Cool, sunny day southern Italy vibes complete with lifted aromatics, sweet nutty spices and some stylistically typical tannins that come through a little bricky. All those layers are wrapped in boysenberries and cherries. Perfect in a carafe between you and the last slice of pizza, while supporting your favourite Italian football (soccer) team.

Carlotta Rosso 2024

Galognano La Foresta Chianti Colli Senesi 2022

Who’d have thought… Sangiovese plus Merlot and Sagrantino can equal a Gamay-like wine. When it’s light and delicate thanks to a favourable growing season and the vines being at altitude. Unique and lovely.

Beulah Violetta Stesso Stesso Rosso 2023

Bright, lovely and age-worthy. It’s Chianti from a master and vines that average 40 years in age. Look for a delicate cherries and plums that flow with some savoury spices and a flick of tobacco. There's also some crisp acidity that’ll cut right through a Tuscan t-bone, or Bistecca all Fiorentina for those of you who "parla Italiano". Yum.

Rodano Viacosta Chianti Classico Riserva 2019

Felsina Chianti Classico 2021

All Nebbiolo from Piedmont is pretty in its own way, but this has roses, acacia and so much flowy, concentrated cherry. Skip the carbs, and just enjoy another glass but take it slow so you and the palate can really unwind together.

Poderi Colla Langhe Nebbiolo 2021

In the piazza the other day, an elderly woman was selling dried flowers and black fruits. When she came near us, she smelt faintly of sweet earth and you could see the fruits had stained her fingertips. We were eating saffron risotto and drinking Valpolicella. Everything was perfect.

Roccolo Grassi Valpolicella Superiore 2017

A great mountain Neb for everyone. Cradling tannins, textural appeal, and a very classy-looking bottle. The expression here is pure and smooth with cherry, herb and the kind of aromatics indicative of the vineyard being in one family for over 350 years.

Tenute Sella Orbello Coste Della Sesia Nebbiolo 2022

Barbera, Freisa and Grignolino combine for a velvety, savoury expression. Full of violets and crunchy with ripe cherries. This practically dials your local pizza joint for you, all you need to do is order, pour and enjoy the combination.

Stella Vino Rosso 2022

Dusty cherries and an earthy, savoury finish that are good and robust thanks to some big tannin. The palate is all liquored and glacé cherries that wash deliciousness straight over your soul.

Valpantena Torre del Falasco Corvina 2022

Delicate wild cherries. This is lovely – open and supple. It’s a little ‘Victorian’ (light) for Sangiovese but that’s the genius of it because all those moreish fruits come through with some cleansing acidity and freshness.

Mayer Sangiovese 2024

Tumblong for juiciness and a nice, crisp dose of acidity that will be right at home, sidling up to your bowl of bolognese, or Tuscan bean soup. Gentle handling of the grapes in the winery means the flavours are ripe with cherry, dried herbs and some soft chalky tannins.

Tumblong Hills Table of Plenty Barbera 2022

Great value can come with big, ripe black cherries that are super pure and seem wrapped in sage leaves and that dusty Italian tannin we call think of when they say, contento.

Cantina Colli Morenici Valpolicella 2022

Red raspberries, currants and cherries. There’s a sweetness and welcoming charm, but with an undertow of raspy tannin and energised acidity. Like the Kim Gordan and Thurston Moore combo, it’s about layers and discovery with deep twiggy spices, that seem rinsed in cola-nuttiness, there too.

Little Reddie New! Nebbiolo Refosco 2023

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

If it sounds like it can’t miss… then it can’t miss. BYO eggplant parma–add a little soy to your marinade.

Giovanni Armani Giorgio Rosso Sangiovese Merlot 2023

Fermented whole berry in concrete eggs, this is a generous wine that leads with sweet berry on the nose, before a little dark cherry, acidity and dusty tannin. Deliciously essential for your next BBQ.

Fairbank Sangiovese 2022

Delightfully easy drinking Monte that drinks without a care in the world, thanks to all the ripe, plummy flavours that are almost swimming in the glass. There’s also a nice, crisp minerality that makes it perfect with some Provolone or Ricotta.

Umani Ronchi Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2022

Plush sweet fruits that sink, first into your palate then your heart. Some wines just seem made to induce comfort, this is absolutely one of those. Beautiful out of a jug on a red and white checkered tablecloth when you want to relive, or plan, your Italian getaway.

Pasqua Nero d'Avola 2021

Rosso that’s generous with some plummy fruit and a little dried, black olive smoothness, and a salty edge. Montepulciano and Sangiovese are two of Italy’s best exports and here’s another delightful blend that's full of cherry berry, and marzipan almonds and offers up a moment in the old country. Just lovely.