This week I thought it was about time that I reviewed a red. I noticed as I was going through categorising all my posts that I must be seriously obsessed with Rose. I don’t know how I’ve managed it, but I seem to have ended up with a lot of Rose reviews. I guess this isn’t a bad thing, but I have decided I need to get more balance to the website. After all, I drink plenty of other wine too!

This week I wanted to write about a wine I’ve enjoyed a couple of times with my parents. My dad loves this wine maker and has even been to visit their winery in the King Valley, so I find we often enjoy their wines when we go over for dinner. As a result this wine always makes me think of family and fond memories of a nice home cooked meal. I think this wine would make anyone feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.

I don’t tend to discriminate when it comes to red wine, but if I were to have a slight preference, it would be towards the Italian varieties. Ok, slight preference might not do it justice. I am in love with Italian wines. And this one is no exception.

Wine that has Nonna’s approval

Introducing the Pizzini Nonna Gisella Sangiovese 2017. Pizzini is based in the King Valley and specialise in Italian varieties. They have been in the King Valley for many years now and been established as one of the key players in the area. It is on my bucket list to get down there to visit and perhaps even stay there. It is booked out solid, so if you are thinking of doing the same make sure you book well in advance.

Among other wines that I love of theirs, they have a great range of 6 Sangiovese wines of which this one is a part. I think this might be another reason why I love Pizzini, because Sangiovese is one of my favourite Italian grapes. Sangiovese is one of the first red wines I remember trying and having a bit of an ‘ah-hah’ moment. It is funny that my dad was also part of this memory. We were at our local Italian restaurant and he bought a bottle for us to have with dinner. It was so incredible, and although I don’t remember the name of the wine, I remember its variety. And that it had a yellow label!

So you can imagine that when I get a good sangiovese it makes my heart melt. This wine did that to me all over again, and it was just perfect that I enjoyed it at home with my parents.

Why I loved it

What I like about this sangiovese is that it isn’t too tart when you taste it. Some sangiovese can be quite acidic which makes you feel like pursing your lips (also called tannins), but this one is more subtle than that. It has a bit of a kick to it, but not too much that it is overpowering. It has a beautiful taste to it without being too full on.

This wine is incredibly enjoyable to drink because of its subtle flavour. It goes down all too easy, especially when you’re enjoying it over a good meal! The flavours are very warming without taking too much from the wine itself, and I love this about it. It makes it a more versatile wine and one that we keep buying again and again.

What to enjoy it with

The great thing about this wine is that it goes so well with a meal because it doesn’t pack a punch of flavour. Sometimes I find wines that are too strong or acidic speak too loudly for themselves and so it’s hard to pair them with something other than steak.

If I were you I would pair this wine with something Italian. A tomato based pasta or a simple pizza would make a perfect match to this wine, unlike some heavier ones. You could also pair it with a meat dish, but nothing too heavy! It needs to go with something where its subtle flavours won’t be overpowered by something too strong.

Final verdict

This wine is best enjoyed with family and friends. I mean, I can’t prove that, or explain my logic, but when I think of this wine, it brings back fond memories of being around the people I love. This could be because I’ve enjoyed it around the people that I love many times, but hey! Realistically you could enjoy this wine on your couch watching Netflix and I’m sure you’d still have a good time.

If you want the full Nonna Gisella experience, however, cook up some pasta, invite your family around and have a big Italian feast! That’s how I think this wine is best enjoyed, and who doesn’t love an excuse for pasta and vino?