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
Antinori Tignanello 1982 (1x75cl)
Tenute Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 1982 (1x75cl)
Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto 2019 (1x75cl)
Montepeloso Suvereto A Quo IGT Costa Toscana 2022 (1x75cl)
Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia 2018 (1x75cl)
Gaja Ca'Marcanda Magari 2020 (1x75cl)
Domini Veneti Appassimento Rosso Passito IGT 2023 (1x75cl)
Caiarossa 2005 (1x75cl)
Giodo La Quinta 2020 (1x75cl)
Pio Cesare Barolo Mosconi DOCG 2019 (1x75cl)
Planeta Didacus Cabernet Franc Menfi DOC 2016 (1x75cl)
Bruno Rocca Langhe Nebbiolo Fralu 2019 (1x75cl)
Bruno Rocca Barbera d'Alba 2020 (1x75cl)
VIGNANO, L'Unico Chianti DOCG 2017 (1x75cl)
Santa Cristina Le Maestrelle IGT 2020 (1x75cl)
San Felice Chianti Classico Riserva Il Grigio DOCG 2019 (1x75cl)
Pelissero Langhe Nebbiolo DOC 2017 (1x75cl)
Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Brunello Di Montalcino 2018 (1x75cl)
Bottega Il Vino Degli Dei Amarone della Valpolicella 2022 (1x75cl)
MASI Costasera Amarone Classico DOCG 2021 (1x75cl)
Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona, Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso Riserva 2019 (1x75cl)
Frescobaldi Nipozzano-Riserva 2022 (1x75cl)
Querciabella Camartina Toscana Rosso IGT 2021 (1x75cl)
Querciabella Camartina Toscana Rosso IGT 2020 (1x75cl)
Frescobaldi Remole Toscana IGT 2024 (1x75cl)
Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2020 (1x75cl)
Carpineto Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2021 (1x75cl)
Planeta La Segreta Rosso Di Sicilia DOC 2024 (1x75cl)
Belvento, Petra I Vini Del Mare Sangiovese 2023 (1x75cl)
Belvento, Petra I Vini Del Mare Sangiovese 2022 (1x75cl)
Antinori Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2021 (1x75cl)
Tenuta Dell Ornellaia 2023 (1x75cl)
Le Serre Nuove Dell Ornellaia DOC Bolgheri 2023 (1x75cl)
Le Volte Dell Ornellaia IGT Toscana 2024 (1x75cl)
Vietti Barolo Rocche, DOCG 2020 (1x75cl)
Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva DOCG 2020 (1x75cl)
Poggio al Tesoro W-Dedicato A Walter 2017 (1x75cl)
Poggio al Tesoro Sondraia 2020 (1x75cl)
Poggio al Tesoro Sondraia 2019 (1x75cl)
Poggio al Tesoro Sondraia 2018 (1x75cl)
Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco 2021 (1x75cl)
Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco 2020 (1x75cl)
Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2020 (1x75cl)
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso Moganazzi 2023 (1x75cl)
Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Brunello Di Montalcino 2020 (1x75cl)
Carpineto Farnito Cabernet Sauvignon IGT 2020 (1x75cl)
MASI Osar Rosso del Veronese IGT (Oseleta) 2015 (1x75cl)
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