This a wine that really shines with fresh seafood-the Sicilians love how its refreshing salinity complements creamy sea urchin pasta!

It may share certain characteristics with white Burgundy, but its unique profile could only come from Etna’s sun-drenched, mineral-rich slopes. Made from 100% carricante-a grape you’re unlikely to find anywhere outside of Sicily-this wine shows the complexity and character you would normally find in a white Burgundy that costs several times the price. Cristian Valbruzzoli, who owns Benanti’s US importer Lyra Wine, says he was drawn to this wine because “it has a strong personality that expresses the culture and terroir of Sicily.” From the volcanic soils of Sicily’s Mount Etna, this bottling from Benanti balances rich texture with vibrant, almost salty acidity, while crisp citrus and orchard fruit flavors combine with appealing savory character and flinty minerality. Region: Sicily | ABV: 12% | Tasting Notes: Yellow Apple, Meyer Lemon, Saline, HerbsĮtna bianco is sort of like the chablis of Italy, but with a personality all its own. Whatever you choose, top it with plenty of truffles, like they do in Piedmont!

It can be quite tannic, but with vibrant acidity like a pinot noir.” She loves to pair it with hearty roasted vegetables, but it works with everything from pasta to meats and aged cheeses. Alissa Fitzgerald, a former chef at Reynard in Brooklyn, NY, says, “If I see nebbiolo on a wine list, it's always my pick. It’s somehow rustic and pretty at the same time, with deep black fruit, floral accents, and savory herbal nuances. The 2017 Barbaresco is the entry-level wine in the range, but the price-to-quality ratio it delivers makes it one of the best buys in all of Italy. Nobody does Barbaresco better than Produttori del Barbaresco, a co-operative estate widely regarded as the benchmark producer for the entire region. In Piedmont’s Barolo and Barbaresco regions, it strikes a balance between power and elegance unlike almost anything else.

Region: Piedmont | ABV: 14% | Tasting Notes: Black Cherry, Pepper, Spice, VioletĪlong with sangiovese, nebbiolo is one of Italy’s noblest grapes. Here are the best Italian wines to seek out right now. Every province in Italy produces and exports wine, so there’s also an overwhelming number of regions to keep track of!īut the good news is that this means there’s something for everyone among the wines of Italy the geographically diverse country produces a fascinating range of regional specialties in every style you can imagine and at every price point. But not surprisingly, though, our top pick- Livio Sassetti Brunello di Montalcino Pertimali 2015-comes from Tuscany, one of the most prolific wine regions in Europe.Īs an added bonus, the typically balanced, elegant wines of Italy are famously food-friendly across the board, so you’re certain to find the perfect pairing for everything from pasta night to a seafood extravaganza to an antipasti picnic. The world of Italian wine can seem daunting-in a country smaller than the state of California, some say there are over 2,000 unique native grape varieties, and about 400 of those are used in commercial winemaking.