The world of Italian wine can seem daunting—in a country smaller than the state of California, there are over 350 regional wines and countless native wine grapes (thought to be in the thousands)!
But the good news is that this means there’s something for everyone among the wines of Italy. As an added bonus, the typically balanced, elegant wines of Italy are famously food-friendly across the board, so you’re certain to find the perfect pairing for whatever’s on the menu this holiday season.
To get you started, we’ve picked five wines that are perfect for NYE! Forget the champagne! These are your must-have tipples to ring in 2023!
Photo: Coral Sisk
Trento DOC
Never ones to be outdone by the French, the Italians have their own sparkling wine in the form of Trento DOC. Known in Italian as spumante, this bubbly can only be made with Trentino grapes in the north of the country and is produced by the Classic Method or Metodo Classico. Also known as the Champagne method, this involves secondary fermentation within the individual bottles, rather than in a tank, yielding a mousse of a finer texture.
If you’re keen to wet your whistle with another Italian Metodo Classico wine this NYE, we recommend Franciacorta from the Italian Province of Brescia (Lombardy). Where the Trentodoc is as brisk and bright as the brilliant sunshine on the Alpine peaks, Franciacorta is as smooth and refreshing as a lake breeze on a summer’s day.
Pairings:
Trento DOC: Vegetable-based dishes, fried fish and with fish dishes. Particularly in Southern Italy, it’s tradition to eat seafood only at the Cenone di Capodanno. Typical dishes include spaghetti with shellfish and whole-baked fish.
Franciacorta: Seafood or soft ripened cheeses (like brie). Italian tradition dictates that seven dried fruit and nuts be eaten for good luck on New Year’s Eve, which is handy since Franciacorta also pairs well with dried apricot and cherry, and roasted salted nuts.
Taken from our food tour of Bologna: https://curiousappetitetravel.com/bologna-food-tour
Pignoletto
When it comes to sparklers, the Italians don’t just settle for the Metodo Classico. They’ve also mastered its alternative – the tank or Charmat method.
In this category there is one powerhouse – Prosecco. The name of both a historic grape and an appellation in northern Italy’s Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia provinces, Prosecco can be made using the Champagne method, but is more commonly made in the Charmat method.
That being said, we prefer the underdog and lesser known Pignoletto this NYE. As a rule, Charmat method sparklers are more affordable than their Metodo Classico cousins, which means you can pop open another as the clock chimes midnight!
On the palate, Pignoletto is light and fruity, with herbal aromas, citrus notes, and crisp apple flavors. Compared to the Prosecco, Pignoletto, which comes from Emilia-Romagna, typically has fewer sweet flavors and a longer finish.
Pairings:
The stalwart of Emilia-Romagna holiday dishes - Tortellini in brodo, for those who will make this part of their Italian NYE traditions.
Prosecco: Shellfish, savory cheeses, cured meats and fruits. Personally we can’t go past Prosecco and panettone!
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi
Verdicchio, a dry white wine from the central Italian region of Marche, is one of the country’s longest lived whites. It rose to fame in the writings of 16th century Tuscan poet Pietro Aretino, who, despite his reputation as notoriously critical of everything on this earth, only had warm and praiseworthy words to say about Verdicchio's deistical and tasteful virtues.
Much like Chianti, the Verdicchio was a victim of its own success as production fell into the hands of the cooperatives, who did not pay attention to quality, but only quantity. Luckily in recent years, a rediscovery of indigenous varieties has fueled a resurgence of quality Verdicchio producers.
Today, most examples are vinified without wood, with numerous examples being fermented and matured in cement tanks to highlight the varietal purity of the grape. Perfumes of pear, melon and jasmine are common, as are floral notes of lilacs and magnolia.
Perfect for those fussy about red wines but who want something unique and sophisticated, the finest examples of Verdicchio are among the prettiest white wines anywhere in the world.
Pairings:
Seafood is an obvious choice, and with that acidic structure, you can get away with something a tad creamier, such as a seafood risotto. In northern Italy, especially Piedmont, Friuli and Lombardy, it is customary to serve a New Year’s Eve first course of risotto to encourage prosperity in the coming year.
Etna Rosso (or really, any wines from Sicily’s Mt. Etna)
Hailing from Sicily, the Etna Rosso’s explosive roots (it’s grown in volcanic soil, so we mean that literally) reminded us of fireworks, which is how it earned its spot on the NYE. This is a blend of native Sicilian grapes: Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio.
Persistent minerality and lip-smacking acidity make this red wine hard to put down. Think ashy flavors of red fruit, sour cherries and wet earth with round tannins that create a classically dry feel, as hints of spiced citrus and hard red candies slowly fade.
Pairings:
The red berry flavors and high acidity with medium tannins makes this wine similar to the lighter bodied Pinot Noirs for the purpose of food pairing. Oily fish such as tuna, swordfish or salmon, or chicken and pork dishes with acidic sauces or marinades. For a real NYE tradition, serve with Zampone - pig trotter (hoof) that has been stuffed with sausage.
Morellino di Scansano
This lesser-sung Tuscan red wines packs a punch, which probably has something to do with its origins – hailing from a part of Southern Tuscany that was once infested with malaria. Turned off? You shouldn’t be! Like the locals (nicknamed the Maremmani), the Morellino di Scansano is bold, brash and a quaffable crowd pleaser.
Elisabetta Geppetti a.k.a the Signora del Morellino (Madam of Morellino) is credited with bringing the wine to the world’s attention. As the first female president of the Consorzio del Morellino di Scansano, she elevated the tipple from local drink to international sensation.
These days, the best Morellino di Scansanos are well balanced, with soft and persistent tannins. With a deep ruby colour with a fragrance of red fruits and violets with spicy hints on the finish, this is the one to buy if you love medium-bodied reds, but want to impress with a label that’s a little off the beaten track.
Pairings:
If you’re going the route of cotechino and lentils at midnight as per Italian tradition, you can’t go past the Morellino di Scansano. Curious? Check out this recipe for this most traditional of Italian NYE dishes.
