Southern Italy

Coppi Primitivo Senatore 2017 (Gioia del Colle, Puglia, Italy)

  • 100% Primitivo—a variety that is better known as Zinfandel in California, where it has earned the moniker “America’s Grape.” In actuality, it is neither American nor Italian in origin, but is instead indigenous to Croatia
  • Grown in Puglia, “the heel of the boot,” where the long, narrow peninsula and sunny, southerly climate provide for unique growing conditions
  • Gioia del Colle is one of Italy’s two most famous regions for Primitivo, along with Manduria. It is considered the more elegant and finessed of the two
  • Coppi is among Puglia’s top wine producers, founded in 1882, with this bottle earning the coveted Tre Bicchieri award by Gambero Rosso
  • Tasting Notes: Bold and juicy, the wine balances sweet and sour red currant, Bing cherry, and pomegranates notes with sweet spice and raisin flavors
  • Pairing Suggestions: This is the perfect grilling wine, to be served with hamburgers, veggie burgers, and hot dogs, as well as spicy pasta dishes, such as the Puglian specialty spaghetti all’assassina
  • You’ll love this if you also love: California Zinfandel

COS Frappato 2020 (Sicily, Italy)

  • 100% Frappato—one of Sicily’s leading red grape varieties that can often be served with a slight chill
  • One of the leading producers of the appellation Cerasuolo di Vittoria, COS is an acronym for its three founders Giambattista Cilia, Giusto Occhipinti, and Cirino Strano, who established the winery in 1980
  • The squat bottle was modeled after an old bottle they found on the property
  • The winery is certified organic, and also incorporates several biodynamic practices
  • Tasting Notes: The quintessential summer red, the wine tastes of bright cherry, raspberry, and sour plum with notes of lavender and violet.
  • Pairing Suggestions: Enjoy alongside light pasta dishes, Caprese salad, and pizza.
  • You’ll love this if you also love: Pinot Noir, Beaujolais, and other light reds

Graci Etna Bianco 2020 (Etna, Sicily, Italy)

  • 70% Carricante, 30% Catarratto, native white grape varieties of Sicily
  • The Graci vineyards are planted on the northern slopes of Mt. Etna, the legendary volcano of Sicily.
  • Graci only grows grape varieties native to Sicily, and the vines are interspersed with olive and apple trees.
  • Organic vineyards; herbicides are never used in an effort to respect and preserve the diverse fauna and flora of the island.
  • Winemaker Alberto Graci was a young investment banker in Milan, who returned home to Sicily after the death of his grandfather in 2004. He has since become one of Sicily’s most celebrated winemakers and is driven by his core philosophy of preserving Sicily’s heirloom grapes and winemaking traditions.
  • Tasting Notes: Fresh and lively notes of sea spray, fennel, dried herbs, with a mineral quality we’d like to think comes from the volcanic soils these vines are planted in. Above all else, the driving standout flavor here is citrus, with the satisfying sweet tartness of a lemon picked fresh off the tree.
  • Pairing Suggestions: A truly versatile wine, this would be excellent with crab cakes or tinned fish on the lighter side, but has enough verve to stand up to a cassoulet or a creamy risotto.
  • You’ll love this if you also love: White Burgundy