GIRO D'ITALIA

Italy – a country that boasts an enormous wealth of expertise, diversity as well as some of the finest wines in the whole world.  

In this very special tasting, our WSET certified wine gurus are joined by Export Manager, Rhona Bradley from our top producer Torre Bisenzio who will whisk you across Italian vineyards and taste seven sensational vinos that will have you booking flights pronto!

Rebuli Prosecco DOC Brut, NV, Treviso, Veneto, Italy

Kicking things off with some bubbles – this Brut is like the colour black; effortlessly cool and goes with everything. Young in age, but big on flavour the Rebuli’s have been sparkling wine since the 1980s. Their tech is absolutely on point and is mixed with a wealth of knowledge and respect for their environment – so you won’t find any nasties around here.

Casata Mergè, Venere Bianco, 2020, Lazio IGT, Italy

Malvasia is a grape variety that doesn't get a lot of love. Malvasia puntinata gives higher quality fruits than other species in the family, but has poor disease resistance so often gets ignored. Trebbiano, on the other hand, is robust and widely planted, but with a rep for being undistinguished. So, in this bottle, we've got a delicate flower waiting to be noticed, and a common-as-muck grafter in need of refinement. A match made in heaven.

Cantina Ronca Garganega, 2019, Veneto, Italy

This is a Soave for the suave. Soave often gets a rep as one of those old fashioned wines that used to be popular until this beauty came along. This wine comes from an extremely eco-friendly young winery to the west of Verona and although it is made from the same grape used in Soave, it is a much more sophisticated beast. Expect gorgeous tropical flavours and a rich creaminess from ageing on the lees.

Torre Bisenzio, Bianco di Bisenzio, 2018, Umbria, Italy

Though widely believed to have originally come from Greece, Grechetto has been growing now for so long in these parts its natural habitat is indeed Umbria. Grechetto has a rich flavour profile with citrus, melon and even seashell like aromas and the addition of Sauvignon Blanc adds a peach and tropical flavour. The end product? A wine that is aromatic, fresh and balanced.

La Colombina Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, 2016, Tuscany, Italy

As we hit the halfway point, we slow things down for you. This Sangiovese is not to be rushed. The Caselli family ripen the grapes in the warm Tuscan sun before being slowly macerated, fermented and then aged for up to forty months in oak. What’s produced is fresh with a meaty structure.

Torre Bisenzio, Il Pugnalone, 2016, Umbria IGT, Italy

The name of this wine captures the essence of historical pagan rituals offering of the fruits and crops of the land.  It shares that sense of deep connection to the territory and the people. Ruby red in colour, it has aromas of violet alongside dark fruits and a taste of spicy white pepper with a soft round finish.

Podere Ruggeri Corsini Barolo Bricco San Pietro, 2015, Barolo DOCG, Piedmont, Italy

Loredana Addari and Nicola Argamante decided they'd enough of their jobs in the city, and lucky for us they packed it all in, studied winemaking and bought a tiny vineyard in Monforte d'Alba. This Barolo really sings – expect spicy notes, roses and dark fruits.