The red wines of winter
We love red wines the year round, but it is true that they seem to give us a special, warmer feeling during the colder months. We are not scientists or chemists, but drinking a luscious red wine during the cooler (ok, cold) winter months does seem to warm us from the inside out. The red wines of winter! We love them and bet that you do too! Let's face it: when winter and cold come, there is nothing better than spending lazy evenings at home in the heat. You know those movie scenes with your feet warmed by the fireplace, a blanket on your legs and a glass in your hand? Here, we imagine you exactly like this. And if you don't have a fireplace in your home, you can certainly fill the glass. The icy winter darkness loudly calls out full-bodied and enveloping red wine, which caresses the palate and warms sip after sip. To help you get through the coldest season unscathed, I have prepared a short list of suggestions on the best bottles available. I will take you on a journey from North to South through four renowned wine regions: Veneto, Tuscany, Puglia and Basilicata.
Veneto, the home of AmaroneWhen it comes to excellence, the mind immediately runs to Valpolicella and its incredible fruits: Amarone, Recioto and Ripasso, all born on the soft hills between Verona and Lake Garda. Among the historical names of the territory stands out the company Bolla, in business since 1883. The proposal of the winery starts from Cabernet Sauvignon Trevenezie IGT, table wine for those who want to enjoy the best every day, and continues with the noble names of Valpolicella, such as the Ripasso Classico Superiore DOC Le Poiane of 2016 or the Amarone Classico DOCG Rhetico, perfect to accompany rich meat dishes. For relaxing on the sofa, however, the best choice is the Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG of 2011, a classic meditation wine to sip slowly, perhaps combined with dark chocolate.
In the heart of Tuscany, between Chianti and MontalcinoThere are few regions of Italy that can boast the same amount of controlled designations of origin as Tuscany. Even those who are not passionate about oenology know Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino, which have become almost synonymous with red wine for the many international tourists who come to Italy every year. The Marchesi Frescobaldi winery contains all the Tuscan wine culture in a tradition that began 700 years ago. From the Florentine Chianti the company has expanded into almost all the DOC of the region, adding new estates in Montalcino, Bolgheri and Maremma, up to Friuli with the Tenuta Conti Attems: an authentic empire of good drinking. Let's start with the selection of Chianti: with the Castiglioni DOCG you will have an excellent companion for the table, solid and reliable, while the Chianti Rufina Nipozzano Riserva DOCG and the Nipozzano Vecchie Viti deserve to be drunk on special occasions, perhaps when the cold gets sharper and the table is laden. From the lands of Montalcino, Marchesi Frescobaldi offers two great labels: the Rosso di Montalcino Campo ai Sassi DOC of 2015 and his majesty the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2013 of Castelgiocondo. Let's not forget the DOCG di Scansano, from which comes the Morellino Santa Maria, bright and intense as its ruby red color.
Salento, land of sun, sea... and red winePuglia is one of the regions with the largest wine production in Italy. Despite this, until a few years ago local wines were not very well known and were sold wholesale as blending wines, that is, as "ingredients" for other wine productions. Today, fortunately, Apulian products are appreciated for all their baggage of perfumes and robustness. An excellent example of this great tradition are the labels of the Castello Monaci company, located in the heart of Salento, which offers excellent Salice Salentino DOC wines with the most famous and appreciated denominations of the territory. They range from the extraordinary daily wines Maru Negroamaro IGT 2016, Liante DOC 2016 and Piluna IGT 2017, round and full as you would expect from a red with character, to the sensational Primitivo Artas IGT of 2013. Ideal bottles to be enjoyed on winter evenings, reminding every sip of the warmth of the Salento summer.
Aglianico coast to coastA few kilometers from Puglia there is a land still little known for its food and wine tradition. It is Basilicata, cradle of great reds led by Aglianico del Vulture. Among the local companies, Cantine del Notaio has distinguished itself in the last twenty years for its work of enhancing the territory and rediscovering traditions, the result of which is a rich and varied offer of wines. We illustrate it starting from the jewel of the cellar: Il Lascito, Aglianico del Vulture made with a blend of the best wines produced since the birth of the Cellars in 1998. A precious bottle, distributed in only 1,998 copies, which tells the story of Lucania drop by drop. Around this authentic excellence there are other excellent proposals of Aglianico, such as La Firma DOC and Il Repertorio DOC, robust and full as expected, and L'Atto IGT from 100% Aglianico grapes, perfect as a daily glass.
ConclusionAt the end of this small tour of Italy to discover its best reds, I am sure that your winter reserve will be populated with interesting bottles.
We love red wines the year round, but it is true that they seem to give us a special, warmer feeling during the colder months. We are not scientists or chemists, but drinking a luscious red wine during the cooler (ok, cold) winter months does seem to warm us from the inside out. The red wines of winter! We love them and bet that you do too! Let's face it: when winter and cold come, there is nothing better than spending lazy evenings at home in the heat. You know those movie scenes with your feet warmed by the fireplace, a blanket on your legs and a glass in your hand? Here, we imagine you exactly like this. And if you don't have a fireplace in your home, you can certainly fill the glass. The icy winter darkness loudly calls out full-bodied and enveloping red wine, which caresses the palate and warms sip after sip. To help you get through the coldest season unscathed, I have prepared a short list of suggestions on the best bottles available. I will take you on a journey from North to South through four renowned wine regions: Veneto, Tuscany, Puglia and Basilicata.
Veneto, the home of Amarone
When it comes to excellence, the mind immediately runs to Valpolicella and its incredible fruits: Amarone, Recioto and Ripasso, all born on the soft hills between Verona and Lake Garda. Among the historical names of the territory stands out the company Bolla, in business since 1883. The proposal of the winery starts from Cabernet Sauvignon Trevenezie IGT, table wine for those who want to enjoy the best every day, and continues with the noble names of Valpolicella, such as the Ripasso Classico Superiore DOC Le Poiane of 2016 or the Amarone Classico DOCG Rhetico, perfect to accompany rich meat dishes. For relaxing on the sofa, however, the best choice is the Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG of 2011, a classic meditation wine to sip slowly, perhaps combined with dark chocolate.
In the heart of Tuscany, between Chianti and Montalcino
There are few regions of Italy that can boast the same amount of controlled designations of origin as Tuscany. Even those who are not passionate about oenology know Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino, which have become almost synonymous with red wine for the many international tourists who come to Italy every year. The Marchesi Frescobaldi winery contains all the Tuscan wine culture in a tradition that began 700 years ago. From the Florentine Chianti the company has expanded into almost all the DOC of the region, adding new estates in Montalcino, Bolgheri and Maremma, up to Friuli with the Tenuta Conti Attems: an authentic empire of good drinking. Let's start with the selection of Chianti: with the Castiglioni DOCG you will have an excellent companion for the table, solid and reliable, while the Chianti Rufina Nipozzano Riserva DOCG and the Nipozzano Vecchie Viti deserve to be drunk on special occasions, perhaps when the cold gets sharper and the table is laden. From the lands of Montalcino, Marchesi Frescobaldi offers two great labels: the Rosso di Montalcino Campo ai Sassi DOC of 2015 and his majesty the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2013 of Castelgiocondo. Let's not forget the DOCG di Scansano, from which comes the Morellino Santa Maria, bright and intense as its ruby red color.
Salento, land of sun, sea... and red wine
Puglia is one of the regions with the largest wine production in Italy. Despite this, until a few years ago local wines were not very well known and were sold wholesale as blending wines, that is, as "ingredients" for other wine productions. Today, fortunately, Apulian products are appreciated for all their baggage of perfumes and robustness. An excellent example of this great tradition are the labels of the Castello Monaci company, located in the heart of Salento, which offers excellent Salice Salentino DOC wines with the most famous and appreciated denominations of the territory. They range from the extraordinary daily wines Maru Negroamaro IGT 2016, Liante DOC 2016 and Piluna IGT 2017, round and full as you would expect from a red with character, to the sensational Primitivo Artas IGT of 2013. Ideal bottles to be enjoyed on winter evenings, reminding every sip of the warmth of the Salento summer.
Aglianico coast to coast
A few kilometers from Puglia there is a land still little known for its food and wine tradition. It is Basilicata, cradle of great reds led by Aglianico del Vulture. Among the local companies, Cantine del Notaio has distinguished itself in the last twenty years for its work of enhancing the territory and rediscovering traditions, the result of which is a rich and varied offer of wines. We illustrate it starting from the jewel of the cellar: Il Lascito, Aglianico del Vulture made with a blend of the best wines produced since the birth of the Cellars in 1998. A precious bottle, distributed in only 1,998 copies, which tells the story of Lucania drop by drop. Around this authentic excellence there are other excellent proposals of Aglianico, such as La Firma DOC and Il Repertorio DOC, robust and full as expected, and L'Atto IGT from 100% Aglianico grapes, perfect as a daily glass.
Conclusion
At the end of this small tour of Italy to discover its best reds, I am sure that your winter reserve will be populated with interesting bottles.
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