Drink Italia! The best wines for Christmas

Wine at Christmas

Here’s our round up of really special Italian drinks to take you through the rest of the festive season and all its celebrations! Information correct at time of publishing. Please check for current availability and prices   A well-chosen drinks menu is essential for an exceptional Christmas celebration, so we asked our experts to suggest fine […]

Time to sparkle

Mionetto

Mionetto. More than just a Prosecco. Here we explain why… In the heart of the Veneto Valley, where Prosecco originated, is Valdobbiadene, the home of premium Prosecco brand Mionetto. Founded in 1887 by master winemaker Francesco Mionetto, Mionetto Prosecco is still produced on the original site. The company tells a story of heritage and authenticity, […]

Drink Italia! Montepulciano d’Abruzzo reds

Abruzzo is perhaps an overlooked region, and the same could be said (unfairly) about its wines. We see what the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo grape has to offer The standing of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wines has become more significant on the international stage over the past decade, but they are still seriously underrated outside Italy. It is a […]

Fizz in Franciacorta

Franciacorta vineyards Italy

Sarah Rodrigues has a sparkling time on the southern shores of Lake Iseo, where they produce champagne-method wines to rival the best… Images by Sarah Rodrigues unless otherwise stated   “Why wasn’t I born the daughter of an Italian winemaker?” This green-tinged thought ripples through my mind as I stand in the cavernous space below […]

Drink Italia: red wines of the islands

italian red wine

Italy’s two largest islands produce sumptuous red wines of great quality and international renown, with prices to suit any budget. Our experts have chosen six examples to try… Sardinia and Sicily have a proud and long-lived history of wine production, dating from colonisation by the Greeks, whose presence dominated the islands from around 800 to […]

Drink Italia: white wines of Friuli

Vineyards in Friuli

This far northeastern region of Italy produces white wines of such diversity and finesse that its present-day reputation is beyond compare. Our experts have found six fine examples Home to some of Italy’s most accomplished and adventurous white wines, Friuli-Venezia Giulia has embraced many cultural influences through the centuries, including periods as a major trading […]

Drink Italia: Six favourite reds for 2018

We asked our wine buyers to recommend good-value Italian red wines to enjoy this spring and beyond. Here are six we think will become favourites for 2018… Even if you have your ‘go-to’ wines, one of the joys of wine appreciation is finding a new bottle that surprises you and goes on to become a favourite. […]

Barolo Wine – Italia! Icons

Rich and deep and made for ageing, Barolo is Italy’s most famous wine – and the one that brings producers up and down the country the most prestige… When people talk about Italy making truly world-class wines, when they start talking about Italy being on a par with France as a wine-making nation – and […]

48 Hours in Elba

With thousands of tourists paying for the privilege of a stay on this beautiful island, Sarah Lane ponders why the exiled Napoleon gave Elba the elbow Elba, Italy’s third largest island, is probably best known by English speakers for the palindrome credited to Napoleon: Able was I, ere I saw Elba. But there is much […]