Torre del Falco Nero di Troia Puglia IGT

An uncomplicated southern Italian red that shows what the autochthonous Nero di Troia variety can achieve in Apulia: dark fruit, round structure, immediately accessible.

Torrevento is one of the best-known wineries in the Apulian DOC Castel del Monte. The winery in the north of Apulia — on the Murgia high plateau — has been working for decades to bring native grape varieties like Nero di Troia out of the shadow of southern Italian mass production. The Torre del Falco is their entry-level wine for this variety and was listed in the Gambero Rosso in 2018 as one of Italy's best value buys.

In the glass, deep ruby red with violet reflections. On the nose, ripe blackberry, plum, and a hint of violet. On the palate, soft tannins, moderate acidity, and a pull of dark berry fruit that carries into the finish. Slight residual sugar makes the wine drinkable in the best sense — without seeming heavy.

• Food: Pasta al ragù, grilled lamb chops, Pecorino
• Temperature: 16–18 °C