5 Italian Winemakers to Try This Fall

When the air starts getting crisp, and those leaves start changing, it’s time for a little wine. This season, why not try out something new with the work of a few Italian winemakers? I’ve gathered a few favorites to share with you. A little white, a little red, and a delicious orange wine, there’s all the shades of wine to match with the foliage. Now’s the time to expand your palate and have a taste of these Italian wines.

5 Italian Winemakers to taste this season

Les Cretes

Les Cretes is a renowned winery in Valle d’Aosta. While they are known beyond Italy’s borders, I find that the wines of Valle d’Aosta still are overlooked. But this autumn you should absolutely grab a bottle from these Italian winemakers.

They are known for their exceptional wines that reflect the region’s distinct Alpine terroir. Most of their collection focuses on local grapes such as Petite Arvine, Fumin, and Prié Blanc, which thrive in the cool climate and high-altitude vineyards of Valle d’Aosta. But they also produce a fantastic Chardonnay.

Bottles to look out for:

Torrette: A local wine with aromas of cherry and cranberry, medium-bodied with crisp acidity and just a tad of velvety tannins.

Chardonnay Cuvée Bois: One of my favorite bottles, an intense wine with fruity notes, an edge of spices, and a toasty finish. A strong white with mineral undertones and an acidic cut.

Cantina Martinelli

I recently discovered Cantina Martinelli thanks to Instagram (and one of their winemakers Victoria!), but after tasting their wines I found a new love for Teroldego (and Chardonnay). Cantina Martinelli is a gorgeous winery located in an 1800s farm surrounded by lush greenery in Trentino. Still managed and operated by the Martinelli family the team works primarily with the indigenous grape – Teroldego, considered the Prince of Trentino.

Bottles to try:

All of them, while Teroldego is their star, the winery produces great white wines as well.

Talamonti

If you’re looking to explore the wines of Abruzzo, Talamonti is definitely a winery to keep an eye on. Founded in 2001 by the Redmont-Di Tonno family, passionate Italian winemakers with a vision to produce wines putting Abruzzo back on our shelves.

With their dedication to quality and their passion for winemaking, Talamonti has gained recognition both in Italy and internationally.

Bottles to look out for:

Modà – A Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, marked by deep color, rich fruit flavors, and well-structured tannins.

Aternum – A Trebbiano d’Abruzzo this wine surprised me with it’s crisp character and great minerality. Expect apple and citrus notes.

Trabochetto – Another white that surprised me, made with Pecorino, with a slightly gentler acidity it has unique notes of jasmine, pear, and apple

Ca’ Viola

Some may have already heard of Ca’ Viola, a Piedmontese winery located in the Dogliani region. Here they practice sustainable and organic farming, focusing mainly on the classic local grapes of Dolcetto, Barbera, and Nebbiolo. Ca’ Viola wines are crafted with a combination of traditional winemaking techniques and modern inspiration.

It was my partner who introduced them to me, as he loved their wines first. I will admit they are sometimes hard to find – they work mainly with distributors and restaurants, but I have been lucky finding them in Eataly!

Bottles to try:

Bric du Luv – Barbera d’Alba, a deep red wine with purple reflections, a classic barbera with fruit notes and balsamic edges.

Barturot – Dolcetto d’Alba, a violet wine both in color and aroma, with additional notes of black cherry and berries.

Specogna

One of the best Italian Winemakers I have discovered during my time here, I found them through my work with Friuli Italian Wines but turns out they are also a favorite of President Mattarella.

The Specogna team are exceptional Italian winemakers located in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Italy. The winery has gained recognition for its fantastic wines, and dedication to its natural wines which highlight the excellence of Friuli’s terroir and traditional grapes.

The team is committed to sustainable harvesting practices and loves to experiment with natural leaning wines like their Pro Fondo (an unfiltered rendition of “prosecco”, but not official DOC!) and Ramato.

Bottles to try:

Pinot Grigio Ramato – an incredible wine I have fallen in love with, it is an orange wine version of Pinot Grigio. Called Ramato for its copper hue, This is a delicious, clean fruity wine with a rosè character.

Identità – the essence of Friuli in a bottle, made from three local grapes: Friulano, Malvasia, and Ribolla Gialla. This is an elegant way to get a taste of all of Friuli’s best.