Top 5 Most Expensive Tuscany Wine

Tuscany wine is renowned worldwide, and the region's most expensive bottles are truly extraordinary. In this guide, we reveal the top five most expensive wines from Tuscany wines – elite Italian reds coveted by collectors.

These iconic wines span Chianti, Super Tuscan blends, and Brunello di Montalcino, showcasing the pinnacle of Tuscany's winemaking. Each bottle illustrates the region's heritage and world-class craftsmanship.

Why Are Some Tuscany Wines So Expensive?

Not all Tuscan wines come with lofty price tags. The most expensive Tuscany wine labels typically either break traditional rules as Super Tuscan wines or represent top-tier DOCG classics like Brunello di Montalcino Riserva. In both cases, a few key factors drive their high prices:

• Limited Production & Terroir: Many luxury Tuscan wines are produced in very small quantities – sometimes only a few thousand bottles per year from exclusive vineyards. This scarcity (often single-estate or single-vineyard) makes each bottle highly sought after. Exceptional terroir in areas like Bolgheri and Montalcino yields grapes of outstanding quality, but in limited supply.

• Winemaking Excellence: Legendary winemakers and historic families (Antinori, Frescobaldi, etc.) craft these wines with meticulous care. Whether a bold Cabernet-based blend or an old-vine Sangiovese, the wines undergo rigorous selection, extended ageing in fine oak, and long bottle maturation. This level of craftsmanship and time investment adds to the cost.

• Critical Acclaim & Collectability: Many of Tuscany's priciest wines consistently earn 95–100 point scores from critics. Such accolades, plus decades of aging potential, fuel global demand. Some bottles (eg renowned Super Tuscan vintages or Brunello Riservas) have achieved cult status, driving prices further up as collectors compete to own them.

In short, the combination of rarity, pedigree, and exceptional quality makes these Tuscany wine treasures command a premium. Now, let's explore the top 5 most expensive Tuscan wines and discover what makes each one special.

1. Masseto Toscana IGT – Cult Super Tuscan Merlot Majesty

Topping our list is Masseto, an iconic Merlot-based Super Tuscan from Bolgheri. This cult wine, produced by the Ornellaia estate, often commands around €800–€1,000 per 750ml bottle. Only about 3,000 cases are made each year, which means Masseto's supply is extremely limited and allocated to lucky buyers upon release.

In the glass, Masseto delivers an opulent experience. Expect rich flavors of black plum, blackberry jam, and dark chocolate, layered with notes of espresso and sweet spice. The texture is plush and velvety, with ripe tannins that glide across the palate. Despite its power, this Tuscany wine retains superb balance and elegance – a testament to meticulous winemaking. Masseto routinely earns high-90s scores (even 100 points in top vintages), cementing its status as one of Italy's most expensive and revered wines. For collectors, a bottle of Masseto is a trophy representing the heights that Tuscan Merlot can achieve.

2. Sassicaia Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC – Pioneer of Super Tuscan Excellence

Sassicaia by Tenuta San Guido is perhaps Tuscany's most famous wine worldwide.Often credited as the original Super Tuscan, Sassicaia revolutionized Italian wine in the 1970s by proving a Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Bolgheri could rival Bordeaux's best. Today, top vintages of Sassicaia cost several hundred euros (around €300–€500 per bottle), reflecting its enduring prestige. Notably, Sassicaia is the only Italian wine with its own DOC (Bolgheri Sassicaia), underscoring its unique stature.

This distinguished Tuscan red is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Cabernet Franc. It offers classic flavors of cassis (blackcurrant), cedar, and tobacco, along with hints of wild herbs from the Mediterranean scrub. On the palate Sassicaia is refined and long, with silky yet structured tannins that promise decades of ageing potential. Legendary vintages (like 1985 or 2016) earned perfect scores, further fueling Sassicaia's collectability. As a trailblazer of quality, Sassicaia remains synonymous with excellence – an essential name when discussing the most exclusive Tuscany wine bottles.

3. Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore DOC – Sumptuous Bolgheri Benchmark

Another Bolgheri superstar, Ornellaia is a Bordeaux-style blend that ranks among Tuscany's priciest wines. Produced by Tenuta dell'Ornellaia (the same estate behind Masseto), Ornellaia typically costs around €200–€300 per bottle for sought-after vintages. It has become a modern classic, showcasing the luxurious potential of Tuscan Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc in harmony.

Ornellaia is admired for her sumptuous flavour profile and depth. Each sip reveals layers of ripe black fruits (blackberry, blackcurrant) interwoven with notes of mocha, graphite, and a touch of vanilla from French oak aging. Full-bodied and richly textured, it nevertheless retains a polished structure and fine-grained tannins. Ornellaia often garners 95+ point ratings, praised for marrying power with finesse. With over three decades of history, Ornellaia has solidified its place as a Tuscany wine icon. Its combination of Bolgheri's terroir, a stellar winemaking team, and consistent critical acclaim ensures this wine's high price and desirability among enthusiasts.

4. Antinori Solaia Toscana IGT – Cabernet-Sangiovese Tuscan Icon

Solaia is Marchesi Antinori's flagship Super Tuscan blend and one of the region's most expensive wines. Hailing from the sunniest plots of Antinori's Tignanello vineyard in Chianti Classico, Solaia is composed mainly of Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc and a touch of Sangiovese. Its price per bottle is usually in the range of €300–€400, reflecting both its quality and the Antinori family's esteemed reputation built over six centuries of winemaking.

Solaia's profile is intense and aristocratic. It opens with aromas of blackcurrant, crushed violet, and a hint of mint. The palate offers concentrated flavors of ripe dark berries, plum, and coconut, balanced by notes of cedar and sweet spice. A firm backbone of tannin gives Solaia impressive structure, yet the mouthfeel remains refined and silky. Extended aging in new oak adds polish and depth to this Tuscan red. Solaia has achieved numerous high accolades (including multiple 100-point scores in stellar years), underscoring its position as a pinnacle of Tuscan winemaking. It embodies the marriage of international grape varieties with Tuscan soil – a revolutionary idea when first introduced, now a benchmark for luxury Tuscany wine excellence.

5.Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG – The Original Brunello Legend

Rounding out the list is Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, a wine that pioneered the Brunello category and remains one of Italy's most revered (and expensive) traditional wines. A new release of Biondi-Santi's Brunello Riserva can cost around €500 or more, and rare historic vintages (such as the legendary 1955) have sold for thousands. Produced only in exceptional years, the Riserva is aged about 6+ years before release, contributing to its high price and storied reputation.

Made from 100% Sangiovese Grosso (locally called Brunello), this wine is the epitome of Tuscan elegance. It offers complex flavours of dried cherry, red plum, leather, and tobacco, lifted by notes of rosemary and forest floor. The structure is powerful: vibrant acidity and robust tannins that ensure astonishing longevity – many Riservas can age gracefully for 40+ years. Despite its intensity, a well-aged Biondi-Santi Brunello displays sublime balance and perfume. This Brunello di Montalcino set the standard as one of the first DOCG wines in Italy. Each bottle encapsulates a piece of Tuscany's winemaking history, crafted by the Biondi-Santi family since the late 1800s. For wine connoisseurs, the Brunello Riserva represents the peak of Sangiovese and justifies its status as a Tuscany wine treasure.

Savoring the Best of Tuscany Wine

The five wines above showcase the pinnacle of Tuscany's vinicultural luxury. While these bottles are truly exceptional, they also come with exceptional price tags. Thankfully, Island Wine Cellar offers a curated selection of excellent yet more accessible Tuscan and Italian wines. From Chianti Classico DOCG to approachable Super Tuscan blends, you can explore Tuscany's wine heritage without breaking the bank. For instance, the charming Sunny Farm Chianti DOCG from our collection delivers authentic Tuscan flavor at a friendly price. You might also consider a curated Italian wine case to sample a range of regional favorites. In every glass of Tuscan wine – whether a €10 find or a €1000 legend – you taste a bit of la dolce vita. Cheers to enjoying Tuscany's finest reds, whatever your budget may be!