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
Planeta Merlot I.G.T Sicilia 2015 (1x75cl)
Planeta Merlot I.G.T Sicilia 2013 (1x75cl)
Pelissero Barbaresco Tulin DOCG 2019 (1x300cl)
Pelissero Barbaresco Tulin DOCG 2014 (1x300cl)
Pelissero Barbaresco Tulin DOCG 2019 (1x75cl)
Pelissero Barbera D Alba Piani DOC 2014 (1x500cl)
Pelissero Barbera D Alba Piani DOC 2011 (1x500cl)
Pelissero Barbaresco Nubiola DOCG 2019 (1x300cl)
Pelissero Barbaresco Nubiola DOCG 2014 (1x300cl)
Pelissero Barbera D Alba Piani DOC 2022 (1x75cl)
Pelissero Dolcetto D Alba Munfrina DOC 2018 (1x75cl)
La Magia Ciliegio Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2019 (1x75cl)
La Magia Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2018 (1x150cl)
La Magia Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2007 (1x75cl)
La Magia Brunello di Montalcino 2019 (1x75cl)
La Magia Brunello di Montalcino 2018 (1x75cl)
La Magia Brunello di Montalcino 2009 (1x75cl)
La Magia Brunello di Montalcino 2006 (1x75cl)
La Magia Rosso di Montalcino 2022 (1x75cl)
Masone Mannu Zojosu Cannonau di Sardegna DOC 2022 (1x75cl)
Colterenzio Saint Daniel, Pinot Nero Riserva 2021 (1x75cl)
Planeta Santa Cecilia, Doc Noto 2021 (1x75cl)
Gaja Sperss 2017 (1x150cl)
Gaja Barbaresco Sori Tildin 2014 (1x300cl)
Gaja Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo 2017 (1x300cl)
Gaja Barbaresco Costa Russi 2017 (1x300cl)
Gaja Barolo Conteisa 2017 (1x500cl)
Ca'Marcanda Camarcanda 2018 (1x150cl)
Ca'Marcanda Camarcanda 2015 (1x150cl)
Gaja Barbaresco 2019 (1x150cl)
Gaja Barbaresco 2017 (1x150cl)
Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello de Montalcino Pianrosso 2015 (1x75cl)
Cerbaiona Brunello di Montalcino 2012 (1x150cl)
Cerbaiona Brunello di Montalcino 2012 (1x75cl)
Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto Vigna Le Rocche Riserva 2017 (1x300cl)
Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto Vigna Le Rocche Riserva 2016 (1x300cl)
Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto Vigna Le Rocche Riserva 2017 (1x150cl)
Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto Vigna Le Rocche Riserva 2016 (1x150cl)
Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili Riserva 2016 (1x300cl)
Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2016 (1x75cl)
Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli 2017 (1x75cl)
Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Vignolo 2017 (1x75cl)
Tenuta Illuminata Barolo Sant'Anna 2013 (1x75cl)
Domini Veneti Valpolicella Classico Sup. Ripasso Collezione Pruviniano DOC 2018 (1x75cl)
RIVETTI MASSIMO, Langhe Nebbiolo Avene DOC 2019 (1x75cl)
Loredan Gasparini "Capo di Stato" Venegazzu 2015 (1x75cl)
Tolaini "Legit" Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (1x75cl)
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