Italy Red
Italian Red Wine
Italy makes more red wine, from more native grape varieties, than any other country — several hundred are in commercial use, and most of them grow nowhere else. That is why an Italian wine list reads as place names rather than grape names: the label tells you where it is from, and the region tells you what is in the bottle.
How to read this section
Three regions do most of the work. Piedmont in the north-west is Nebbiolo — Barolo and Barbaresco at the top, Barbera and Dolcetto underneath for everyday drinking. Tuscany is Sangiovese: Chianti, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, plus the Bordeaux-blend Super Tuscans that ignore the appellation system entirely. Veneto is Valpolicella and its dried-grape wine, Amarone. Beyond those, Puglia and Sicily in the south give riper, softer, cheaper reds; Piedmont's neighbours and Friuli work at a smaller scale.
What to expect
The through-line in Italian red is acidity. These are wines built for food — the tannin and the acid that can feel severe on their own are exactly what cuts through fat and salt at the table. If you are moving across from New World reds, start with Chianti Classico or Barbera rather than with Barolo.
Serving
Most Italian reds at 16–18°C. Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello and Amarone want decanting an hour or more ahead; everything else can be poured on opening.
Filters
San Giusto a Rentennano, Percarlo 2020 (1x75cl)
Barbi Brunello di Montalcino 1990 (1x75cl)
Antinori Tignanello 2005 (1x75cl)
Antinori Pian delle Vigne 2018 (1x75cl)
Antinori Pian delle Vigne 2017 (1x75cl)
Cavallotto Barolo Bricco Boschis 2019 (1x75cl)
Renato Ratti Barolo Conca 2018 (1x75cl)
Casanova di Neri Rosso Montalcino 2022 (1x75cl)
Tenuta Dell Ornellaia 2014 (1x300cl)
Tenuta Dell Ornellaia 2021 (1x75cl)
Tenuta Dell Ornellaia 2019 (1x75cl)
Le Volte Dell Ornellaia IGT Toscana 2022 (1x75cl)
Zyme La Mattonara Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 (1x75cl)
Zyme Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 2018 (1x75cl)
Zyme Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC 2019 (1x75cl)
Zyme Reverie Valpolicella DOC 2022 (1x75cl)
Zyme Harlequin Veneto IGT 2016 (1x75cl)
Zyme Kairos Veneto IGT 2020 (1x75cl)
Zyme Syrah Veneto IGT 2019 (1x75cl)
Vietti, "Rabaja", Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2019 (1x75cl)
Vietti, "Roncaglie", Barbaresco DOCG 2020 (1x75cl)
Vietti Monvigliero Barolo DOCG 2020 (1x150cl)
Vietti Barolo Cerequio DOCG 2020 (1x150cl)
Vietti Barolo Ravera DOCG 2020 (1x150cl)
Vietti Barolo Rocche di Castiglione DOCG 2020 (1x150cl)
Vietti Barolo Lazzarito DOCG 2020 (1x150cl)
Vietti Barolo Brunate DOCG 2020 (1x150cl)
Vietti Barolo Monvigliero DOCG 2020 (1x75cl)
Vietti Barolo Cerequio DOCG 2020 (1x75cl)
VIETTI Freisa Vivace Langhe DOC 2020 (1x75cl)
Vietti Barolo Docg Ravera 2020 (1x75cl)
Vietti Barbaresco Masseria,DOCG 2019 (1x75cl)
Vietti "Rocche di Castiglione" Barolo DOCG 2020 (1x75cl)
Vietti Barolo Lazzarito,DOCG 2020 (1x75cl)
Vietti Barolo Lazzarito,DOCG 2019 (1x75cl)
Vietti Barolo Brunate,DOCG 2020 (1x75cl)
Vietti Barolo Brunate,DOCG 2019 (1x75cl)
Vietti Barbera d'ASTI Trevie,DOCG 2022 (1x75cl)
Tenuta Mara Totma Pinot Nero Biodinamico Rubicone Rosso IGT 2022 (1x75cl)
Tenuta Mara Guiry Sangiovese Rubicone Rosso IGT 2021 (1x75cl)
Tenuta Mara Maramia Sangiovese Rubicone Rosso IGT 2019 (1x75cl)
Lam'Oro Super Tuscan 2019 (1x75cl)
Lam'Oro Super Tuscan 2018 (1x75cl)
Lamole di Lamole Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2019 (1x75cl)
Lamole di Lamole Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2018 (1x75cl)
Planeta Mamertino DOC 2019 (1x75cl)
Planeta Merlot Rosso Di Sicilia IGT 2010 (1x150cl)
Planeta Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG 2022 (1x75cl)
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