If you're searching for an Italian white wine that can take you from summer to winter, Lugana might just be what you're looking for. Packed full of stone fruits and blossom aromas with a velvety smooth palate.
Passito wines, an indulgent dessert style, are made using the appassimento method for sun drying grapes in Italy's southern region, Nero d'Avola and Aglianico grapes being among those used in this practice.
Chianti wine from Tuscany makes the perfect complement to classic Italian meals! Boasting its bold red hue, Chianti has an irresistibly flavorful profile ranging from sweet to slightly bitter notes - ideal for pairing with all manner of food.
Wine lovers love this versatile red that pairs well with meat dishes and tomato-based sauces, such as osso bucco stew. Thanks to its high acidity levels, it cuts through richer pasta dishes or stews like this effortlessly.
Chianti wines hail from a specific zone within Tuscany known as Chianti Classico, where strict regulations govern production and aging for any wines labeled Chianti Classico; hence you'll see black roosters on bottles labeled with this label! In years past white grapes were allowed, however today at least 70% Sangiovese must be present before being called Chianti!
Primitivo (Zinfandel in America) is a deep-skinned grape variety known for producing intensely colored wines with high alcohol content and intense flavors. To produce outstanding examples, premium terroir and winemaking excellence must both exist simultaneously in order to produce world-class versions.
It can produce dense, dark red wines with inky and tannic tannins that pair perfectly with roasted meats and hard cheeses, displaying Mediterranean notes of lemon, apricot and pepper.
Full-bodied Italian wine known for its dark burgundy hue and fruity notes of strawberry, cinnamon and pipe tobacco aromas. Some of the finest examples can be found under the DOC of Manduria, Gioia del Colle, Salice Salentino or selected IGT Salento appellations. It is thought to have originated in Dalmatia - now Croatia - where it is known as tribidrag or crljenak kastelanski before moving south Italy sometime around 1700s.
Gavi wines are balanced and light on their feet, offering a lively interpretation of the Cortese grape. Their crisp natural acidity pairs beautifully with summertime fish dishes or herb-laden salads; its best examples boast citrus fruit notes with white flowers and bitter almond flavors for an unforgettable dining experience.
These versatile wines are food-friendly and great value for diners, while also offering something truly Italian as they showcase an unique terroir and heritage story. Sommeliers looking to expand their programs should add Italian wines as part of the selection.
Gavi wine country lies at Piedmont's southeast corner near its border with Liguria. Comprised of eleven towns, this appellation benefits from cooling breezes from both mountains and sea, providing ideal conditions for growing Cortese grapes.
Lombardy region provides the ideal setting for Barbera grapes. Renowned for their vibrant acidity and capacity to age gracefully, Barbera grapes stand out with their zesty aroma and delicate structure, offering consumers something exceptional when drinking wine.
Barbera is a fruit-forward wine with distinct notes of dark cherry, blackberry and strawberry. Over time it also often develops notes of spice (nutmeg or cinnamon) or citrus in aged Barbera wines.
Nebbiolo may garner most of the spotlight when it comes to Piedmont wines, but Barbera deserves its own shine. A versatile red wine that pairs well with most Italian cuisine even heartier dishes; and at under $20 can often be found, Barbera deserves to be explored further! A must try!
Arneis is a white grape from northern Italy that has experienced a recent revival. Featuring in wines from Roero appellation, Arneis can also be found growing across Piemonte, Liguria, and Sardinia - with California and Australia planting it outside Italy as well. Recently it has begun making headway here.
Alfredo Currado revived this grape variety at his Vietti winery during the mid-1960s, planting it near Nebbiolo vineyards as an effective protection from birds and insects seeking out its expensive, heirloom grapes for food. Arneis vines' stronger fragrance would distract birds and insects away from attacking such valuable harvests as Nebbiolo grapes were.
Roero Arneis of distinction is dry and unoaked, featuring floral aromas of pear, apricot, tangerine tangerine tangerine hazelnut citrus flavors with lively acidity that adds zesty freshness and drinkability.
What makes a wine a real Cellar Classic? From time to time we find ourselves marvelling at the creativity of the wine grower we always look to enrich our taste buds with something rather remarkable and share this with you.