Italian wine is more than agriculture; it is art, memory, and music bottled. Beyond the marquee names of Chianti, Barolo and Brunello lie estates that sing in subtler tones—hidden gems whose vines carry centuries of history, innovation, and devotion. From volcanic slopes in Sicily to the Palladian hills of Vicenza, these producers craft wines that speak not only of place, but of the very soul of Italy.
Mandrarossa & Cantine Settesoli – Sicily’s Mosaic of Voices
The wines of Mandrarossa, the high-quality label of Cantine Settesoli, are born from Sicily’s remarkable diversity. In Menfi, on rolling hills cascading to the sea, whites such as Urra di Mare Sauvignon Blanc shimmer with maritime freshness, while Timperosse Petit Verdot offers dark fruit and spice with unexpected softness. Their iconic Cartagho Nero d’Avola, the first of its kind to age in barriques, remains the estate’s tribute to Sicily’s ancient agricultural roots.
From Etna, Mandrarossa presents the Sentiero delle Gerle Etna Rosso DOC—Nerello Mascalese grown on lava terraces, elegant with red berries and mineral lift—and the Etna Bianco DOC Carricante, crisp and volcanic. On Pantelleria, zibibbo grapes become Serapias Passito di Pantelleria DOC, amber nectar balancing sweetness and Mediterranean salinity.
The lines—Storie Ritrovate, Innovativi, Varietali, and Calamossa sparkling wines—together tell Sicily’s story in every register, from experimental blends like Cavadiserpe to timeless varietals such as Grillo Sicilia DOC and Nero d’Avola Biologico.
G.D. Vajra – Barolo in a Minor Key
In Piemonte’s Langhe hills, G.D. Vajra crafts wines that touch the heart with finesse. Their Barolo collection embodies both power and grace: Bricco delle Viole DOCG, from vines over 60 years old, offers violets and alpine freshness; Ravera DOCG reveals iron-rich depth and structure; and Albe DOCG, blending three vineyards, pays homage to tradition with balance and harmony. Coste di Rose DOCG, with its silky texture, shows Nebbiolo at its most charming.
Beyond Barolo, Vajra’s explorations widen the spectrum. Langhe Nebbiolo Claré J.C., inspired by 17th-century styles, is light, vivid, and joyous. Langhe Freisa Kyé® revives a traditional Piedmontese grape with wild berry and spice. Their Barbera d’Alba Superiore is plush yet refined, while the cool limestone soils gift crystalline purity to the Langhe Riesling Pétracine®. Even the sparkling N.S. della Neve Classic Method Extra Brut Rosé, from Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir, demonstrates Vajra’s curiosity and elegance.
These wines are not loud; they are voices of harmony, speaking quietly of land, variety, and vintage.
Consorzio Vini Venezia – The Wines of the Serenissima
The Consorzio Vini Venezia unites five appellations deeply tied to the history of Venice. Among them, Malanotte del Piave DOCG is Raboso at its finest: some grapes are dried before vinification, yielding a wine of brooding fruit, spice, and longevity, matured at least 36 months with 12 in wood.
The whites of Lison DOCG, based on the Tai variety, are rich yet mineral, marked by the calcareous “caranto” soils and cooled by Adriatic breezes. DOC Venezia offers a wide canvas—Pinot Grigio, Merlot, Raboso, and more—where freshness and finesse are constant themes. Meanwhile, DOC Piave highlights structured reds from Raboso and Manzoni Bianco, while Lison-Pramaggiore DOC preserves historic vineyards with ancient training systems like the cassone padovano.
Together, these wines recall the Serenissima Republic: robust enough for long voyages, refined enough to grace noble tables, and enduring as the city of Venice itself.
Colli Berici & Vicenza – The Ruby of Tai Rosso
In the volcanic and chalky soils south of Vicenza, the Colli Berici are home to the elegant native Tai Rosso. Once called Tocai Rosso, this ruby-hued variety offers cherry, raspberry, violets, and spice, with delicate tannins and an almond-kissed finish. It is versatile, pairing effortlessly with both rustic polenta and fine cured meats, and stands as the emblem of the Berici Hills.
The DOC also shines with structured reds such as Colli Berici Cabernet Sauvignon and supple Merlot, while whites like Garganega, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Bianco reflect the mineral character of basaltic soils. In neighbouring Vicenza DOC, crisp Pinot Grigio and textured Chardonnays dominate, alongside sweetly perfumed Vino Passito made from Garganega grapes.
These are wines of balance and beauty, grounded in history yet alive with modern expression.
San Felice – Where Memory Becomes Wine
In Tuscany, the medieval Borgo of San Felice has been reborn as a wine estate that bridges past and present. Its Chianti Classico DOCG wines, like the supple San Felice Chianti Classico and the more complex Il Grigio Riserva, embody Sangiovese’s elegance. At the pinnacle is Poggio Rosso Gran Selezione, a single-vineyard Sangiovese of extraordinary longevity and depth.
San Felice is also a pioneer: Vigorello, its trailblazing Supertuscan, blends Bordeaux grapes with the revived native Pugnitello, a variety nearly lost until rescued in the estate’s experimental Vitiarium vineyard. The resulting wine is dense and characterful, a true Tuscan original.
At the Campogiovanni estate in Montalcino, Brunello takes centre stage—classical, refined, and ageworthy, with the Riserva Il Quercione as its crown jewel. Along the coast at Bell’Aja in Bolgheri, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon express softer, velvety power, marrying Tuscan terroir with Bordeaux elegance.
Here, wine is more than craft: it is memory preserved in liquid form, from Dante’s echoes in Chianti to the future safeguarded through biodiversity.
The Hidden Music of Italy
These estates may not shout their fame, but their wines sing in quieter cadences—of volcanic fire and lagoon winds, of forgotten grapes and reborn villages. They remind us that Italy’s greatest treasures are often hidden in plain sight, waiting to be uncorked. To taste them is to hear Italy’s hidden music: elegant, enduring, and eternal.
Websites to discover more:
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Mandrarossa https://www.mandrarossa.it/en
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Cantine Settesoli (co-operative): https://www.cantinesettesoli.it/en/ https://settesoli.com/
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G.D. Vajra: https://www.gdvajra.it/en/homepage
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Consorzio Vini Venezia: https://www.consorziovinivenezia.it/en/
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Consorzio Tutela Vini Colli Berici e Vicenza: https://collibericivicenzadoc.it/en/
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San Felice (wines & estates): https://www.sanfelice.com/en
By Lisa Curtiss
