Guide to Grapes

Over two-thirds of Sicily’s wine production is devoted to white wines. In addition, to international white grape varietals like Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, Sicily also cultivates more than a dozen indigenous white grape varieties.

Red wines from Sicily are dark, rich, and fruit-forward because of the warm climate. Nero d’Avola is an awesome red variety to try.

Wine Enthusiast has A Beginner’s Guide to the Wines of Sicily that is very helpful in highlighting the history, predominant grapes, and key wine regions.

• Marsala
• Catarratto Bianco
• Nero d’Avola
• Grillo
• Inzolia
• Syrah
• Chardonnay
• Grecanico
• Nerello Mascalese

• Marsala: Tiramisu (sabayon, coffee, and lady fingers, made in-house)
• Catarratto Bianco: Quattro Fromaggi Pizza (tomato sauce, taleggio, gorgonzola agrodolce, mozzarella, sotto center)
• Nero d’Avola: Carne (chef’s cut, mushrooms, wine sauce, rosemary potatoes)
• Grillo: Risotto del Giorno (risotto of the day)
• Inzolia: Burrata (organic arugula, roasted bell peppers, roasted tomato, olives, burrata cheese, balsamic dressing)
• Syrah: Agnello (red wine braised lamb shank with saffron risotto)
• Chardonnay: Pesce del Giorno (fish of the day)
• Grecanico: Fritto Misto (fresh calamari, fresh shrimp, fried pickles, cherry pepper sauce)
• Nerello Mascalese: Picci (amatriciana: San Marzano tomato, onion, italian guanciale, chili, aged parmigiano reggiano)

Tuscany is home to the Chianti region which is the most famous region for Sangiovese. When Sangiovese became the required major grape in Chianti during the 1970s, the other noble grapes (Cab and Merlot) ended up creating a new style of wine: Super Tuscan.

For white wines in this region, keep in mind that Trebbiano is Italy’s most produced white grape and Vermentino has quite a few taste similarities to Sauvignon Blanc.

• Chianti
• Brunello di Montalcino
• Trebbiano
• Merlot
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Vin Santo

• Chianti: Pepperoni Pizza (San Marzano sauce caramelized Onions, pepperoni, and mozzarella)
• Brunello di Montalcino: Gnocchi (tartufo: handmade potato dumpling, Umbrian black truffle, Parmigiano crema)
• Trebbiano: Principessa Pizza (bechamel sauce, gorgonzola, pears, walnuts, prosciutto, honey)
• Merlot: Lasagna (fresh pasta, beef and pork ragu, bechamel & reggiano, mozzarella)
• Cabernet Sauvignon: Carne (chef’s cut, mushrooms, wine sauce, rosemary potatoes)
• Vin Santo: Tiramisu (sabayon, coffee, and lady fingers, made in-house)

Montepulciano is the primary red grape in Abruzzo and the wines are called Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.

• Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
• Trebbiano
• Chardonnay
• Sangiovese

• Montepulciano d’Abruzzo: Lasagna (fresh pasta, beef and pork ragu, bechamel & reggiano, mozzarella)
• Trebbiano: Principessa Pizza (bechamel sauce, gorgonzola, pears, walnuts, prosciutto, honey)
• Chardonnay: Pollo (organic chicken, mushrooms, Dijon sauce, rosemary potatoes)
• Sangiovese: Tagliere (prosciutto, salame, coppa, taleggio, caciocavallo, pecorino, cured olives, pickled vegetables)

In southern Italy, is a region whose name crops up only very rarely in wine circles. It is one of the most mountainous regions in Italy.

• Aglianico
• Sangiovese
• Primitivo

• Aglianico: Agnello (red wine braised lamb shank with saffron risotto)
• Sangiovese: Tagliere (prosciutto, salame, coppa, taleggio, caciocavallo, pecorino, cured olives, pickled vegetables)
• Primitivo: Tagliatelle (bolognese: fresh pasta, beef and pork ragu, reggiano, San Marzano)

The fruit-forward red wines from Puglia (Apulia) are a great way to get started with Italian wines. Most are very affordable and the region has a great number of esoteric sweet red wines that grow nowhere else in the world. Puglia is also a known value region for Chardonnay.

• Sangiovese
• Primitivo (Zinfandel)
• Negroamaro
• Montepulciano
• Trebbiano

• Sangiovese: Tagliere (prosciutto, salame, coppa, taleggio, caciocavallo, pecorino, cured olives, pickled vegetables)
• Primitivo (Zinfandel): Tagliatelle (bolognese: fresh pasta, beef and pork ragu, reggiano, San Marzano)
• Negroamaro: Pepperoni Pizza (San Marzano sauce, caramelized onions, pepperoni, mozzarella)
• Montepulciano: Lasagna (fresh pasta, beef and pork ragu, bechamel & reggiano, mozzarella)
• Trebbiano: Principessa Pizza (bechamel sauce, gorgonzola, pears, walnuts, prosciutto, honey)

This region forms the “shin” of Italy’s boot, and its largest city is Naples. Its name comes from Campania Felix, a Latin phrase roughly meaning “happy land”. Wine styles can range from fruit-forward and youthful to robust and well-structured. The whites are known for their aromatic characters and the reds have big personalities!

• Aglianico
• Falanghina
• Malvasia
• Greco Bianco
• Fiano

• Aglianico: Agnello (red wine braised lamb shank with saffron risotto)
• Falanghina: Seared Scallop Fonduta (scallops, Parmigiano crema with Umbrian black truffle)
• Malvasia: Sfizziosa (oven-roasted red beets, fennel, mix greens, segmented oranges, walnut, citron dressing)
• Greco Bianco: Pesce del Giorno (fish of the day)
• Fiano: Gnocchi (Tartufo: handmade potato dumpling, Umbrian black truffle, Parmigiano crema)

The wine region of Sardinia includes the vineyard area across the entire island. Sardinia is located off of the west coast of Italy and is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Sardinia has planted many grape varieties and created many different styles of wine over the years. The finest Vermentino is produced in the north.

• Cannonau (Grenache)
• Vermentino
• Carignan
• Monica Nera
• Nuragus

• Cannonau (Grenache): Agnello (red wine braised lamb shank with saffron risotto)
• Vermentino: Polpo (Mediterranean octopus, fresh chickpeas tomatoes insalata)
• Carignan: Pollo (organic chicken, mushrooms, Dijon sauce, rosemary potatoes)
• Monica Nera: Arancini Siciliani (deep fried rice balls, taleggio, bolognese, house salsa)
• Nuragus: Seared Scallop Fonduta (scallops, Parmigiano crema with Umbrian black truffle)

Lambrusco has long been thought of as a sweet, fruity wine. Now there are several outstanding off-dry to totally dry Lambruscos from Emilia-Romagna.

• Trebbiano
• Lambrusco
• Sangiovese
• Barbera

• Trebbiano: Principessa Pizza (bechamel sauce, gorgonzola, pears, walnuts, prosciutto, honey)
• Lambrusco: Boscaiola Pizza (cremini mushroom, house-made beef and pork sausage, mozzarella)
• Sangiovese: Tagliere (prosciutto, salame, coppa, taleggio, caciocavallo, pecorino, cured olives, pickled vegetables)
• Barbera: Carne (chef’s cut, mushrooms, wine sauce, rosemary potatoes)

Umbria is the only Italian region without a coastline or international border. It’s best known for its white wine production.

• Montefalco Rosso
• Trebbiano
• Grechetto
• Merlot
• Sagrantino

• Montefalco Rosso: Tonarello (carbonara: organic eggs, Italian guanciale, black peppercorn, pecorino)
• Trebbiano: Principessa Pizza (bechamel sauce, gorgonzola, pears, walnuts, prosciutto, honey)
• Grechetto: Cannoli (fresh ricotta, and chocolate chips, made in house)
• Merlot: Lasagna (fresh pasta, beef and pork ragu, bechamel & reggiano, mozzarella)
• Sagrantino: Boscaiola Pizza (cremini mushroom, house-made beef and pork sausage, mozzarella)

Vineyards are planted in the lower 10% of the region. Trentino is also known for its fabulous white wines.

• Schiava (Vernatsch)
• Trentodoc
• Pinot Grigio
• Müller-Thurgau
• Merlot
• Gewürztraminer
• Teroldego
• Lagrein

• Schiava (Vernatsch): Tagliere (prosciutto, salame, coppa, taleggio, caciocavallo, pecorino, cured olives, pickled vegetables)
• Trentodoc: Seared Scallop Fonduta (scallops, Parmigiano crema with Umbrian black truffle)
• Pinot Grigio: Zuppa del Giorno (Bartolini Umbrian beans, seasonal greens, Parmiggiano cheese and EVOO)
• Müller-Thurgau: Sfizziosa (oven-roasted red beets, fennel, mix greens, segmented oranges, walnut, citron dressing)
• Merlot: Lasagna (fresh pasta, beef and pork ragu, bechamel & reggiano, mozzarella)
• Gewürztraminer: Pesce del Giorno (fish of the day)
• Teroldego: Tonarello (carbonara: organic eggs, Italian guanciale, black peppercorn, pecorino)
• Lagrein: Margherita Pizza (fresh cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, fresh basil)

This is one of the world’s finest wine regions located in northwest Italy. Famous for its austere, tannic, and floral red wines made from Nebbiolo, Piedmont’s greatest success story in the past decade has been sweet, white, sparkling Moscato d’Asti.

• Barolo/Barbaresco
• Barbera
• Moscato d’Asti
• Dolcetto
• Gavi
• Brachetto
• Arneis

• Barolo/Barbaresco: Risotto del Giorno (risotto of the day)
• Barbera: Carne (chef’s cut, mushrooms, wine sauce, rosemary potatoes)
• Moscato d’Asti: Lemon Tartufo (lemon semifredo, lemon sabayon)
• Dolcetto: Eggplant Ravioli (smoked eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes, ricotta, San Marzano Reggiano sauce)
• Gavi: Fritto Misto (fresh calamari, fresh shrimp, fried pickles, cherry pepper sauce)
• Brachetto: Chocolate Tartufo (hazelnut semifreddo)
• Arneis: Tonarello (carbonara: organic eggs, Italian guanciale, black peppercorn, pecorino)

Lombardy produces still red, white, and rosé wines made from a variety of local and international grapes including Nebbiolo wines in the Valtellina region.

• Croatina (Bonarda)
• Pinot Nior (Pinot Nero)
• Franciacorta
• Barbera
• Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo)

• Croatina (Bonarda): Mulino Pizza (San Marzano sauce, arugula, mozzarella, prosciutto, organic baked egg)
• Pinot Noir (Pinot Nero): Pollo (organic chicken, mushrooms, Dijon sauce, rosemary potatoes)
• Franciacorta: Polpo (Mediterranean octopus, fresh chickpeas tomatoes insalata)
• Barbera: Carne (chef’s cut, mushrooms, wine sauce, rosemary potatoes)
• Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo): Boscaiola Pizza (cremini mushroom, house-made beef and pork sausage, mozzarella)

Veneto is slightly smaller than Italy’s other main wine-producing regions. In terms of geography, culture, and wine styles, it represents a transition between the alpine, Germano-Slavic end of Italy and the warmer, drier, more Roman lands to the south.

• Prosecco
• Soave
• Valpolicella/Bardolino
• Merlot
• Pinot Grigio

• Prosecco: Vanilla Crème Brulee (made in house)
• Soave: Polpo (Mediterranean octopus, fresh chickpeas tomatoes insalata)
• Valpolicella/Bardolino: Fritto Misto (fresh calamari, fresh shrimp, fried pickles, cherry pepper sauce)
• Merlot: Lasagna (fresh pasta, beef and pork ragu, bechamel & reggiano, mozzarella)
• Pinot Grigio: Zuppa del Giorno (Bartolini Umbrian beans, seasonal greens, Parmiggiano cheese and EVOO)