My top 100 Italian Wines

For me it is very difficult to contemplate Italian food without thinking of wine and specifically Italian wines. Naturally in a country where regional and local food is so important there are also in most cases wonderful wines being made that can suit most budgets and tastes.

Italy has been one of the top 2 wine producers by volume for many years but within that volume there is both exceptional quality and value to suit all budgets.

I would argue that with the possible exception of France, Italy provides the biggest choice in terms of winemaking styles made with indigenous and international grape varieties. These wines not only match regional and local cuisines but also can compliment cuisines raging from Chinese, Thai, and Persian to that of the Indian subcontinent.

I am often asked to recommend Italian wines and have even helped restaurateurs with their wine lists. In 2010 I put together a list of over 300 wines from around 100 winemakers for a food and wine shop that I co founded in London. We ran many wine events featuring the winemakers themselves who we either specifically invited or happened to be passing through London to visit distributors or participate in large wine events.

The general feedback was very positive, many customers were not aware of the variety of truly excellent wines available ranging in price from £8 to £900 plus per bottle. The reputation of Italian wines has improved to such an extent over the last forty years that they now produce some of the very best wines in the world.

I am often asked to recommend Italian wines and or winemakers producing wines in Italy. Below is a list of some of my personal favourite winemakers or estates covering most of Italy. The vast majority of these wines are available all over the world and most certainly in the UK, most of Europe and the USA

Abruzzo

Miascarelli

Gran Sasso

Cantina Frentana
Emidio Pepe

Apulia

Gianfranco Fino

Tormaresca

A Mano

Alberto Longo

Basilicata

Tenuta del Portale

Cantine de Notaio

Elena Fucci

Calabria

Odoardi

Terre di Blabia

Librandi

Statti

Campania

Cantine Lonardo

Fattoria Galardi

Mastroberardino

Benito Ferrara

Friuli Venezia Giulia

Livio Felluga

Miani

Le Vigne di Zamò

Princic Dario

Marco Felluga

Emilia-Romagna

Fattoria Zerbina

Podere La Berta

La Stoppa

Lazio

Coletti Conti

Falesco

Trappolini

Marco Carpineti

Liguria

Lunae

Terrebianche

Azineda Agricola Maria Donata Bianchi

Lombardy

Bellavista

Ca ‘ del Bosco

Nino Negri

Marche

Fulvia Tombolini

Umani Ronchi

Fattoria San Lorenzo

Andrea Felici

Il Pollenza

Molise

Di Majo Lorante

Piedmont

Castello di Nievi

Ceretto

Damilano

Angelo Gaja

Poderi Aldo Conterno

Bruno Giacosa

Braida

Bruno Rocca

G.D Vajra

La Spinetta

Vietti

Prunotto

Pecchenino

Paolo Scavino

Michele Chiarlo

Sicily

Donafugata

Cos

Fazio

Masseria del Feudo

Ariana Occhipinti

Sardinia

Argiolas

Agricola Punica

Cantina Mesa

Alberto Loi

AA Panevino

Tenuta Masone Manu

Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol

Elena Walch

Tenuta San Leonardo

Cantina Terlano

Tenuta J.  Hofstätter

Mezzacorona

Tuscany

Castello di Bolgheri

Casanova di Neri

Castello del Terriccio

Cabreo

Cecchi

Biondi Santi

Fontodi

Fèlsina

Fattoria di Magliano

Le Pupille

Le Macchiole

Tua Rita Suvereto

Tenuta Capezzana

Tenuta San Guido

Tenuta dell ‘ Ornellaia

Tenuta Guado al Tasso ( Antinori)

Tenuta Sette Ponti

Valdicava

Isole e Olena

Argentiera

Umbria

Arnaldo Caprai

Castello della Sala ( Antinori)

Falesco

Paolo Bea

Valle d'Aosta

Les Crêtes

La Cave de Morgex

Veneto

Pieropan

Romano dal Forno

Allegrini

Giuseppe Quintarelli

Inama

Tedeschi

Lunch @home May 25th 2009

I picked up some hand carried 36 month old Parmigiano form Azienda Brugnoli in Vischetto (Makers of the World Champion Parmabio in 2006), Black Pig Salami and Culatello di Zibello this morning from a friend who returned from Parma last night.

Antipasti sorted and I used the Parmigiano on my primo of Steamed Evesham Asparagus , Tomatoes from Provence sprinkeld with Gold Label Balsamic vinegar and Seggiano 2008 harvest Virgin Olive Oil

Main course is my Italo/Greek fusion dish - a kind of "Giouvetsi" but dare I say better - using Jack O'Shea's Yorkshire Shoulder of Spring Lamb , Orchiette from Pulgia tossed in meat jus and San Marzano Tomato based sauce.

Cheese course - well when you have "King" as good as the Parmabio 36 month , one cheese is enough - matched the 1996 Barolo very well.

Desert - Mrs Gastro was in overdive today and she made an Apple and Blackberry Pie as well as a Victoria Sponge for the little Gastro bambinos. Both served with Jersey Double Cream as we are all watching our weight.

Wines

Terra Serena Prosecco - Gift
Corderro di Montezemolo Barolo Vigna Enrico V1 1996 - Last Drop Wines Ltd
Diamante d’Almerita 2005 from Tasca d’Almerita - Last Drop Wines Ltd.

Enoteca Turi

Enoteca Turi as the name suggests is about the wine however the food should not be underestimated in fact I consider it to be one of the best Italian Restaurants in London along with Riva , L'Anima and Locanda Locatelli.

The wine list is superb with outstanding Brunellos , Super Tuscans and Barollo's as well as some gems (whites)from Alto Adige and Friulli.

The menu is on the small side as are the portions and most regions of Italy are well represented with the dishes always based on authentic fresh ingredients.

A dish of Papardelle with Duck Ragu that I have had here on many occasions will always remain in my gastro memory !

Guiseppe Turi and his family are a credit to their country showcasing quality food and offering a superb wine list.