Photo Via Tourist Journey

Fall flavors are honestly some of the warmest and most comforting. There’s nothing like fall in Italy as well, it’s absolutely stunning and I have had the pleasure of visiting Campania, Lake Garda, and soon Collio in the fall! Since I won’t be in Italy until November, I have been sipping some Tuscan wines that pair so beautifully with fall flavors and I think these three are essential to sip if you’re looking for some new ones to add to your collection.

Tuscany is a well known region with incredible wines. There’s more to Tuscany than just Chianti, however who doesn’t love a Chianti… am I right? This time of year I find I am drinking a lot more red wines, but do enjoy a good glass of white wine daily, and always have one chilled in my fridge. Vermentino is a wonderful grape varietal, and goes really well with pumpkin, macaroni and cheese, butternut squash, and more. Keeping a bottle on hand in your wine fridge or regular fridge I feel is essential this fall and winter season because Vermentino is full of lime, grapefruit, almond, and has a nice medium acidity.

As for Tuscan reds, those are just delicious and pair so well with game meats, short ribs, stews, chocolate, soups, and so much more. The two reds below are ideal for the fall and holiday season, and not only make great wines to spice up your weeknights and weekends, but they also make great gifts too!

Val delle Rose, Litorale Vermentino 2020– This wine is located in Maremma, which is a stunning area of Tuscany. I had the pleasure of visiting so many years ago for a day, and would love to go back. Until then, I explore Maremma in my glass, and this Vermentino is absolutely stunning. Made by the Cecchi Family, who has pioneered the area for many years, this is now one of the biggest wineries in the Morellino di Scansano appellation. This wine has intense aromas of fresh fruit and has great structure and freshness. I used my coravin to taste this wine, because I am saving it for Thanksgiving since it will pair perfectly with some appetizers and sides.

Libero Brunello di Montalcino 2016- A gorgeous wine that comes from Montalcino. Brunello is the King of Tuscan reds and this one I also tasted a touch of using my Coravin, because I am saving it for the holidays. I probably can’t wait until Christmas to open it, so most likely it will also be at my Thanksgiving table this year too, because it would be ideal with the comforting food and great friends. This wine is in northern Montalcino, so it has these cooler climate vibes and an elegance that is really addicting. It’s dark and intense with spicy notes and some roundness. The finish is alluring and nutty and ages for 20 months in oak barrels, 4 months in barriques, and then 6 months in the bottle. Before bottling, the wine is stored at a controlled temperature where 5 years later it is released.

 

Tenuta Argentiera Poggio ai Ginepri Rosso 2020- This wine is super close to the sea and at a high altitude. This one I enjoyed recently with a homemade lamb ragu, and some grilled peppers (very Italian in style). The soils here vary throughout the vineyards creating a complex and alluring wine comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Syrah grapes. This wine I could not wait until the holiday’s for, hence why I opened it, and it was everything I wanted and more! It’s intense with red fruit and spice with flowers and nice roundness. I used PrimoGrano pasta which is a rustic style pasta from Abruzzo and the Spaghettoni was ideal with this wine. The lamb really highlighted the red fruit and spice notes in the wine, and the pasta was so delicious! The tannins are incredibly smooth and elegant and overall, this wine is just perfect!

If you’re seeking some new wines to taste this fall, look no further! These three gems from Tuscany are sure to please any palate, and will wow your guests with their flavors, style, and elegance. Thank you to Volio Imports for the incredible samples, and stay tuned for Thanksgiving to see what I pair the other two wines with!

Always remember, eat what you like and drink what you love, please pair responsibly!