Simply put, the wines blew us away! Their grace, balance and unique Italian style were an awakening to a classic style of wine—the kind that compliments a meal without overpowering it. I joke with my family that we are under their spell now—forever enthusiasts. 😊 We hope you enjoy our Italian selection as much as we do, and that you join us on our journey through Italy by way of Bob’s Barn at Dierbergs. - Greg Dierberg

This Tuscan red wine comes from the local name for Sangiovese (Brunello) and Montalcino, a small medieval hill town overlooking the Tuscan countryside, which is located about 80 km south of Florence. These are complex wines with incredible aging potential.

Brunello classifications must be 100% Brunello-Sangiovese grapes and must be made in the town of Montalcino. There are also specific aging requirements that take over 4 years: At least 2 years in a wood barrel and 2 months in the bottle. The vessel is not specified for remainder of the time.

A Brunello wine is a fantastic choice for celebrating a special occasion or as an addition to your collection (Brunello wines are known for their ability to age). The high acidity of the wine allows it to pair well with food, especially grilled meat and game.

One of the oldest territories of wine, the historic heart of Chianti dates back to the Middle Ages, located in the hills and valleys between Florence and Siena. With roots dating back to 1384 and a separate, independent appellation since 1996, Chianti Classico is made with slightly stricter regulations than regular Chianti. 

Chianti Classico must contain a minimum of 80% Sangiovese grapes (can be up to 100%) and cannot be released for sale until a year after harvest. In addition to the DOCG label, all Chianti Classicos are identified by the iconic Gallo Nero (black rooster) seal of the Consorzio Chianti Classico. If there is no Gallo Nero, it’s not a Chianti Classico.

Chianti is one of the most food-friendly wines made in Italy. The best way to experience the wine is with traditional local foods like virgin olive oil, Pecorino cheese and tomato-based dishes. Since the taste of Chianti has significant acidity, the wine goes well with the acidity of tomatoes.

In Italian, the name Amarone literally means "Great Bitter"; originally, this was to distinguish it from the Recioto produced in the same region of Northwest Italy, which is sweeter in taste. Amarones are dry, rich wines whose grape varieties and aging treatment set it apart from any other Italian wine.

Amarones are made from 3 Valpolicella grapes: Corvina, Molinara & Rondinella. Those grapes must be dry (or appassimento) for 4-5 months to lose water and concentrate the sugars; the finished wine must then age for 2 years. As a result, Amarones typically have high ABVs.

Amarone wines are great for enjoying in the wintertime along with rich braised meats and aged cheeses. Not all Amarone vintages are created equal: Amarone can age stunningly well, even over decades, so selecting the right vintage at the right time can make the difference between good, great and something really special.

Super Tuscans are an unofficial category of Tuscan wines, not recognized within the Italian wine classification system. Super Tuscans are the product of strict Chianti DOC regulations in the 1970s. During this time Chianti could be composed of no more than 70% Sangiovese and had to include at least 10% of one of the local white wine grapes.

Producers who deviated from these regulations could not use the Chianti name and were classified as vino da tavola - Italy's lowest wine designation. Many producers thought they could produce a better-quality wine if they were not hindered by the DOC regulations, thus emerging the “category” of Super Tuscans. Although created outside DOC/DOCG regulations, these wines are still high-quality and command high prices, many becoming cult wines.

In addition to the native Sangiovese grape, many well-known Super Tuscans are based on an imported "Bordeaux-blend", meaning a combination of grapes typical for Bordeaux (esp. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot). The climate in Tuscany has proven to be very good for these grapes. For that reason, some wines will fall under DOC/DOCG regulations, but many do not and are designated as IGT.

The high acidity and structured nature of the best Super Tuscan wines mean that salty and high-fat foods will pair well with most Super Tuscan blends. Because Super Tuscan wines are so diverse, take into consideration the percentage of each grape variety in the blend you’re drinking and look to classic red wine pairing guidelines.

Take a peek Behind "D" Scenes at the creation of our Italian Christmas Display, in stores now!