Tre Bicchieri 2020

On September 6, 2019 the usual appointment returns in which, region after region, the Italian wines awarded with the much sought-after Tre Bicchieri del Gambero Rosso are unveiled. Starting from the southern regions, as tradition has it, and in particular from wine Sicily , which this year demonstrates great competence in defining the stylistic code of its labels. Also noteworthy, for this edition, is the role of cooperative wineries to which credit goes to having given a strong boost to the wine quality of the region. But also of Etna which reconfirms the appreciation of critics for wines of volcanic origin, with unique and unrepeatable characteristics. The novelty of the year is the entry into the guide for the first time of an Eloro Nero d'Avola DOC, a denomination to be discovered that will give great satisfaction in the near future.

Second in order of exit is Calabria , a scenario of novelties, confirmations and great returns, such as that of Greco di Bianco, considered one of the oldest wines of our peninsula and towards which Calabrian producers are turning renewed attention. Despite the recent trend of adding improvement varieties to gaglioppo, granted by the disciplinary of Cirò DOC, with the risk of confusing the appreciated characteristics of typicality and elegance that distinguish one of the most loved vines of the region, from Cirò come the two labels awarded with the Tre Glasses, respectively from Librandi and A Vita wineries. On the podium are the timeless Moscato Passito di Saracena by Luigi Viola, who this year won the Three Glasses for the tenth consecutive time, and the Grisara di Ceraudo, a pioneer of organic-biodynamic agriculture in Calabria.

The enological heritage of Basilicata is scarcely visible at an international level but of high value, with 5 splendid expressions of Aglianico del Vulture awarded. A clear sign that the wine growing area of Vulture and its grape variety are confirmed as the driving force of the region. From 2019, the year in which Matera was awarded the title of "European Capital of Culture", the revival of this region and the dissemination through tourism of the riches in food and wine terms that Basilicata has to offer are expected.

Abruzzo has 8 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo parades on the podium, of different vintages, production methods and character: they are fresh, intense or markedly witnesses of the territory. To these are added whites from distinctly representative vines of the region such as Pecorino and Trebbiano. We find historical names, such as I Fauri, but also historical companies such as Cataldi Madonna and Masciarelli, up to real legends such as the Trebbiano di Valentini. The placement of the Rosa-ae in Torre dei Beati is excellent, which gives new life to the Abruzzo rosatist tradition. Representing Molise is the inevitable Di Majo Norante, who still holds responsibility for Molise wine-making quality, but a greater contribution is expected from the other wineries in the area who are exploring and enhancing the potential of the native Tintilia grape variety.

Valle d'Aosta is the proven proof that low quantities of grapes generally produced give rise to high quality wines. From only 286 hectares of vineyards in the region, in fact, excellence of national enology comes to life, which cannot be exported exclusively for the limited quantities of wine available. The uniqueness of the Valle d'Aosta vineyards derives from their extension from the bottom of the valley to the snowy ones, in a mountain climate that is difficult to find elsewhere. If we add to this the coexistence of great international vines with autochthonous vines present only in this territory: petit arvine, prié blanc, vien de Nus, prëmetta, vuillermin, just to name a few, you can easily understand the value of the region and the labels it has to offer. Included a few years ago in the eligible wines of the Tre Bicchieri award, the Canton Ticino offers two wines, one from the north, Sopraceneri, the other from the south, Sottoceneri, from the canton, with completely different climatic and soil conditions.

In Liguria the absolute primacy of Vermentino is confirmed, present in 5 wines of the 8 awarded. It is the most popular and important variety of the Ligurian landscape, from Levante to Ponente, supported by Pigato, another prominent white berried grape of the territory, at least in the strip of land that reaches San Sarzana from Sanremo, and to a small extent also from Rossese. Noteworthy is the Vermentino Black Label of the Lunae Bosoni winery which this year not only equals but exceeds expectations.

South Tyrol this year parades with 21 labels on the podium of the Tre Bicchieri del Gambero Rosso, all from its vineyards with a favorable exposure to the sun. In a panorama of slopes, plains and valleys you can meet different expressions of South Tyrol, now more and more eager to emphasize the unique bond that is established between the vine and its vineyard. Here we find the famous Pinot Noir of Mazzon, the Lagrein of Gries, the Gewürztraminer of Söll, the Sylvaner of the Valle d'Isarco, a mosaic of unique and unparalleled combinations. In addition to the great South Tyrolean whites and reds, it is worth mentioning the renewed sparkling wine production, represented by Kettmeir's Extra Brut which acts as its reference point.

Primitivo is still the reference grape of Puglia : from simple fashion it has come to a lasting appreciation over time. A warranty. New this year is the first rosé made from this iconic grape awarded with the Three Glasses. Fixed points also remains the denomination Gioia del Colle DOC, without ever forgetting the beloved Salento. In Lombardy , Franciacorta continues to fly, among the excellences of the Italian sparkling wine scene, supported in holding up the banner of the region by the great red wines of the Valtellina and by the experiments of the Oltrepò Pavese Classic Method which gradually acquire greater awareness of their potential. But it does not end here: Lombardy can still offer a lot in terms of excellence and small typical enological niches, as demonstrated by the emergence of small names such as that of Botticino DOC.

Sardinia proves to be a region full of tasting ideas every year. Great white and red wines that know how to interpret the territorial peculiarities: wines derived from sandy soils a few meters from the sea, wines from granite hilly areas, wines from schist soils. All with a focus on the autochthonous grape variety, then Cannonau, Vermentino, Moscato. The awarding of the Three Glasses for the first time is attended by a Bovale DOC and Barbera Sarda from the Dolianova winery. Wines that deserve due recognition.

Advances continue for the wines awarded by the Vini d'Italia 2020 guide with Lazio . Among the wines of the province of Rome, the Tre Bicchieri go for the first time to Damiano Ciolli's Olevano Romano while it is the second year of the Roma DOC in a limited edition of Poggio Le Volpi. In Viterbo, the well-known names of Sergio Mottura and Falesco of the Cotarella family are remembered. Among the experiments that have not reached the podium but that remain to be reported, however, is that of Bellone aged in amphora.

Trentino is divided mainly between its sparkling and red face. Trento DOC sparkling wines have nothing to envy to the bubbles of other great Italian denominations; they are distinguished from them for their ability to transmit a unique territory, made of vineyards on the high ground and a typically mountain microclimate. Red wines, on the other hand, confirm the traditional presence of Teroldego which is increasingly pushing towards top-level productions. On the podium there is also space for a white wine made from Müller Thurgau grapes and for a Vin Santo, a type less visited but in which more can be believed.

Umbria is increasingly affirmed in a sectoral progression of its territory, each area has a clear and defined identity that is reflected in the wines produced. Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG and also a large Montefalco Rosso DOC paint the qualities of central Umbria, south of Perugia. The producers' commitment in the areas of Spoleto and in the Orvieto DOC is clear. But let's never forget those smaller and lesser-known territories that reserve pleasant surprises: Todi, Narni, Amelia, to name a few.

From Emilia Romagna invariably praiseworthy expressions of Lambrusco. The awareness of this grape is high and also the production quality. But the region also produces wonderful sparkling wines based on Malvasia di Candia and red wines from Pignoletto grapes. Romagna carves out an important role in the enhancement and exaltation of Sangiovese which finds one of its kingdoms par excellence here, especially in the municipality of Predappio, but soon there will also be space for rare native vines and white berried varieties such as Albana or Rebola. This is the opinion of the selection boards of the Three Glasses.

The Marches are distinguished as every year by a high presence of Tre Bicchieri labels with the Verdicchio dei Casteli di Jesi DOC denomination, demonstration of a high and constant quality level. Proportionately high is also the number of another Verdicchio in the region, that of Matelica, which is increasingly making its way among the best white wines from the Marche and national regions. However, it should be noted the high turnover of the wineries that reach the highest prize of the guide, a symptom of a greater difficulty in selecting the best wines but also that those who receive the two red glasses could be equally commendable wines.

Campania offers wines that make character, personality and territorial flavor their strength. With differences that tell of the wealth both in terms of grape variety and territories that the region can offer. A commitment on the part of the producers more focused on some denominations or typologies would allow to make a vertical leap in the qualitative dimension, originating wonderful expressions of Fiano di Avellino, Greco di Tufo, Falanghina and Taurasi who manage to make people talk about Campania in the world.

2018 was an extraordinary year for Friuli Venezia Giulia , capable of giving wines of great vigor and complexity, despite their young age. The most important vines of the region have all been equally represented among the excellences of the Tre Bicchieri del Gambero Rosso: Friulano, Sauvignon, Pinot Bianco. To remember the fascinating macerated white wines of the Oslavia area, produced by the work of Primosic, Podversic and Skerk; but also Collavini's Ribolla Gialla Spumante in an innovative Brut Natiure version. Lis Neris' Tal Luc Cuvée .1.2 is also an important presence in the ranks of sweet wines.

Veneto is undoubtedly Valpolicella, Amarone therefore, tradition, but in the same scenario new innovative stimuli are born, which go from the less and less dosed version of Prosecco di Conegliano Valdobbiadene, to the exaltation of the Gargano-territory link of the producers of Soave, up to the mass highlighting the fine elegance of the Euganean Hills. And then Montello, Vallagarina and Custoza, for a panorama made up of many pieces that together paint the region's oenological mosaic.

Piedmont offers 74 oenological excellences, of which 46 are based on Nebbiolo grapes. Barolo and Barbaresco dominate unchallenged, yet there is also room for other denominations, one of all the Alta Langa, which is conquering the limelight and which we will certainly hear about in the coming years. There are also excellent Erbaluce, Cortese, Roero, Monferrato wines. To report an almost absence of Moscato d'Asti. In general, the great names of wine return but wineries that enter the guide for the first time also win the title.

The preview of the most awarded labels of the Gambero Rosso guide ends with the 89 Tre Bicchieri assigned to the wines of the Tuscany region. Besides the historical names such as Frescobaldi and Antinori, and the international groups, Constellation Brands di Ruffino, the French group Epi with Biondi Santi and Saverys with Avignonesi, just to name a few, other wineries never mentioned in the guide and the Maremma denominations are also more important. , Montecucco and Cortona.

Below is the complete list of the winning wines of the Tre Bicchieri del Gambero Rosso for the 2020 edition of the guide and the labels on sale on VINO75.

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