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

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

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

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

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

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.

DeAngelis Rosso Piceno 2020

Carlotta ROSSO 2024 Nero d’Avola Negroamaro Sagrantino

Soft and fleshy, a compote of plummy rich fruit and little warming, clove spices. From the Province of Pescara which is by the Adriatic, and has that typical ancient beauty – picture a hillside covered in centuries-old homes, surround by forest.

La Valentina Montepulciano 2022

Lovely and fresh with a nice perfume and red cherry pips that pour coiled in chalky tannins. Actually, this may be the cheapest, and best, box of red cherries you'll enjoy this summer.