The days are turning cooler, the leaves are turning color, and tabletops are turning into bounties of fall flavors. It's time to break out the wines of autumn!
Italy famously produces some of the world's finest red wines, each with its own distinct personality and appeal. Barolo, Barbaresco, and Amarone are just three of that country’s best offerings for the season and the colder winter months to come. These wines’ depth and complexity make them ideal for pairing with chilly temperatures and the accompanying rich, hearty dishes.
Best Italian Red Wines for Fall
Barolo
Barolo, il vino dei re, il re dei vini, or “the wine of kings and the king of wines,” nicknamed as such because of its historic association with the Italian royal House of Savoy, more than lives up to that grandiose title. Crafted from 100% Nebbiolo grapes grown in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy, it is intense and complex with remarkable aging potential.
What that means is that Barolo’s aromas and flavors deepen and become even more nuanced as it matures. It is a bold, full-bodied red with assertive tannins and layered notes of dried cherry, rose petal, earth, spice, leather, and tar, with notes of tobacco and truffle that become even more pronounced as it ages.
Try pairing this wine with Osteria IL Centro’s Short Rib Ravioli or the Chicken Marsala.
Barolo is known as the "king of wines" and is produced in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy.
Barbaresco
If Barolo is known as the king of wine, then it is not unreasonable to call Barbaresco its queen. Like Barolo, it is made from the same Nebbiolo grapes grown in Piedmont, but its style makes it more approachable. It keeps the distinctive structure and complexity of the fruit but is considered more refined and elegant.
The difference is that the area’s milder climate is affected by the Tanaro River, which helps the grapes mature just a little earlier, resulting in softer tannins. Young Barbaresco carries elegant notes of cherry, rose petal, anise, and warm spice, and, when aged, deep notes of leather, tobacco, truffle, and forest floor emerge.
Try pairing this wine with OIC’s Stuffed Mushrooms or the Veal Piccata.
Amarone
Amarone, or Amarone della Valpolicella, is one of Italy’s most luxurious red wines. It hails from hilly Veneto and is crafted following the traditional appassimento method, in which the grapes are partially dried for months before fermentation. This concentrates the sugars, flavors, and aromas to create Amarone’s signature intense richness.
Amarone’s velvety smooth and complex flavors are perfectly suited for fall. Dried fig, raisin, dark cherry, chocolate, and baking spice are complemented by even deeper flavors of tobacco, leather, and dried herbs. Even though the wine is defined by its richness, there is still defined acidity and structure that balance its bold character.
Try pairing this wine with OIC’s Beef Lasagna or the Veal Meatballs.
What is Vendemmia in Italy?
Vendemmia is Italian for grape harvest. It takes place from late August into early October, depending on the region, grape type, and that year’s specific growing conditions. Italian winemakers carefully monitor the sugar and acidity levels of their grapes to determine as precisely as possible the best time to harvest them. Timing is everything! Harvesting too early or too late can have a major impact on the wine’s flavor, aroma, and structure.
Like wine itself, Vendemmia is deeply rooted in Italian culture. A traditional time of celebration in wine-growing regions, families, friends, and neighbors all come together to harvest the grapes and celebrate the season with good food and wine. During harvest season, wine enthusiasts can enjoy tours, festivals, and feasts all throughout Italy, offering them a glimpse into Italy’s unique wine culture.
Vendemmia, Italy’s grape harvest season, runs from late August into early October and brings communities together to celebrate the country’s rich wine culture with food, wine, festivals, and traditions.
Visit Osteria IL Centro and try these exceptional Italian red wines for yourself. For nearly three decades, OIC has been recognized by Wine Spectator Magazine annually for its extraordinary wine list featuring bottles from around the world – including a particularly magnifico Italian wine selection, of course!
