Orsumella Chianti Classico 2021

Drink it from a Gabriel Glas to feel a little fancier on your not-so-Juliette balcony that looks east at the beautiful Dandenongs. If the flavours still matter… cherries with chewy but velvety tannins.

Querceto IGT 2022

Very much on the bright side for Sangiovese, complete with all the black and red cherries, and a lot of dusty tannins. Some wines are just honest in the best way and taste and behave, true to style. Pair it with any Tuscan specialty at lunch – Pappardelle with pork.

Sagona Gattorosso Sangiovese Blend 2022

Tuscan whites are made to pair with canned fish and tomatoey fish stews on sunny afternoons. The blend of Malvasia & Trebbiano lets tropical flavours, stone fruits and citrus all intermingle in a lovely way. There’s also some nice skin contact that makes for a more textual experience and grippy tannin.

Sagona Vinotte Malvasia Trebbiano 2023

A very well regarded bottle in Brunello with a proper structure and traditional style. If it's a super wine from Tuscany, does that make it a Super Tuscan? Maybe not, but it'll give you red cherry-skinned smiles after all sips and a lasting tannin. It's wine like these that made the Tuscan wine store owners upset when I went in and asked for Barolo.

La Magia Il Vispo Sangiovese 2022

Lovely, lifted fruit that’s bright and has blue fruits, sweet cherries and dusty tannins. We're in love. Made with a traditional Tuscan blend – Sangiovese, Colorino and Canaiolo. If you never fell for an Italian, this is what it’s like – juicy is the beginning, but a savoury edge that keeps things sharp, then after 750mls there’s nothing left and it’s over. You'll always have the memories though.

Selvapiana Chianti Rufina 2022

A great Italian red that's safe, approachable, sensible and delicious! Feels like a dinner party bottle, but night-in worthy too, we can’t decide whether it’s more dark choc and Scacchi, or chicken cacciatore and mates. Either option sounds great.

Cantina Etrusca Morellino di Scansano 2022

Think of autumn leaves falling and a little homemade porchetta roll–don’t forget the dried oregano and that last hot-as-your-oven-will-go 30 minutes to get the crackle, oh and there’s 1,000 great salsa verde recipes online.

Villa Migliarina Montozzi Chianti Superiore 2022

Deliciously ripe and fleshy cherry notes, wrapped delicately in tobacco leaf and a lovely bitter cherry edge in this Chianti that’s sitting more in the plush and weightier.

Tenuta Casabianca Chianti Collo Senesi 2021

Classic as can be—drink this when you're in the mood to revisit warm nights spent in Tuscany. Varietal cherry and dusty plum lead the charge here with a moreish savoury edge. Delicious.

Dei Rosso Di Montepulciano 2020

A lovely bright nose, full of red cherry and black cherries that seem to develop naturally and delightfully into a sandy tannin. It’s fruit forward thanks to all the forest berries, and some stony minerality which softens the profile and keeps it approachable. Open it up and put it between the Reggiano and the pasta, then grate, pour, mangia and drink!

Tenuta di Carleone Chianti Classico 2020

Light, bright and frankly, a delight. In the glass, expect bright morello cherries alongside prominent leafy tannins on the lithe palate, with a more delicate feel to the wine thanks to a portion of Canaiolo in the blend.