Sangiovese: taste, styles and the dishes that match
14 styles and 333 dish scores from our sommelier database
Say Sangiovese and you say a red wine with recognisable traits. But there is no single Sangiovese: acidity, body and aromas shift by region and style. That is why we work with Wine DNA profiles per style, scored against real dishes — with Cacio e pepe among the strongest matches.
Taste profile (Wine DNA)
Averaged across the styles in our database, Sangiovese shows fresh acidity, is medium-bodied and exuberantly fruity, with soft tannins.
Well-known Sangiovese styles
- Chianti & Chianti Classico · Tuscany — medium-bodied, pronounced freshness, firm tannins
The classic Tuscan benchmark for Sangiovese: bright acidity, sour cherry fruit, savoury herbs and firm food-friendly tannins. - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano · Tuscany — full-bodied, pronounced freshness, firm tannins, subtle oak notes
Classic Tuscan Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile) with red cherry depth, earthy complexity and firm table structure. - Sangiovese Italy · Central Italy — medium-bodied, pronounced freshness, soft tannins
Fresh, cherry-fruited Sangiovese from Tuscany and Central Italy, built for the Italian table. - Sangiovese California · California — full-bodied, fresh acidity, soft tannins, subtle oak notes
Riper, rounder Californian expression of Sangiovese with oak ageing and generous red fruit. - Sangiovese · New World — full-bodied, fresh acidity, soft tannins, subtle oak notes
Rijpe, vaak wat aardse en door gebruik van nieuw eikenhout getypeerde sangiovese-wijn uit de Nieuwe Wereld. - Sangiovese Bordeaux blends · Italy — medium-bodied, soft acidity, subtle oak notes
Entry level qualities of blends produced from the sangiovese grape variety and varieties from Bordeaux, often cabernet-sauvignon or merlot. - Brunello di Montalcino · Tuscany — medium-bodied, pronounced freshness, soft tannins, subtle oak notes
A red wine from Montalcino in Tuscany from the sangiovese grape variety.
Price-wise Sangiovese covers the full range: of the 14 styles in our database, 57% sit in the entry segment, 29% mid-range and 14% at the top end. You will find both a weekday bottle and a cellar-worthy wine in this grape.
The best-scoring dishes with Sangiovese
The dishes below come from our expert scoring: every combination was scored by sommeliers using the Wine DNA of both dish and wine. These are the strongest matches for Sangiovese styles, from classic to surprising.
- Cacio e pepe — best style: Sangiovese Italy
- Truffle ravioli — best style: Sangiovese Italy
- Spinach lasagna — best style: Sangiovese Italy
- Smoked duck breast — best style: Sangiovese Italy
- Veal milanese — best style: Sangiovese Italy
- Kale stew — best style: Sangiovese Italy
- Bruschetta — best style: Sangiovese Italy
- Mushroom pate — best style: Sangiovese Italy
- Stuffed vine leaves — best style: Sangiovese Italy
- Pork neck — best style: Sangiovese Italy
- Braised chicken thighs — best style: Sangiovese Italy
- Glazed duck breast — best style: Sangiovese Italy
Want to know if a specific bottle of Sangiovese matches your dish? Scan the label in the SommelierX app and see the match instantly.
Open the app →Or get the app:
Frequently asked questions
- What does Sangiovese taste like?
- Averaged across the styles in our database, Sangiovese shows fresh acidity, is medium-bodied and exuberantly fruity, with soft tannins. It varies by style: see the overview above.
- What food goes with Sangiovese?
- The highest scores in our sommelier work: Cacio e pepe, Rump steak with mushrooms, Petit doruvael. The full list is above.
- Is Sangiovese a red wine?
- In our database Sangiovese is mostly made as a red wine (14 linked styles); regional exceptions exist.