OperaWine 2016 Showcases 100 Top Italian Wineries

A tasting of great wines, organized by Wine Spectator, headlines this spring's Vinitaly wine fair in Verona
OperaWine 2016 Showcases 100 Top Italian Wineries
The mix of wineries at OperaWine changes each year to better reflect Italy's diversity and achievements in wine.
Feb 19, 2016

At Vinitaly, Italy’s largest wine fair, more than 4,000 producers will present their wines to thousands of trade members and consumers from April 10 to 13 in Verona, as the event celebrates its 50th anniversary.

OperaWine is a microcosm, or distillation, of Vinitaly, presenting 100 Italian wine producers selected by Wine Spectator for their high quality, historical significance and regional prominence. Taking place on April 9 this year, OperaWine kicks off the fair and has become a focal point for anyone interested in the country's wines.

"I believe OperaWine has become the highlight of Vinitaly and a great showcase for the best Italian wines," said iconic vintner Piero Antinori, whose winery is returning to pour again in 2016. The full list of participating wineries has just been revealed.

The event, a partnership between Vinitaly and Wine Spectator, debuted in 2012 as a way to spotlight the breadth and quality of Italian wine. Because the country’s diversity, heritage and achievements in wine cannot be summed up in such a small group of producers, each year the list changes, with new participants replacing some of the previous attendees.

In 2016, eight producers are first-time participants: Binomio from Abruzz, Vincenzo Ippolito from Calabria, La Tunella from Friuli/Venezia-Giulia, Elvio Cogno from Piedmont, Bellenda from Prosecco, Schola Sarmenti from Puglia, and Castello d’Albola and Il Palagio from Tuscany. Wine Spectator congratulates these wineries on their achievements.

Among the returning participants are other newer stars and leaders in emerging regions around Italy, along with blue-chip producers such as Antinori, Biondi-Santi, Aldo Conterno, Frescobaldi, Gaja, Masi, Ornellaia, Planeta, Tenuta San Guido (Sassicaia) and many more.

A full list of the 2016 OperaWine participants can be found below.

For more information, visit http://www.operawine.it.

2016 OperaWine Winery Participants and the Wines They Are Pouring

CASTELLO D'ALBOLA Chianti Classico Riserva 2010

ALLEGRINI Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2010

ALTESINO Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli 2010

CASTELLO DI AMA Toscana L'Apparita 2008

D'ANGELO Aglianico del Vulture 2012

ANSELMET Chardonnay Valle d'Aosta Élevé en Fût de Chêne 2013

ANTINORI Chianti Classico Badia a Passignano Riserva 2007

ARGIOLAS Isola dei Nuraghi Turriga 2010

AVIGNONESI Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Grandi Annate 2011

CASTELLO BANFI Brunello di Montalcino Poggio alle Mura Riserva 2008

BELLAVISTA Extra Brut Franciacorta Gran Cuvée Pas Operé 2005

BELLENDA Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore S.C. 1931 2006

BERTANI Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Capitel Monte Olmi 1964

BINOMIO Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2010

BIONDI-SANTI Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Greppo 2008

BRAIDA DI GIACOMO BOLOGNA Barbera d'Asti Bricco dell'Uccellone 2010

CA' DEL BOSCO Franciacorta Cuvée Annamaria Clementi Riserva 2005

ARNALDO CAPRAI Montefalco Sagrantino 25 Anni 2010

CARPINETO Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2007

CASANOVA DI NERI Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto 2008

CASTELLARE DI CASTELLINA Toscana I Sodi di San Niccolò 2011

CAVALLOTTO Barolo Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe Riserva 2008

CERETTO Barolo Bricco Rocche 2005

CESARI Amarone della Valpolicella Bosan 2000

ELVIO COGNO Barolo Ravera 2006

ALDO CONTERNO Barolo Romirasco 2005

CUSUMANO Sicilia Sàgana Tenuta San Giacomo 2011

DAMILANO Barolo Cannubi 2011

DESIDERIO BISOL & FIGLI Dry Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze 2014

DETTORI Romangia Red 2011

DONNAFUGATA Passito di Pantelleria Ben Ryé 2010

DREI DONÀ Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore Pruno Riserva 2008

FALESCO Lazio Montiano 2011

FALLETTO DI BRUNO GIACOSA Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto Riserva 2007

LIVIO FELLUGA Colli Orientali del Friuli Terre Alte 2008

MARCO FELLUGA Collio Russiz Superiore Col Disôre 2003

FATTORIA DI FELSINA Toscana Fontalloro 2011

FERRARI Extra Brut Trento Riserva Lunelli 2006

FEUDI DI SAN GREGORIO Irpinia Serpico 1999

GIANFRANCO FINO Primitivo di Manduria Es 2012

FONTERUTOLI Toscana Siepi 2006

FONTODI Colli della Toscana Centrale Flaccianello 2007

MARCHESI DE' FRESCOBALDI Chianti Rufina Nipozzano Vecchie Viti Riserva 2012

GAJA Langhe Sperss 2011

FATTORIA GALARDI Roccamonfina Terra di Lavoro 2011

BIBI GRAETZ Toscana Colore 2008

J. HOFSTÄTTER Gewürztraminer Alto Adige Kolbenhof 2013

VINCENZO IPPOLITO Cirò Ripe del Falco Riserva 2001

JERMANN Venezia-Giulia Dreams 2012

LIBRANDI Val di Neto Gravello 2012

LINI ORESTE & FIGLI Vino Spumante Metodo Classico In Correggio 910 Rosso 2004

CANTINE LUNAE BOSONI Vermentino Colli di Luni-Liguria Black Label 2014

LUNGAROTTI Torgiano Rubesco Vigna Monticchio Riserva 1977

LE MACCHIOLE Toscana Paleo Red 2008

DI MAJO NORANTE Molise Don Luigi Riserva 2012

GIUSEPPE MASCARELLO & FIGLIO Barolo Monprivato 2001

MASCIARELLI Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Villa Gemma 2008

MASI Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Mazzano 2007

MASSERIA LI VELI Aleatico Salento Passito 2008

MASSOLINO Barolo Vigna Rionda Riserva 2005

MASTROBERARDINO Taurasi Radici Riserva 2006

MASTROJANNI Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto 2007

MEDICI ERMETE Lambrusco Secco Reggiano Arte e Concerto 2013

MIRAFIORE Barolo Lazzarito 2008

NINO NEGRI Valtellina Sfursat 5 Stelle 2005

NOZZOLE Toscana Il Pareto 2010

ODOARDI Calabria GB 2013

TENUTA DELL'ORNELLAIA Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia 2002

SIRO PACENTI Brunello di Montalcino 2007

IL PALAGIO Toscana Sister Moon 2011

PETROLO Val d'Arno di Sopra Bòggina 2012

LEONILDO PIEROPAN Soave Classico La Rocca 2011

PLANETA Noto Santa Cecilia 2011

IL POGGIONE Brunello di Montalcino 2007

PRÀ Soave Classico Monte Grande 2011

AGRICOLA PUNICA Isola dei Nuraghi Barrua 2012

RENATO RATTI Barolo Rocche 2004

BARONE RICASOLI Chianti Classico Castello di Brolio 2006

SAN FELICE Toscana Vigorello 2011

TENUTA SAN GUIDO Bolgheri-Sassicaia Sassicaia 2012

LUCIANO SANDRONE Barolo Le Vigne 2006

PAOLO SCAVINO Barolo Bric dël Fiasc 2006

SCHOLA SARMENTI Nardò Nerìo Riserva 2012

TENUTA SETTE PONTI Toscana Oreno 2012

SUAVIA Soave Classico Monte Carbonare 2013

TABARRINI Montefalco Sagrantino Campo alla Cerqua 2010

TASCA D'ALMERITA Nerello Mascalese Sicilia Il Tascante 2012

TEDESCHI Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Capitel Monte Olmi 2007

CANTINA TERLANO Sauvignon Alto Adige Terlano Quarz 2013

TERRE BIANCHE Rossese di Dolceacqua Bricco Arcagna 2012

TERRE DEGLI SVEVI Aglianico del Vulture Re Manfredi 1998

TERREDORA DI PAOLO Fiano di Avellino CampoRe 2011

TOMMASI Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2008

TORMARESCA Aglianico Castel del Monte Bocca di Lupo 2011

LA TUNELLA Friulano Friuli Colli Orientali Col Livius 2011

UMANI RONCHI Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Casal di Serra Vecchie Vigne 2012

VALDICAVA Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano Riserva 2006

VIETTI Barolo Ravera 2011

CASTELLO DI VOLPAIA Chianti Classico Riserva 2012

ELENA WALCH Alto Adige Beyond the Clouds 2013

ZENATO Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sergio Zenato Riserva 2008

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