The sixth edition of the competition, launched by the Consortium to highlight the potential of this grape variety, was held in Castiglione della Pescaia. The top ten wines will be available for tasting at Vinitaly, where the Consortium will showcase new vintages and a collective of local producers.
The sixth edition of the Vermentino Grand Prix took place in recent days in Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto). This now well-established event is promoted by the Consorzio Tutela Vini della Maremma Toscana, as part of its ongoing mission to enhance the value of this grape variety.
“Over 30% of wines from the Maremma Toscana DOC are made from Vermentino, the vast majority of which are varietal wines, making Maremma the most important enclave in the region for white wine production,” explains Francesco Mazzei, President of the Consortium.
A total of 67 wines were evaluated, mostly from the 2024 and 2023 vintages, though entries went back as far as 2019. Most of the wines were vinified in stainless steel, though some were aged in concrete eggs, amphorae, cocciopesto, or, in a few cases, wood.
There were 12 Vermentinos bearing the “Superiore” designation — eleven from the 2023 vintage and one from 2022 — and four of these made it into the Top Ten.
“In this edition’s Top Ten, all the selected wines come from earlier vintages, and four of them have the Superiore label — further proof of this grape’s excellent aging potential,” continues Mazzei, a longtime advocate of the variety.
“Vermentino is a seaside grape that has found its perfect home in Maremma, where it can express a wide range of nuances depending on the soil, altitude, and proximity to the sea. It’s a wine that continues to grow in popularity, with producers investing in it confidently, aware of its great potential. I believe that, due to its complexity and personality, Vermentino can compete with the world’s great white wines — and not only those. The introduction of the Superiore designation is another step forward in showcasing the quality and expressive richness of this variety, which is one of the true identity markers of our denomination,” Mazzei concludes.
As in previous editions, all wines entered in the competition were Maremma Toscana DOC Vermentino, with at least 85% Vermentino grapes, though most were 100% varietal, with a few blended with Viognier, Sauvignon, or Trebbiano.
The 2025 Vermentino Grand Prix Top Ten (alphabetical by winery):
– Cantina Vignaioli di Scansano – Vermentino Superiore 2023 “San Bruzio”
– Castelprile della Volpaia – Vermentino Superiore 2023 Organic “Castelprile”
– Cupirosso – Vermentino 2022 Organic “Audace”
– Fattoria di Magliano – Vermentino 2023 Organic “Pagliatura”
– Giovanni Valentini – Vermentino Superiore 2023 “Veive”
– Podere Poggio Bestiale – Vermentino 2023 “PerLelo”
– Poggio Levante – Vermentino 2019 “Unnè”
– Tenuta Casteani – Vermentino Superiore 2023 Organic “Maremmano”
– Tenuta Dodici – Vermentino 2023 “Solo”
– Tenuta Pietramora di Colle Fagiano – Vermentino 2023 “Limite”
“The Vermentino Grand Prix gives us the chance to really test this grape variety, and every year it surprises us,” says Luca Pollini, Director of the Consortium. “For the first time, one of the Top Ten wines is over five years old — from the 2019 vintage, in fact — a strong testament to the longevity and potential of Vermentino in our Denomination. The figures also speak for themselves: 50% of Tuscany’s Vermentino vineyards are located in Maremma. Of the over 1,070 hectares planted in our area — up 100 hectares from last year — nearly 60% of the vineyards are under 13 years old, and over 40% are less than eight years old, a clear sign that producers continue to place great trust in this extraordinary variety.”
The Grand Prix jury, chaired by Luciano Ferraro – Deputy Editor of Corriere della Sera – included Michelin-starred restaurant and wine shop representatives from Maremma (Caino, Il Pellicano, and Enoteca Castiglionese), three consulting oenologists (Graziana Grassini, Luca Cantelli, Gabriele Gadenz), and other wine industry local experts.