The Best Wines of Italy for Your Next Tasting

Are you in charge of bringing the wine for your next wine tasting night with friends?  Where do you start since Italy has over 1,000 wine regions? Wines of Italy, and most of Europe, are ordered by the region, not the variety of grape. Italians order a Barolos or Montalcino, which are actually towns in Italy.  You don’t need worry about intricate pairings with your Italian wines. Although some wines are better with certain foods, an experienced sommelier will tell you to find a wine you love and drink it with food you love to eat.

Brunello di Montalcino — MOCALI

Brunello di Montalcino is grown on the hillside slopes around the Tuscan village of Montalcino near Sienna. This wine is made exclusively from Sangiovese grapes and has earned its name from the local’s term for the grapes they grow. “Brunello” means ‘little dark one’ in reference to the color and size of the Sangiovese fruit. Brunello region wines are unique because they only use Sangiovese Grosso grapes in the fermentation. This causes them to stand out among other Tuscan wines.

Mocali’s wine is a rich and full glass with a deep red color. You’ll catch the scent of plum, eucalyptus, and also cacao when exploring this wine. The wine spends 12 months in small Tonneau barrels which impart more oaky flavors. Afterwards, the wine rests in huge 95-gallon vats for another two years before being ready for your table.

Damilano Barolo Cannubi 2010

The Damilano family has been making best in class wines since 1890. The great-grandfather of the current owners started farming and making wine in Barolo. This area is bountiful in yielding grapes and also producing the “king of wines.” Your senses will appreciate the aromatic start to the well-developed finish. The strong flavors of this particular Barolo will compliment rustic Italian dishes including white truffle themes, braised game, grilled beef and roasted lamb shanks.

Beni di Batasiolo Barbaresco 2010

Wanting to add a rich red wine to the evening’s tasting? Then check out the classic 2010 Barbaresco from Beni Di Batasiolo. The farms are located within the prized Barolo wine-growing area. One of the Boisset Family Estate wineries, this wine is crafted from the famed Nebbiolo grape. Plan to experience floral rose notes and black licorice to dominate the aromas with an earthy backdrop and subtle fruit.

“Clear garnet red color with delicate orange highlights. It is ethereal, pleasant, intense and persistent, delicately spicy with hints of florals and cooked fruit. The flavor is dry, full, robust, charming, with soft tannins and nice freshness.”

For this reason, this particular wine is perfect with meat and will also shine with braised game or even truffle dishes.

Frescobaldi CastelGiocondo Brunello di Montalcino 2010

Frescobaldi’s CastelGiocondo’s Brunello is the perfect example of what Tuscany’s Montalcino region is known and loved for, year in and year out. For three years, their Brunello has enjoyed basking in oak and brings the wine connoisseur a beverage with excellent aging potential.

​”A first glance reveals a deep ruby color in the glass, and the nose carries robust ripe fruit – dominated by dark cherry and plum surrounded by violet floral tones. The palate profile yields a full-bodied red wine with dense fruit character bordered by a spicy edge (complete with clove, cinnamon, and tobacco.”

The history of the Frescobaldi family is deeply within Tuscany and starts over a thousand years ago. During medieval Florence, the Frescobaldi’s spread their influence as bankers, earning the title of treasures to the English crown. This history comes through in the complexity of their wines.

So, tell us, which of these wines of Italy will you try?  If you love reading about fine wines and their culinary complements, then you’ll enjoy The Best Steak and Wine Parings in the World.