Award-Winning Wine Excellence
Over an uninterrupted run of almost three decades, Osteria IL Centro has earned the Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator for its extensive reserve wine list. OIC’s curated wine selection has something for every wine taste, including wines sourced from coastal regions around the world.
Coastal wine regions can be found around the globe on nearly every wine-producing continent.
Many of the world’s most celebrated wines come from coastal vineyards. Such growing regions encompass a wide array of climates and winemaking techniques, but they all share one defining characteristic: the influence of the ocean or another large body of water on the grapes.
Maritime locations play a major role in how grapes grow, ripen, and, ultimately, taste. Coastal wines are known for having higher acidity, elevated freshness, mineral-driven flavor profiles, and potentially developing deeper or more complex flavors over time.
Coastal wines are defined by high acidity, vibrant freshness, and mineral-driven flavor profiles.
Italian Coastal Wine Regions
Sicily
Sicily, surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, is the very definition of a coastal wine region. Vineyards here are made up of volcanic soil, and the vines benefit from a unique combination of intense sun, cooling sea breezes, and dramatic elevation changes. All of these work in unison to produce fruit that is high in acidity and freshness with notable saline minerality and enticing herbal notes.
Wine Folly Sicily Wine Region Map
Nerello Mascalese
This elegant red from Sicily is often compared to Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo. It is structured and complex, yet fresh and light with key notes of red cherries, dried herbs, smoke, earth, and minerals.
Pair with Lamb Chops or Stuffed Mushrooms.
Carricante
This standout white wine is produced near Sicily’s very own stratovolcano, Etna, located on the eastern side of the island. It has distinct mineral notes blended with those of lemon zest, green apple, saline, flint, and crisp acidity. It is precise with exceptional aging potential.
Pair with Veal Piccata or Calamari Fritti.
Liguria
Stretching along the Italian Riviera, Liguria is a stunning cliffside coastal wine region wedged between the mountains and the sea. Vines battle the rocky soil and strong maritime breezes, with most planted along terraces built directly into the cliffs. The cool temperatures and sun reflecting off the ocean create wines that are herbaceous, bright, and especially great for pairing with seafood.
Wine Folly Liguria Wine Region Map
Vermentino
The incredibly refreshing vermentino is a white wine made from the flagship grape of coastal Liguria. These wines are bursting with notes of lemon peel, white flowers, green apples, sea spray, and fresh herbs.
Pair with Chicken Pesto Tortellini or Pesto Shrimp Pizzette.
Pigato
Pigato is similar to vermentino, but is typically a little richer and more textured. It carries notes of stone fruit, citrus, almond, wild herbs, and saline minerality.
Pair with roasted vegetables and burrata.
Californian Coastal Wine Regions
California Central Coast
California's Central Coast enjoys warm sunshine and cool Pacific breezes. The expansive region stretches from San Francisco south to Santa Barbara County. California’s most famous wine region, Napa Valley, produces rich, full-bodied wines, while the Central Coast is known for producing wines that are restrained and more vibrant. Grapes grown on the Coast enjoy ideal coastal conditions, such as cool breezes, foggy mornings, long growing seasons, and dramatic day-to-night temperature swings. The grapes ripen slowly, developing crisp, structured, and bright fruit flavor profiles.
Wine Folly California Central Coast Wine Region Map
Pinot Noir
Central Coast Pinot Noirs are fresh and lifted, not overly heavy. Expect notes of cherry, raspberry, and cranberry, rounded out by earthy undertones, baking spice, and a subtle hint of herbs.
Pair with Spiedini di Pollo or Atlantic Salmon.
Chardonnay
Chardonnays from the Central Coast reflect a more modern approach to the style – less oak influence and more texture. These Chardonnays are energetic with notes of lemon curd, green apple, pear, wet stone, light vanilla, and citrus blossom.
Pair with Orecchiette Carbonara Gorgonzola or Shrimp Carciofi.
Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County, California’s crown jewel of cool-climate coastal wines, is technically part of the Central Coast, but it has a few defining characteristics that set it apart from the rest of the region. Notably, the valleys here run east-to-west instead of north-to-south like they do throughout the rest of the Central Coast. This allows the ocean winds and fog from the Pacific to penetrate further inland. Again, the vineyards here benefit from intense California sunshine, breezy mornings, maritime-influenced soils, and significant temperature shifts. The wines from here are bright and lively with layered flavor profiles that do not feel heavy on the palate.
Wine Folly Santa Barbara County Wine Region Map
Syrah
Santa Barbara County is the top growing region for this style of wine in the US. Syrah from these vineyards reveals notes of blackberry, cracked pepper, olive tapenade, smoke, and violet. They are comparable to those hailing from the Northern Rhône with distinct savory complexity.
Pair with Sausage and Pepper Pasta or Lamb Chops.
Grenache
Grenache naturally thrives in coastal environments, where the conditions encourage high acidity and freshness. These wines are defined by strawberry, raspberry, white pepper, herbal, and floral notes.
Pair with Margherita Pizzette or Spaghettini della Casa.
