Like wearing a finely knitted Italian cardigan–they're back ‘on trend’ right? One dyed a dark and classy red and oozes cherry and red currant comforts plus some crumbly tannins and cool leafiness. Perfect while cooking and eating with friends.

Produttori di Govone Langhe Nebbiolo 2023

If you’ve never had Brunello before, 2019 was an amazing year, so this will be one to hold onto for a very special occasion. Palate is all silky but bold fruits that'll change your life and have you travelling to Italy ASAP. Decant for perfection.

San Giorgio Brunello di Montalcino 2019

Grown at 400m above sea level over 26 hectares that are surrounded by olive groves. Talk about an Italian vision of perfection. Tastes beautiful, like; cherry skins, deep red fruits and scrub land.

San Giorgio Rosso di Montalcino 2020

Sangiovese that comes perfectly dressed for winter with warming plush cherries and brambly forestal fruits. This drinks with some sweet tobacco too, and a plenty of value. Before you ask. Yes, it’s go perfectly with your ragu.

Piantaferro Chianti 2022

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

Full and rich but still showing plenty of floral elegance. Siblings, Pierro and Benedetta, use precise methods to ensure the best possible combination of concentration, acidity and ripe tannins. Brilliant, age-worthy.

Poggerino Chianti Classico 2022

Mother-daughter winemakers that have made something brilliant! Deliciously open and easy drinking with juicy purple violets and sweet cherries. Made with most Sangiovese, but a little Colorino, Canaiolo and Ciliegiolo thrown in for balance and expression.

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

Old school approach to Etna Rosso. That means liquorice root, soil-toned tannins and delicate fruit flavours that are long and persistent. These wines are cool to see, they remind us that Etna was producing brilliant wines way before it became a fashionable wine region.

Calabretta Gaio Gaio Etna Rosso Nerello Mascalese 2021

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.