
Marsala Riserva Vergine Secco 45 Years Old 1980 Heritage Francesco Intorcia, Sicily
Romangia Dettori Rosso 2020 Tenute Dettori, Sardinia
Romangia Rosso Li Sureddi 2023 Antichi Vigneti Manca, Sardinia
Rosso Piceno Superiore Roggio del Filare 2022 Velenosi, Marche
Salento Primitivo Es 2023 Gianfranco Fino Winemaker, Apulia
Terre Siciliane Franchetti 2023 Passopisciaro, Sicily
Torgiano Riserva Rubesco Vigna Monticchio 2020 Lungarotti, Umbria
Toscana Camartina 2021 Querciabella, Tuscany
Toscana Guardavigna 2021 Podere Forte, Tuscany
Toscana Lux Vitis 2021 Tenuta Luce, Tuscany
Toscana Merlot Masseto 2022 Ornellaia and Masseto, Tuscany
Toscana Rosso I Sodi di San Niccolò 2021 Castellare di Castellina, Tuscany
Tuscany Red Forever 2022 Tua Rita, Tuscany
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2021 Valentini, Abruzzo
Venezia Giulia Bianco Dut’un 2022 Vie di Romans, Friuli Venezia Giulia
Venezia Giulia Ribolla R10 2010 Gravner, Friuli Venezia Giulia

And that’s not all.

Below is the link to pre-order your copy of the Essential Guide to the Wines of Italy 2026 and to book yourself at the events presentation events in Milan and Rome: