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

Parlante is speaking in Italian, but they could’ve gone with canto (singing), because that is what it can do if you line up everything – a cooler, ice, glasses, a friend or two, and a rug for the park.

Fondo Antico Grillo Parlante 2022

Bursting with citrus zest and a nice dose of salty grapefruit snap, think lemon shortbread while you sip.

Cantina Furlani Vino Alpino Frizzante 2020

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

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

Manoro Montepulciano D Abruzzo 2021

An off-dry style Moscato with a just a little ‘frizzante’ vibe to get your afternoon on the right track. Would be lovely with pastries on the terrace after a good sleep in if you’re living that life.

Sensi Collezione 1890 Moscato 2023

This feels like the kind of wine to warm you up a little on a spring evening by the river when it just gets a little colder than you thought it would do. With bread, and a basket of cheeses, antipasti and some glasses we think you’ll have an evening to remember and come back for a second bottle.

Sensi Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2022

Plum pudding and just the tiniest touch of vanilla sweetness. It’s the plush raspberries and maraschino cherries that’ll have you coming back, and the fact you nailed your pasta sauce. Again. This is why the Italian tourism board doesn't waste time with marketing, the wine and pasta makers do the work for them.

Borgo Cipressi Montepulciano d Abruzzo 2022

All stainless fermentation makes for glasses of crunchy, bright raspberry and morello cherry, plus a raspy tannin and a bouquet garni. Crowd-pleasing doesn’t translate in Italian, but if it did it might be, piacere della folla – even nonna’s pronunciation gets better after a glass of Farina.

Farina Valpolicella 2020

Open to a little chill, but just a little chill. Would suit a Gamay drinker and someone that’s in a bit of a romantic mood.

Cantina Colli Morenici Valpolicella 2022

This one’s a little exotic and will place Soave and Chardonnay drinkers in a different corner of heaven. There’s some texture and almond but it’s kept light and refreshing thanks to some lime leaf. So good with afternoon risotto.

Cantina Colli Morenici Custoza White Blend 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

Blushing with light citrus bliss, and a delicate mouthfeel, this one’s a little herby and rounded out with a savoury edge thanks to time in steel.

Cantina di Soave 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

Think herbal strawberries, and light red fruits that come through with a savoury, mineral and salty feel. This vintage is still light and lifted, but there’s just a little extra tannin which leaves room for extra ruminating.

Mortellito Rosso Sicilia Calaniuru Frappato Nero d' Avola 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.