A few years ago for Valentine’s Day, we decided we would open one of our special occasion wines.  I wanted a perfect pairing so I referenced the website and decided to make gnocchi and marinara from scratch.  After hours in the kitchen, we were almost ready to cook the dumplings when I decided to put everything on hold so I could find, what I deemed to be, the only music worthy for the meal, Andrea Bocelli.  When you think romance and Italian, the tenor is the first music that comes to mind.  Now, you can do more than drink in his amazing voice, you can toast with his wines.

The Bocelli family has been making wines for four generations.  Now Andrea and his brother, Alberto, have started to share them with others.  From a vineyard in Tuscany, the Sangiovese has all of the classic notes you would expect from the grape.  A lively garnet red with a strawberry nose.  Tart cherry, bright with hints of mineral and oak.  The first day I opened the wine, it seemed to have a little bite on the finish.  I knew that I was way too tired to fairly assess anything, so I revisited the next day.  Any bite that may, or may not, have been there on the night I opened the wine was long gone.  A very pleasant finish.  Enough acid and body to hold up to a marinara and light enough to sip alone.  A very enjoyable wine and I am so glad we met a second time.  

If you’ve been reading for long, you know that I am a fan of the bubbles.  I loved this Prosecco.  Delicate bubbles, and plenty of them.  Stone fruit, apple, and citrus.  Some honeysuckle on the finish.  Very balanced between crisp and soft.  I may have a new favorite.

With both wines priced in the mid-teens, these wines are an excellent value.   I have seen interviews with Andrea Bocelli and I have been struck by his humility and gentle spirit.  His sense of family and love for the Italian culture is palpable.  It is not surprising that he would make classic Old World wines, available at a price that allows for sharing with family and friends.

If you’ve been keeping up with the crazy week I had, I will not be making gnocchi from scratch this year, but I will be opening something special.  If you are still looking for wines for your Valentine’s meal, or for any time, the Bocelli wines are sure to add a bit of romanza.

* These wines were provided by the August Wine Group as media samples for review purposes.