Music and Wine are the two main protagonists for OperaWine 2016. This year’s list of the 100 Top Italian Wines includes “Sister Moon,” an IGT Toscano produced at Trudie Styler and Sting’s 16th century estate “Tenuta il Palagio”.
This biodynamic wine, a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, was orchestrated by Trudie Styler, Sting, Paolo Caciorgna as the winemaker, the late Alan York and Daniel O’Donnell. Sister Moon attributes its name to the song of the same name, written by Sting in the mid 80’s and included in the Album “Nothing Like the Sun,” the second solo studio album of the English singer-songwriter.
“We are so honored that Il Palagio’s Sister Moon 2011, the flagship IGT Toscano Rosso from our Tuscan estate, has been selected by Wine Spectator as one of the top 100 Italian wines and so flattered to be in the company of such great Italian wineries at OperaWine 2016. Sister Moon is a wine that has consistently expressed the best qualities of Il Palagio’s terroir and encourages us to continue striving to produce the highest quality wines. With the brilliant guidance of our winemakers, the late Alan York, Paolo Caciorgna and Daniel O’Donnell, and our estate manager Paolo Rossi, this 15-year endeavor has been more rewarding than we could ever have imagined. We are truly thrilled and grateful for this recognition” responded Trudie Styler and Sting to being part of this year’s OperaWine.
Interestingly, Alan York was a leading consultant for biodynamic viticulture for Il Palagio and President of the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association of North America for four years. The recognition of this biodynamic IGT Toscano in OperaWine 2016 coincides with the launch of the new award of Vinitaly, “FreeWine, Wine without walls”. This new award will recognize wines that have some form of organic farming, with no additives, including the controversial “added sulfites”.
Among all the regions that are included on the list of the 100 Top Italian Wines, it is Tuscany that is the most representative region this year, comprising 30 % of the wines that are on the list, followed by Piedmont with 15%. Italy is the number one wine producer in the world in terms of volume and this would not be possible if all the protagonists in the realm of Italian wines were not engaged in the production of quality wines and events like OperaWine, which for the fifth year celebrates the best of Italian wines.
Opera Wine 2016 represents all Italian wine regions and brings more than 60 Italian native grape varieties that this year represent the 100 Top Italian Wines.
OperaWine is a partnership between Vinitaly and Wine Spectator, the world’s leading wine publication, now in its fifth edition. Wine Spectator is solely responsible for the selection of wineries to participate in OperaWine. For more details, check our website: http://www.operawine.it/wineregions2016
Opera Wine 2016, 100 Top Italian Wines
ABRUZZI
Masciarelli – Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Villa Gemma 2008
Binomio – Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2010
BASILICATA
d’Angelo – Aglianico del Vulture 2012
Terre degli Svevi – Aglianico del Vulture Re Manfredi 1998
CALABRIA
Librandi – Val di Neto Gravello 2012
Odoardi – Calabria GB 2013
Vincenzo Ippolito – Cirò Ripe del Falco Riserva 2001
CAMPANIA
Fattoria Galardi – Roccamonfina Terra di Lavoro 2011
Feudi di San Gregorio – Irpinia Serpico 1999
Mastroberardino – Taurasi Radici Riserva 2006
Terredora di Paolo – Fiano di Avellino CampoRe 2011
EMILIA-ROMAGNA
Drei Donà – Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore Pruno Riserva 2008
Lini Oreste & Figli – Vino Spumante Metodo Classico In Correggio 910 Rosso 2004
Medici Ermete – Lambrusco Concerto (20th Anniversary Limited Edition red label) 2013
FRIULI/VENEZIA-GIULIA
Jermann – Venezia-Giulia Dreams 2012
Livio Felluga – Colli Orientali del Friuli Terre Alte 2008
Marco Felluga – Collio Col Disôre 2003
La Tunella – Friulano Friuli Colli Orientali Col Livius 2011
LAZIO
Falesco – Lazio Montiano 2011
LIGURIA
Cantine Lunae Bosoni – Vermentino Colli di Luni-Liguria Black Label 2014
Terre Bianche – Rossese di Dolceacqua Bricco Arcagna 2012
LOMBARDY
Bellavista – Extra Brut Franciacorta Gran Cuvée Pas Operé 2005
Ca’ del Bosco – Franciacorta Cuvée Annamaria Clementi Riserva 2005
Nino Negri – Valtellina Sfursat 5 Stelle 2005
MARCHE
Umani Ronchi – Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Casal di Serra Vecchie Vigne 2012
MOLISE
di Majo Norante – Molise Don Luigi Riserva 2012
NORTHEAST
Bellenda – Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore S.C. 1931 2006
Desiderio Bisol & Figli – Dry Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze 2014
PIEDMONT
Aldo Conterno – Barolo Romirasco 2005
Braida di Giacomo Bologna – Barbera d’Asti Bricco dell’Uccellone 2010
Cavallotto – Barolo Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe Riserva 2008
Ceretto – Barolo Bricco Rocche 2005
Damilano – Barolo Cannubi 2011
Elvio Cogno – Barolo Ravera 2006
Falletto di Bruno Giacosa – Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto Riserva 2007
Gaja – Langhe Sperss 2011
Giuseppe Mascarello & Figlio – Barolo Monprivato 2001
Luciano Sandrone – Barolo Le Vigne 2006
Massolino – Barolo Vigna Rionda Riserva 2005
Mirafiore – Barolo Lazzarito 2008
Paolo Scavino – Barolo Bric dël Fiasc 2006
Renato Ratti – Barolo Rocche 2004
Vietti – Barolo Ravera 2011
PUGLIA
Gianfranco Fino – Primitivo di Manduria Es 2012
Masseria Li Veli – Aleatico Salento Passito 2008
Tormaresca – Aglianico Castel del Monte Bocca di Lupo 2011
Schola Sarmenti – Nardò Nerìo Riserva 2012
SARDINIA
Agricola Punica – Isola dei Nuraghi Barrua 2012
Argiola – Isola dei Nuraghi Turriga 2010
Dettori – Romangia Red 2011
SICILY
Cusumano – Sicilia Sàgana Tenuta San Giacomo 2011
Donnafugata – Passito di Pantelleria Ben Ryé 2010
Passopisciaro – Terre Siciliane Contrada R 2012
Planeta – Noto Santa Cecilia 2011
Tasca d’Almerita – Nerello Mascalese Sicilia Il Tascante 2012
TRENTINO/ALTO ADIGE
Cantina Terlano – Sauvignon Alto Adige Terlano Quarz 2013
Elena Walch – Alto Adige Beyond the Clouds 2013
Ferrari – Extra Brut Trento Riserva Lunelli 2006
J. Hofstätter – Gewürztraminer Alto Adige Kolbenhof 2013
TUSCANY
Altesino – Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli 2010
Antinori – Chianti Classico Badia a Passignano Riserva 2007
Avignonesi – Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Grandi Annate 2011
Barone Ricasoli – Chianti Classico Castello di Brolio 2006
Bibi Graetz (Testamatta) – Toscana Colore 2008
Biondi-Santi – Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Greppo 2008
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
Castello Banfi – Brunello di Montalcino Poggio alle Mura Riserva 2008
Castello d’Albola – Chianti Classico Riserva 2010
Castello di Ama – Toscana L’Apparita 2008
Castello di Volpaia – Chianti Classico Riserva 2012
Fattoria di Fèlsina – Toscana Fontalloro 2011
Fontodi – Colli della Toscana Centrale Flaccianello 2007
Il Poggione – Brunello di Montalcino 2007
Le Macchiole – Toscana Paleo Red 2008
Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi – Chianti Rufina Nipozzano Vecchie Viti Riserva 2012
Mastrojanni – Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto 2007
Castello di Fonterutoli – Toscana Siepi 2006
Nozzole (Folonari – Cabreo) – Toscana Il Pareto 2010
Petrolo – Val d’Arno di Sopra Bòggina 2012
San Felice – Toscana Vigorello 2011
Siro Pacenti – Brunello di Montalcino 2007
Tenuta dell’Ornellaia – Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia 2002
Tenuta San Guido – Bolgheri-Sassicaia Sassicaia 2012
Tenuta Sette Ponti – Toscana Oreno 2012
Valdicava – Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano Riserva 2006
Il Palagio – Toscana Sister Moon 2011
UMBRIA
Arnaldo Caprai – Montefalco Sagrantino 25 Anni 2010
Lungarotti – Torgiano Rubesco Vigna Monticchio Riserva 1977
Tabarrini – Montefalco Sagrantino Campo alla Cerqua 2010
VALLE D’AOSTA
Anselmet – Chardonnay Valle d’Aosta Élevé en Fût de Chêne 2013
VENETO
Allegrini – Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2010
Bertani – Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 1964
Cesari – Amarone della Valpolicella Bosan 2000
Leonildo Pieropan – Soave Classico La Rocca 2011
Masi – Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Mazzano 2007
Prà – Soave Classico Monte Grande 2011
Suavia – Soave Classico Monte Carbonare 2013
Tedeschi – Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Capitel Monte Olmi 2007
Tommasi – Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2008
Zenato – Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sergio Zenato Riserva 2008