Tenuta di Nozzole, Chianti Classico Riserva 2019

Bart had friends over for the Final Four games, and it goes without saying that a local favorite, Ziggy's Pizza, was brought in for the watch party. Can you drink wine with pizza? ABSOLUTELY. One of the classic wine pairings with Italian food is Tuscany's own Chianti Classico, a red wine made from the Sangiovese grape. While neither Bart nor Katie typically love Chianti on its own (just a personal preference), its savory qualities can own the room when paired with a wide range of Italian foods, including pizza. This wine surprised Bart and his friends with brighter, fresher red fruit characteristics than expected, followed by the herbs and rustic quality. Half of the glasses were gone before the pizza boxes were even open. Then with the pizza accompaniment, this Chianti did not disappoint. It melded seamlessly with the pizza and became a touch sweeter, providing a nice contrast. This particular Chianti may be a little pricey for your typical pizza party, but it is clearly worth the cost on a special occasion with friends.

Food pairing idea: pizza (or anything Italian)

In a nutshell,

The wine: A-

The price: $27 at Jacob Liquor

Would we buy it again? yes