Spring is upon us, and as the days get longer, the afternoons a touch warmer, and spirits a bit brighter, the call of long, alfresco lunches and early dinners beckons us… and what better pair than Italian wine and a delicious feast? Whether your wine of choice is white, pink, red, or somewhere in the middle of it all - the vineyards and winemakers of Italy deliver time and time again in supplying us with something for any occasion.

We enlisted Adam Fischer - one of our wine buyers (and a winemaker in his own right at Gravity Wine Co.) - to give us the rundown on some of his top Italian wine and food matches.

**2018 Cantina Tibaldi Langhe Favorita, $38
**Quite a different style of Vermentino than its Corsican cousins, but in a lovely way - this sees a bit more ripeness while still maintaining vitality, a light saline note, and a great acid backbone. Aromatics of almond husk and peach fuzz lead into a clean and spicy palate, with savoury grip, white pepper, apricot, and a mineral note.

*Food Match:*Fish and white meat
*Alternative Wine:*2019 Lamoresca Bianco Vermentino (a bit more expensive and adventurous, but thoroughly worth it)

**2018 La Guardiense Fiano, $22
**This has a nice weight and round flavours with a gentle nutty edge and good structure. A Fiano to drink by the Piano while you’re sitting in Nagano, but not while you’re eating a ripe Banano, instead you should enjoy it with a Risotto Marinarno! (we ran out of rhymes right after Fiano)

*Food Match:*Risotto Marinara (obviously!) or a wash rind cheese
*Alternative Wine:*2019 Sassafras Hilltops Fiano (because Australian Fiano can be delicious too!)

**2019 Gigi Sangiovese Rosato, $22
**This tasty rosato sits neatly between conventional and LoFi - it’s unfined & unfiltered (thus a smidge cloudy), but still incredibly fresh and crisp. Think citrus, red sherbet, orange Sunnyboy, strawberry, and a hint of grippy tannins.

*Food Match:*Fish and Chips, ideally at the park (or just the chips element, or even crisps!)
*Alternative Wine:*2019 Born & Raised Rosé Lumiere Grenache Sangiovese (An Australian-grown rosé with a lovely whack of Sangiovese in there for good measure!)

**2019 Principe Corsini Camporsino Chianti, $25
**This delectable wine is made by Le Corti, and sees time in concrete & stainless vessels - making for a fresh, fleshy Sangiovese. Initially a little tarry reduction on the nose, but with a breath of air it reveals plush ripe red cherry, tobacco greenery, and nicely integrated tannins.

*Food Match:*Lasagne (meat or vege), legumes!
*Alternative Wine:*2018 Fiore Nero Chianti (hits the same price mark and is equally as delicious!

**2018 Piero Benevelli Nebbiolo Langhe, $34
**Phenomenal value Nebbiolo from Benevelli, which is matured in a mix of large old oak and stainless steel for six months prior to bottling. Aromatics of rose and aniseed lead into a light, approachable palate, with red cherry, sweet tobacco, dried flowers, a lovely rasp of tannins.

*Food Match:*Game and roasted fennel
*Alternative Wine:*2018 Davide Carlone Colline Novaresi DOC Nebbiolo (A smidge more expensive at $42, but still thoroughly worth it!)