What’s so good about South African white wines? They’re sought-after for the terroir-expressive, crisp and affordable features.
Explore the best of South African white wines in addition to the best three white wines you should try this springtime. Also included is a list of top three best wine clubs for white wines from South Africa and elsewhere.
The Red Wines Italy is Known for
Being the birthplace of Prosecco, there are over 2000 grape varieties in Italy to explore. Go ahead and explore the five most popular wines from Italy below.
Sangiovese
The name of this wine comes from Latin and means ‘blood of Jupiter’. It is the most widely grown grape in Italy. Don’t be surprised if you hear people calling it Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Morellino di Scansano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano or Montefalco Rosso. Most Italian wines have a number of names. Expect tasting notes of herbs, dark cherries, and wild raspberry in Italian Sangiovese.
Nebbiolo
With 50 times less Nebbiolo grapes planted than Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a terroir-expressive Italian wine. Tastes range from cherries to roses and bold tannins in this Northern Italian wine. It is a famous red wine native to Piedmont. Nebbiolo also goes by the name Barolo, Barbaresco, Ghenme, Roero and Carema.
Primitivo
While this grape variety was used as a blend a few decades ago, Primitivo is a high-alcoholic red wine praised for its ultra-light body today. It is a mildly sweet wine with fruity undertones of berries and leather, unique to its coastal terroir of Puglia. Nothing beats the dark and juicy notes of Primitivo with barbecued seafood and meats. It is best known as the Italian Zinfandel.
Barbera
Yet another prominent grape in Italy, Barbera is a red wine from Piedmont in Northern Italy. This is a low tannin wine with layers of flavors from vanilla to lavender in every sip. It is a medium-bodied wine to pair with roasted meats and soups.
Dolcetto
One of the most coveted grape varietals in Italy, Dolcetto means ‘little sweet one’ in Italian. Another Piedmont special, Dolcetto is a dry wine appreciated for its low acidity with high tannins and bitter finish. It is the best wine to sip away when indulging in Italian dishes like pizza and pasta.
Now, let’s check out some wine clubs to go with our superb Italian wine.
Best Red Wine Club
There are several wine clubs that offer membership plans for red wine shipments exclusively. The best red wine online club for Italian favorites are listed below.
- The California Wine Club: Offers two Italian wines - Cortese and Barbera
- Winc: Features six Italian wines including Frappato (2), Nero d’Avola (1), Pinot Grigio (2) and Negroamaro (1).
- WSJ wine: Showcases over 125 Italian wines from 34 grape varieties.
- Laithwaites: Provides over 129 Italian wines from 34 grape varieties.
Summing It Up
Given that Italy produces more wine than any other country in the world, it is not surprising that if wine had to flow through anyone’s taps it would be in Italy. Meanwhile, have you picked the Italian red you want to try? Select the best red wine club from our reviews to uncover the best Italian wines for your palate.