Alberese

Alberese takes its name from the pale limestone soil that runs through the hills of Chianti, and that's a fair clue to what's in the bottle: a fresh, savoury Tuscan red with a mineral streak. It comes from Fattoria di Sammontana, a fourth-generation family estate farmed organically and biodynamically, and it's the sort of easy, characterful wine Italians actually drink at home.

It's a blend of Sangiovese with a good slug of Trebbiano, co-fermented with brief skin contact and then raised in steel to keep everything bright and unoaked. Bottled as Rosso Toscano IGT, it's light-bodied and made for pleasure. Expect energetic red cherry, a peppery edge and that mineral, earthy Tuscan character, with grippy little tannins to keep it honest on the finish. Serve it with a light chill and it comes alive.

Drink it young and cheerful — this isn't a wine to cellar, it's a wine to open.

How to Serve

Serve lightly chilled, 13–15°C. A touch of cold lifts this fresh, light red; a standard glass and no decant.

Where to Drink It

Trullo in Islington for its Tuscan heart. Or Noble Rot Soho, always game for a characterful, low-intervention Italian.

Food Pairings

Tomato-rich pasta — a simple bucatini all'amatriciana. Or a pizza margherita and good company.