Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville 2023 leads Wine Spectator’s 2026 ranking
The Napa Valley wine was named Wine Spectator’s 2026 Wine of the Year. Produttori del Barbaresco placed 2nd and Caparzo 4th, while the complete Top 100 is due on 16 November 2026.
California at No. 1, Italy at Nos. 2 and 4
Wine Spectator named Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville 2023 its 2026 Wine of the Year, putting a wine from Napa Valley, California, at No. 1. Produttori del Barbaresco’s Barbaresco Rabajà Riserva 2021, made by the internationally known Piedmont cooperative, ranked No. 2. Penfolds Bin 389 2024 from Australia took No. 3, followed at No. 4 by Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino 2021.1
Caparzo is among the estates of Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini, who also owns Altesino in Montalcino, Borgo Scopeto in Chianti Classico and Doga delle Clavule in Morellino di Scansano, among other properties.1
Wine Spectator’s 2026 Top 10
The rest of the Top 10 comprises Château Saint-Pierre Saint-Julien 2023 from Bordeaux at No. 5; Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District Fay 2023 from California at No. 6; Law Estate Sagacious Adelaida District 2023 from California at No. 7; Château Carbonnieux Pessac-Léognan White 2023 from Bordeaux at No. 8; Bodegas y Viñedo Ribera del Duero 2022 from Spain at No. 9; and Melville Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills 2024 from California at No. 10.1
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars was founded by Warren Winiarski and is now owned by Marchesi Antinori. The Italian family had previously reached No. 1 in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 with Solaia 1997 in 2000.1
Italy’s previous winners and the forthcoming Top 100
Italian wines have occupied No. 1 in the ranking on 5 occasions: Antinori Solaia 1997 in 2000; Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia 1998 in 2001; Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 2001 in 2006; Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2015 in 2018; and Argiano Brunello di Montalcino 2018 in 2023. Ornellaia is now owned by Frescobaldi; at the time of the 2001 ranking, it belonged to Lodovico Antinori.1
Wine Spectator plans to reveal its complete 2026 Top 100 on 16 November 2026. The 2025 list contained 20 Italian wines, equivalent to 1 in every 5 entries. Of those 20 wines, 10 came from Tuscany, including 5 from Chianti Classico.1
Sources
Written by the Dionysus editors from the sources above.
