Italy has taken center stage in this year’s “Top 100 Cellar Selection” by Wine Enthusiast, with an impressive twenty Italian labels among the best age-worthy wines in the world. At the very top stands an Italian sparkling wine – a clear sign of how far the country’s craftsmanship has come in blending elegance, structure, and longevity.
Leading the way is the Trentodoc Riserva Lunelli 2015 from Ferrari Trento, crowned as number one overall. This achievement confirms Ferrari’s reputation as a global reference for fine sparkling wines and highlights Italy’s ability to compete – and win – at the highest levels of international wine appreciation. Italy’s dominance continues across categories, from noble reds of Piemonte and Tuscany to crisp whites from Alto Adige and complex sparklers from Franciacorta and Trentino.
The “Cellar Selection” list celebrates wines built to evolve – bottles meant to reward patience and mature gracefully over years of cellaring. Each label chosen shows structure, depth, and balance that promise long-term development. This year’s results demonstrate how Italian producers are mastering the art of time, crafting wines not only for immediate enjoyment but for the pleasure of discovery many years down the road.
Among the standouts, the Barolo Berri 2021 by Trediberri secured a spot within the Top 5, reaffirming the supremacy of Nebbiolo when it comes to aging potential. Also in the Top 10 is the Franciacorta Rosé Riserva Bagnadore 2011 from Barone Pizzini – proof that Italian sparkling wines can age with the same grace once attributed only to Champagne. Tuscany is well represented too, with Fattoria Le Pupille’s Saffredi 2021 – an IGT Toscana blend that showcases how Super Tuscans continue to push the boundaries of excellence and cellar-worthiness.
The inclusion of whites from Alto Adige, such as those from Cantina di Terlano and Elena Walch, marks a turning point. Italian whites have traditionally been appreciated for freshness rather than longevity, but these wines show remarkable depth and complexity capable of evolving over time. Together, they highlight how Italian winemaking today embraces patience as much as innovation.
For collectors, the message is clear – Italy is producing some of the most compelling wines to buy, store, and revisit. The selection opens new perspectives for those who once looked only to France, Spain, or California for cellar-worthy bottles. From Piedmont’s regal Barolos to Trentino’s refined Trentodoc sparklers, Italian wines now command a place of honor in the global conversation about time and transformation in the bottle.
