On now and running until 1 October, Italian restaurant group Carluccio’s is sharing its passion for top quality but perhaps less celebrated Italian wines with its Wine Explorers special.
The limited run offers customers the chance to try a bottle of an underappreciated but nonetheless extra delicious wine for only £10.
I got a taste of quartet of quaffs in question at a recent media tasting at Carluccio’s lovely Covent Garden restaurant. I very much enjoyed them all and thought they were especially delicious value at a tenner each.
Here’s a bit about each of the four wines:
Villa Dei Fiori Pecorino, Abruzzo
Not a cheese, but a white grape native to the Marche region, so named because the sheep of the region snack on the grapes. Once virtually extinct, this grape was rediscovered by a farmer and vintner and is now produced in Abruzzo. Billed as the grape to watch, Pecorino is a versatile wine that’s great with food or on its own. This sustainably produced wine is deliciously dry with the fresh fruity flavours of green apple and pear.
La Segreta Il Bianco, Sicilia Doc
This multi-award-winning wine is from the renowned Planeta family and takes its name from the woodland that surrounds their vineyard in Sicily. A blend of Grecanico, Chardonnay, Viognier and Fiano grapes, this beautifully balanced wine has notes of peach, papaya and chamomile.
Lambrusco Vecchia Modena, Chiarli, Emilia Romagna
The hitherto unfashionable Lambrusco is making a comeback. Forget the over sugary concoctions, recently described by Antonio Carluccio as the ‘Coca Cola of Lambrusco’, Vecchia Modena is a ‘real’ Lambrusco made the traditional way in Emilia Romagna – a dry, sparkling red that’s traditionally served chilled.
Frappato, Caruso & Minini, Sicily
A brilliant red, this little heard of grape, but dubbed the ‘Pinot Noir’ of Sicily is seeing a surge in popularity. Despite being deep ruby-purple in colour, this single variety red is light in body, meaning that whilst it complements richer meat, pasta and risotto dishes, it can also be enjoyed with seafood and fish.
As I said, I liked them all. But if I had to pick a fave it might have been La Segreta. And I must say it paired particularly well with classic Carluccio’s dish, Penne Giardiniera (giant Pugliese penne with courgette, chilli and garlic, served with fried spinach balls).
The Wine Explorers offer is valid when two people order a minimum of a full price main course each. To take advantage of this special offer, download the voucher from the Carluccio’s website.
There are 35 Carluccio’s outlets across London and many more throughout the UK. Carluccio’s Covent Garden restaurant is at 2A Garrick Street, WC2E 9BH. Find out more at carluccios.com.
This sounds like a really good deal, a whole bottle for a tenner!