Italian Wines

Italian wine begins with the land. It changes entirely depending on the region. Winemaking goes back thousands of years; long before France or the first world planted their own vines and every region grew up with grapes of their own.  In Italy, wine was a crucial part of the meal, made by families, poured at every table.

So how does the taste compare to French wine and the rest of the world?  French wines often lean towards structure and subtlety — oak, earth, restraint. Comparatively, wines from Australia or the Americas tend to be larger, ripe and fruity. Italian wine tends to sit beautifully in between: bright acidity, honest fruit, and a savoury, mineral edge that makes it one of the most food-friendly styles on earth. A glass is made to be drunk with food, not always apart from it.

At Pizzicotto, our two best sellers come from Puglia, in the heel of Italy, home of Primitivo — a grape that travelled to America and then became Zinfandel.  The first is Cervate Primitivo Puglia: juicy and generous, full of dark plum, blackberry and a soft dusting of spice. It is the easiest bottle on our list to fall in love with.

The second is Lacrime Primitivo di Manduria Reserve. This one feels richer.  Manduria is the spiritual home of Primitivo, and this reserve shows it: richer, darker, velvety, with ripe black fruit, sweet spice and a long, warm finish. 

Both pour well alongside our Roman pizza al taglio, our cheese and our curated hams — but they are just as good on their own! Ask a member of staff and we will happily pour you a glass of either.