Numerous readers have requested my recommendations on lighter white wines suitable for the summer season. For those generally interested in lighter wines, I encourage you to consult this list of the Top Twenty Summer Wines highlighted in the Summer Food Magazine. This week, my focus is on four refreshing Italian wines with a lower alcohol content, each priced at €20 or less and exclusively made from native grape species.
Italy boasts the largest global cultivation of Pinot grigio, particularly in the Venezie region, although the variety is not totally absent in other regions. The less costly ones may lack taste and tend to be a tad sweet, but the Aldi version recommended here neatly sidesteps these drawbacks.
Falanghina wines from southern Italy’s Campania region, which I’ve suggested in the past, could possibly be the successors to the ancient Roman Falernian wine. This wine exhibits subtle fragrant notes and crisp pear flavours. The listed example here is fitting.
Vermentino is typically grown in Sardinia, Liguria and Piemonte, where it is referred to as “favorita”. Other regions like Liguria, Tuscany and France, where it’s known as “rolle”, also nurture this variety. Despite French producers’ fury, Italian authorities successfully convinced the EU to prohibit marketing non-Italian wines under the Vermentino brand.
Soave, one of Italy’s most famous wines, offers a delightful, light, fresh and sophisticated wine packed with a rich depth of flavours when handled appropriately, despite its lesser expensive versions appearing somewhat dull.
Here are two choice options:
Specially Selected Castellore Pinot Grigio dell Venezie 2023, light to medium-bodied with ripe juicy pear tones and a rounded finale. Alone or with seafood or salads, it’s excellent for summer drinking. Available at Aldi.
Indomito Falanghina del Beneventano 2023, fresh and appealing with green fruits and a hint of lemon zest. Best paired with lighter seafood like spaghetti alle vongole or served as an aperitivo. Available at Little Italy, D7, littleitaly.com.
The 2022 Poderi Parpinello Ala Blanca Vermentino di Sardegna carries a 13.5% alcohol content and is available for €19.99. With its medium body, this wine flavours of exotic fruits and a hint of citrus from lemon zest make it an ideal pairing with prawns or poached salmon. You can purchase it from The Wine Buff, through their website, thewinebuff.com.
The Giannitessari Soave Classico 2023, on the other hand, is a reasonably priced Soave with a stylish flair. With a 12.5% alcohol content and a price tag of €20, this wine reveals fresh pear and apple tastes, accentuated with a refreshing citrus tang and a crisp dry finish. This delightful wine can be enjoyed alone or served with a variety of shellfish, including oysters and crab. It’s available at Whelehan’s, Loughlinstown, and online at whelehanswines.ie.