Wines for Christmas celebration: from Prosecco to Amarone

The holidays are never quite the same, especially those tied to the last days of the year, if you don’t uncork a bottle of wine that is charming and of rare pleasure. In short, we all become a little sommelier, and for those who truly are, it’s the moment to show off some wine culture with relatives and friends. For those who are curious, in love with life, and seekers of good Italian goods, and in this case, Italian wines, we are here to help you make a great impression. 

Choosing the wrong wine can sometimes be worse than choosing the wrong food. If the wine isn’t up to par, everything else seems less important and tasty. In our selection, we have only sought high-quality wines, perhaps difficult to find, but this is where our peculiarity lies: rare wines for unique people!

Let’s start with a fact: we won’t present you with a Champagne. Although Italians drink it in quantities, it doesn’t seem right for a site that focuses on Italian typicity like ours. For this reason, we propose some exceptional products that will amaze you and your guests.

Let’s begin with the wines that go “bam!”. One pop of the cork and off we go, hugs, kisses, smiles, applause, handshakes. Whether it’s Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve, a little bang at the table always makes the party, even though etiquette and sommeliers advise us never to uncork a wine noisily. “With all of those… all of those bubbles!” Vasco Rossi sang, even if ours are the noble bubbles from the most beautiful sparkling Italian territories. The classics we propose are the Italian classics: Superiore Prosecco and Franciacorta with the addition of an excellent Lessini Durello.

Between Asolo and Montello

There’s a lot of Veneto among the bubbles. In particular, we have chosen Asolo as the reference municipality: the third DOCG municipality of the denomination. The Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut from the Giusti winery stands out for its pleasantness and freshness. As a wine, it is excellent to accompany throughout the meal, or for a gentle and joyful after-meal. This Brut version undoubtedly best interprets its territory, with a more delicate fruity sensation and a particularly balanced and dry taste. The Extra Dry version of Prosecco has become the more trendy and contemporary option. The version for the female universe and those seeking roundness, pleasantness, brioche sensations, and citrus nuances.

Volcanic bubbles

Another very intriguing Prosecco comes from the ancient lands of Garganega, in Gambellara, specifically from the properties of the winery Natalina Grandi. A woman who chose to cultivate her vineyards and her land, transforming a home passion into a farm that her husband Giovanni Framarin and children, Luca, Lisa, and Valentina decided to grow in 2016, turning the business into a Tenuta. In the Prosecco DOC Natalina Grandi Extra Dry, you will find lightness and an abundance of white fruit. An elegant and creamy bubble with a delicately almondy finish. 

Charm of Franciacorta

From Prosecco, we move to another Italian must: Franciacorta. A denomination that is finding its true identity and positioning at this time. From Franciacorta, we do not present the usual names, but rather an interesting winery that produces only high quality and appeals to an audience that does not settle but seeks out the small wine realities as an emblem and backbone of the entire winemaking production chain of the country. We would like to introduce you to the Franciacorta Saten Millesimato from Monzio Compagnoni, which has received significant praise from expert critics and, above all, has never disappointed the most discerning consumers. Its wines are eclectic, strongly linked to seasonality, of great robustness and character. Ideal for spiced and never banal cuisine. Excellent to pair with cheeses and cured meats that are moderately aged. Finally, it is one of the trendiest wines in recent years, captivating lovers of bubbles and enthusiasts of sparkling wines.

Gentle Durella

The Lessini Durello is a great Italian sparkling wine that comes from one of the most underrated grapes in the agricultural world. For its acidity, the grape has been called over the centuries: cagnina, rabiosa, and finally durella. It was mainly used for acidic still wines, but over time, a vinification and sparkling process with the Martinotti method has been found that enhances its aromatic and olfactory characteristics. A sparkling wine that will leave you amazed is surely the Durello Lessini Metodo Classico, with 36 months of tirage in the bottle, from the Antonio Fattori winery. 

Exciting wines to celebrate!

We have not wanted to focus only on sparkling wines. We have also decided to recommend a small selection of extraordinary quality wines, each of which tells a story, a strong identity of their producer. They are more than just wines; they are pieces of the great mosaic of Italy's great producers that leave a mark. 

The valley of stones and marogne

We start from the Valpolicella Classico DOC “Pozzetto” recognized for years as the best classic wine of the entire denomination. A wine that is nothing like "basic," as is often superficially said. A wine with strong character and taste persistence. It comes from the river debris of the ancient Fumane Valley, where the wines smell of sour cherry and peppery spices. With structure and excellent freshness. A great wine for first courses.

I Campi by Flavio

On the other side of the province of Verona and Valpolicella, a young oenologist has unequivocally contributed to defining the quality of the wines in the valleys of Illasi and Mezzane. His Valpolicella Campo Base from the Azienda Agricola I Campi remains a product of the highest quality and pleasantness. Its tannin is excellent, and the cherry it expresses is very elegant. 

With earth in hand

We have also included a biodynamic wine from one of the pioneers of BIO wines in Italy. Marinella Camerani of Corte Sant'Alda is undoubtedly one of the most eccentric interpreters of Italian and particularly Venetian winemaking. Her wines are simply unique and exciting, reaching peaks of quality that, in some years, are unattainable. From Marinella, we present the Valpolicella DOC Cà Fiui 2013 that should be absolutely savored in magnum.

Ecstasy from Recioto

To finish your Christmas dinners or lunches, we recommend a very rare wine that is part of the ancient winemaking tradition of the province of Verona, particularly from its hillside of Valpolicella. Have you heard of Recioto again? Perhaps yes. Well, it is one of the greatest sweet red dessert wines produced on the planet. Yet it has only local consumption, even though there are some enthusiasts and connoisseurs abroad. It is made with grapes dried until Good Friday, with a very pronounced viscosity and creaminess, along with incredible freshness and a sensation of dried red fruit. Excellent to pair with chocolate-based desserts or pure dark chocolate at 50%. We propose the splendid Recioto della Valpolicella Classica DOCG Le Giarette from the Le Bertarole wineries. 

Campo di Villa

But what is a New Year's Eve party or a Christmas lunch without a great Amarone docg? Right! Here’s a beautiful new entry from the Negrar Valley and, in particular, from the ancient hamlet of Villa. The Ruffo family and young Francesco have started the adventure of Nepos Villae with the first Amarone docg  in their history. The Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG “Campo di Villa” 2013. A fascinating wine, ideal for great meats and boiled dishes, capons, and lamb. An exciting wine!

Bernardo Pasquali

S&M