The selection, which included 71 wines, took place on March 30th in Castiglione della Pescaia before a jury of industry experts composed of sommeliers from Michelin-starred restaurants, oenologists, and wine technicians, chaired by Luciano Ferraro, Deputy Editor of Corriere della Sera. Seventeen Vermentino Superiore wines were tasted, along with a significant portion of organic wines, accounting for approximately 30% of the samples, demonstrating the growing focus on sustainability in the area's winemaking.
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Alongside Leopoldino, the 2026 Top Ten includes, in alphabetical order by winery: Belguardo Mazzei with the 2022 Vermentino Superiore “Belguardo V”, Bruni with the 2024 Vermentino “Perlaia”, Colli del Vento with the 2024 Vermentino “Frieda”, La Biagiola with the 2022 Vermentino “Cocciopesto”, Guido F. Fendi with the 2022 Vermentino “Burattini”, Mantellassi with the 2024 Vermentino “Scalandrino”, Podere Poggio Bestiale with the 2024 Vermentino Superiore “PerLelo”, Rocca delle Macie with the 2024 Vermentino “Vigna L’Aja Bruciata” and Tenuta Casteani with the 2024 Vermentino Superiore “Maremmano”.
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Vermentino is a key player on the Tuscan wine scene.
As required by the competition regulations, all competing wines belong to the Maremma Toscana DOC and contain a minimum of 85% Vermentino, often vinified as a single varietal and only occasionally blended with small amounts of other varieties such as Viognier, Sauvignon, or Trebbiano.
Vermentino is now the denomination's flagship grape, representing approximately 32% of total production, equivalent to over 2.4 million bottles. "The Vermentino Grand Prix represents a key moment of exchange and growth for the entire denomination," emphasizes Consortium President Francesco Mazzei, highlighting how the quality of the wines continues to improve year after year..
The 2026 Top Ten will be officially presented during Vinitaly 2026, where the Consorzio Tutela Vini della Maremma Toscana will be present with the appellation's new vintages. During the Verona event, 68 wines from 39 wineries will be available for tasting, including 24 organic wines, with a balanced selection of whites, reds, and rosés.
Meanwhile, production data confirm the appellation's strong performance: while Tuscan bottled wines are expected to decline by 2.4% in 2025, Maremma Toscana DOC maintains growth of 0.5%, consolidating a positive trend that in recent years has led to a 22.3% increase compared to 2019. Today, total production approaches 7.5 million bottles, with Vermentino firmly at the top of the list among the most representative varieties.
In this dynamic and constantly evolving scenario, the recognition obtained by the 2024 Vermentino “Leopoldino” Pepi Lignana from Fattoria Il Casalone is one of the most significant signs of the qualitative vitality of the Maremma winemaking region and of the growing affirmation of Vermentino as a protagonist of the Tuscan wine scene.
