7 Italian Wines For The Festive Season

If you're looking for wine recommendations for the holidays you'll find something to tempt you on this specially curated list of Italian wines from Vinoteca.

There's sparkling cocktails to get the party started, a full bodied white to accompany your roast dinner and the perfect pairing for your cheeseboard. If you're looking to slow things down, there's a sumptuous, velvety red for a quiet night in, and you'll also find some great gifting ideas, including an an interesting alternative to Port in a wooden box.

Let's get into it!

1. Cipriani Bellini.

Live the Harry’s Bar experience here in Guernsey with a bottle of Bellini from Cipriani. Blended from white peach nectar and Prosecco, each sip is a journey into the heart of the Venetian lagoon. Available in party-sized 200ml bottles or a larger 75cl, these iconic turquoise bottles will bring the festivity to you this Christmas. Available exclusively from Vinoteca.

Cipriani Bellini £11/ £29

2. Sicilian Frappato

Bringing the party to shores of Guernsey straight from the volcanic hills of Sicily, Frappato is a little gem of a grape and makes a wine just bursting with fresh minerality, sweet berries and spice. It's a best seller at Vinoteca and simply must feature on The List. A wonderful pairing with vegetarian food, for when we just can't face any more turkey!

Frappato IGP Roceno 2019 Sibiliana Vini (Sicily) £10.25

3. Amarone della Valpolicella

Sometimes, December's energy needs a little taming and we need to slow things right down. Everything about this next wine is unhurried, luxurious and sumptuous. From the hand picked grapes, gently dried before being slowly aged in aged barrels, this bottle of velvet Amarone demands a quiet night in. So lock the door, slide into your loungewear and drape yourself on the nearest soft surface as you luxuriate with a glass or two. A slow wine deserves slow food, so pair this with slow-cooked lamb and prunes and perhaps a little dark chocolate. It is Christmas, after all.

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Domini Veneti 2017 (Veneto) £36.90

4. Angelu Ruju from Sella & Mosca

And now for something a little different: Anghelu Ruju, a fortified, cask-aged wine made from indigenous sun-dried cannonau grapes and named after the ancient necropolis found within the winery in Alghero, Sardinia. A rich and vibrant red in colour with a bouquet of wild summer berries, it is warm and velvety in the mouth with a sweet spiciness that makes it a perfect partner for your Christmas cake and cheese board and an interesting alternative to Port this December.

Angelu Ruju 2005 from Sella & Mosca in wooden gift box £55

5. Chianti Classico

It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a cheese board and the next wine is one of my all time formaggio favourites. It’s a Chianti Classico by Tuscan producers, Ruffino. Made only in exceptional vintages and then with its gold label being applied to the very outstanding years, the Riserva Ducale is the flagship of Tuscan wine making standards. It has everything you’d want from a Chianti, summer berries on the nose, warm herbal spices and on the palate the dance of lingering tannins so perfect with Christmas cheese.

Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico D.O.C.G. Gran Selezione 2017. Tuscany. £38.75

6. Tuscan Chardonnay

For those dreaming of a white (wine) Christmas, this Tuscan chardonnay is about as good as it gets. Buttery, spiced, crusty-hot-bread-smelling, this wine practically cries out to be served with roast turkey. With notes of green apple and pear and soft, chalky minerality, this is a full-bodied, thirst-quenching and versatile option for the rack this Christmas. A brilliant wine.

Isole e Olena "Collezione Privata" Chardonnay 2019. Tuscany. £49.95

7. Alto Adige Riesling

The snowy peaks of the Dolomites look down protectively over the mountain vines of the Alto-Adige, home to Italy’s lesser-known but nonetheless delicious Riesling. Whites from the Alto-Adige are generally crisp and dry, beguiling with citrus, pale flowers and white fruits, offering exhilarating refreshment to counter the holiday stupor. Try this fine example from the sustainable Mach winery, or a blended bottle full of bite from Franz Haas.

Mach Riesling Trentino San Michele 2020. Alto Adige. £15.45

Franz Haas `Schweizer` Manna 2019. Alto Adige £28.85

Pop into the Vinoteca shop in the Bordage or drop the team by email to stock up on fine Italian wine and artisan foodie delights for the festive season.