The Top 3 Italian Wines for New Red Drinkers
Looking to get into red wines, but don’t know where to start? ⠀⠀
Whether you're new to the world of wine or are very loyal to your whites and rosés, we'll be the first to admit that it's not always easy to transition into being a red lover.
Have you ever had a sip of your friend's red after them encouraging you to taste how good it was, only to feel like it was just really dry or hard to drink?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Some people have very specific red wine preferences and like their wine super heavy and dry, but if you want something a little more palatable, we've put together a list of some easy Italian red drinking wines for you to try!⠀⠀⠀⠀
All of these wines are fruit forward with a good balance of acidity and tannins (making them easy drinking), bold, and affordable!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Sangiovese⠀⠀⠀
Sangiovese is very adaptable to the environment it grows in, meaning that the tasting experience will vary from region to region. The good news? There are lots of flavours to try and see which ones are a match to your wine palate!
Typically, Sangiovese has more prominent notes of cherry, and subtle notes of tomato. Other flavours you may notice are red plum, figs, strawberry, roasted pepper, roses, leather, clay, brick, tobacco, and spices like oregano and thyme. If you're a fan of fruity and earthy wines, there is a Sangiovese for you!
The Sangiovese grape may be most recognizable for being part of wines such as Chianti, Super Tuscan, and Brunello di Montalcino. Our pick? Try Luiano Chianti Classico DOCG!
Made of 90% Sangiovese (plus 5% Merlot 5% Cabernet Sauvignon) grapes all from the Mercatale Val di Pesa region in Tuscany, this balanced, fruity, and round wine has notes of cherry, raspberries, tea leaves, lavender, pink pepper.
Montepulciano⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This medium bodied red has fruit flavours of red fruits and cherry, and can be recognized as having a similar style to Merlot. It is labelled by region, with the most popular being “Montepulciano d’Abruzzo”.
Our pick? Tenuta i Fauri Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC Baldovino!
For the best tasting experience, be sure to try it with a charcuterie board of salumi and cheese, or with a simple spaghetti with tomato sauce. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Primitivo
From the Puglia region, this bold but smooth, fruit forward wine includes flavours of figs, raspberries, and blackberries. Does this grape sound familiar? If it does, it's because Primitivo is actually the same grape as in California’s Zinfandel! Many new wine drinkers may not know this, so it's the perfect piece of trivia to bring along with a bottle to your next dinner party. Bonus points if you and your friends are already fans of Zinfandel, since you will definitely love Primitivo too!
We recommend Primitivo Verosso, a big bodied wine that will go wonderfully with cured meats and grilled vegetables at your next Spring BBQ.
Time to Taste!
Still not sure which one of these reds will be your new favourite? The best way to learn more about your palate and which wines you actually enjoy is to taste with an expert!
If you and your friends have been wanting to try new wines, get into reds, and are tired of picking out the same bottle every Friday at the LCBO... what are you waiting for? Get the group together for a night of fun and learning by booking a wine tasting with us! None of our bottles are available at the LCBO, so now's your chance to expand your taste with unique and exclusive wines that are affordable.
Perfect for couples, friends, households, or even 1:1 sessions with one of our wine experts, here's how a tasting with us works:
- Each household will receive a curated gift pack of wines delivered right to their front door. Chose from a list of themes or create your own!
- Guests will join a 75 minute virtual guided tasting by one of our in-house experts.
- Rich discussions, thoughtful inquiries and collaborative activities to result in a connected and highly entertained groups.
Trying new wines has never been easier. All you have to do is get your group together and decide where you want to host, let us know where to deliver your wine prior to the event, and our in-house expert will arrive to do the rest! Add-ons such as food and glass rental are also available upon request.
We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again - wine brings people together.
Let us do the work and help you experience the elegant tastes and captivating stories of four hand-selected wines. Ready to book? Click here!