“Top 100 Best Buys” 2026 by “Wine Enthusiast”, 19 Italian wines at the top for quality/price ratio

When September arrives, for the wine world it is not only harvest season, but also the time of guides, classifications and rankings. This happens in Italy and around the world, as regularly reported by WineNews. And, as tradition dictates, the first major ranking to appear from the United States is the “Top 100 Best Buys” 2026 by “Wine Enthusiast” (whose Italian wine writers are Danielle Callegari and Jeff Porter), which celebrates wines that, to earn this recognition, must retail for 20 dollars or less, score at least 86 points, and be awarded the “Best Buy” designation after meeting specific criteria relating to quality, price and bottle size. Value for money is certainly not a factor to be overlooked, especially at a time marked by declining consumption and, in the United States, by tariff concerns that may affect purchasing decisions.
Once again this year, as is often the case in such rankings, Italian wine enjoys a strong presence, reflecting a national wine culture that has long combined quality with affordability, allowing wine lovers to enjoy excellent bottles at accessible prices and strike a genuine bargain at the wine shop. Compared to the 2025 edition of the “Top 100 Best Buys”, Italy has 19 wines in the ranking this year, 2 more than last year. While France takes the No. 1 position with An 560 Héritage Tautavel 2023 di Gérard Bertrand, Italy and Piedmont immediately follow in No. 2 with Colli Tortonesi Barbera Superiore La Zerba 2024 by Cantine Volpi,
historic reality ofunded in 1914 and one of the most recognizable wineries of the Colli Tortonesi area. Australia ranks No. 3 with No. 55 Reverence of Riesling by Rieslingfreak, but Italy places an impressive three wines in the Top 10 (in 2025, the labels were 2). Piedmont returns at No. 6 thanks to Langhe Nebbiolo 2025 by Luca Bosio, while Sicily claims No. 10 with Olli Grillo Sicilia Doc 2024 by Feudo Maccari. Position No. 11 goes to Chardonnay Südtirol Alto Adige 2024 by Muri-Gries, from one of South Tyrol leading wine estates, while No. 15 goes to Campofiorin Igt by Masi, a historic label from one of the most important wineries in Veneto and Italy. Another benchmark of Italian wine, and of Sicily in particular, is Planeta, which appears in the ranking at No. 22 with La Segreta 2024 Sicilia Doc Bianco.
Tuscany, the most represented Italian region in the Top 100 with six wines, enters the list at No. 35 with Castello di Albola Chianti Classico 2023, one of the denomination best-known names and part of the Zonin1821 Group. Piedmont follows with Barbera del Monferrato Maraia 2022 by Marchesi di Barolo, produced by the historic winery led by the Abbona family. Tuscany also appears at No. 51 with Chianti Biskero by Salcheto, produced by the fully sustainable Montepulciano estate, while Piedmont returns at No. 53 with Moscato d’Asti 2025 by G.D. Vajra, one of the territory most acclaimed producers. And, if Pinot Grigio 2024 by J. Hofstätter ranks No. 56, Etna Rosso Carusu 2024 by Terrazze dell’Etna places Sicily once again in the ranking at No. 58. Chianti Classico Riserva 2023 by Kirkland Signature is at position No. 69, Umbria Igt 2024 by Santa Cristina at No. 73, and Sicily (with 5 out of Italy 19 wines in the ranking), returns with Anthìlia Sicilia Doc 2024 by Donnafugata (No. 77). The historic Rallo family winery was one of the protagonists of Sicily wine “renaissance”. Stemmari, the Sicilian winery belonging to the Mezzacorona Group, also makes the list with its Grillo Sicilia Doc 2025 (No. 79). The final trio belongs entirely to Tuscany: from Dogajolo Rosso Igt 2023 by Carpineto (No. 86), produced by the Zaccheo and Sacchet families, who own estates across several of Tuscany most prestigious wine regions, Chianti Colli Senesi 2022 by San Gregorio (No. 89) and Chianti Collezione Oro Riserva 2023 by Piccini (No. 99).

Focus – Italian wineries in the “Top 100 Best Buys” 2026 by “Wine Enthusiast”
2. Cantine Volpi – Colli Tortonesi Barbera Superiore La Zerba 2024
6. Luca Bosio – Langhe Nebbiolo 2025
10. Feudo Maccari – Olli Grillo Sicilia 2024
11. Muri-Gries – Chardonnay Sudtirol Alto Adige 2024
15. Masi – Campofiorin Igt 2022
22. Planeta – La Segreta Sicilia 2024
35. Castello di Albola (Gruppo Zonin1821) – Chianti Classico 2023
49. Marchesi di Barolo – Barbera del Monferrato Maraia 2022
51. Salcheto – Chianti Biskero 2024
53. G.D. Vajra – Moscato d’Asti 2025
56. J. Hofstätter – Pinot Grigio 2024
58. Terrazze dell’Etna – Carasu 2024 Etna Rosso
69. Kirkland Signature – Chianti Classico Riserva 2023
73. Umbria Igt 2024 di Santa Cristina
77. Donnafugata – Anthìlia Sicilia 2024
79. Stemmari (Mezzacorona) – Grillo Sicilia 2025
86. Carpineto – Dogajolo Rosso Igt 2023
89. San Gregorio – Chianti Colli Senesi 2022
99. Piccini – Chianti Collezione Oro Riserva 2023