Take a tour of Italy’s top destinations from your own home by pairing summer-inspired, regional Italian fare with exceptional wines that showcase their terroir.

Live La Dolce Vita This Summer with Italian Wine and Food Pairings

There’s no better time to embrace the Italian philosophy of “la dolce vita” than in the summer. Take a tour of Italy’s top destinations from your own home by pairing summer-inspired, regional Italian fare with exceptional wines that showcase their terroir. You don’t have to travel far to make your life a little more interesting this season.

Venice

In Venice, the workday often ends with “ombra and cicchetti.” Cicchetti are small snacks or tapas, enjoyed with a glass of wine. Usually consumed in the company of friends, it’s an occasion to catch up (specially the good gossip). Cicchetti can take many forms, from bites of seafood speared with a toothpick to bite-sized fried meatballs to crostini. But what they all have in common is ombra—a local term for the first glass of wine of the day—which accompanies them.

Many of Venice’s best spots to eat cicchetti offer numerous local wines by the glass; take inspiration from this freewheeling, anything-goes pairing moment with Santa Margherita’s elegant and food-friendly Rosé, whose rose-gold hue was inspired by the reflection of the sunset on the Venetian lagoon. Or perhaps Santa Margherita’s pioneering style of Pinot Grigio—vibrant, aromatic, and well-balanced—will be your go-to. Of course, sparkling wine is one of the most versatile food wines. Whether it’s Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore di Valdobbiadene DOCG or Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosé, festive bubbly options abound. Near Venice, between the Alps and Venice’s lagoon, a UNESCO Heritage Site, you’ll find Torresella wines. Experience the marriage between the local wines and local cuisine with the estate’s Prosecco Extra Dry, a delicate and refreshing sparkling wine, or the inviting Prosecco Rosé, with its beautiful bouquet of summer fruits and floral notes, paired with one of the cicchetti.

Lake Garda

Lake Garda in northern Italy has a wealth of freshwater fish, while its inland location in northern Italy provides access to exceptional vegetables, lemon groves, and olive trees. This culinary bounty translates into unique regional dishes that rely heavily on seasonality and preparations that let ingredients shine. Broccoletto (long-leafed broccoli), which recently was added to Slow Food Presidia, is boiled and then garnished with olive oil. Tortellini, a filled pasta fashioned in the shape of a knot (also affectionately called nodi d’amore, or ‘love knots’), is served simply with butter and sage or a soul-satisfying broth.

This purity of flavors carries through to the wines of the region. Cà Maiol’s signature white wine, ‘Lugana,’ is made from 100 percent Trebbiano di Lugana, commonly known as ‘Turbiana.‘ Fresh, with lively acidity and notes of citrus and pear, it is an ideal wine to pair with fresh seafood and bright green salads. Meanwhile, the Chiaretto Valtènesi Riviera del Garda DOP, a blend of Barbera and Sangiovese, plus local varieties, is ideal for many fish dishes. This rosé, with notes of strawberry, white almond and florals, is especially complementary to carp and pike, but try it with your own favorite, such as salmon.

Sardinia

As the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, Sardinian cuisine is loaded with seafood, such as shrimp, calamari, and langoustines, but meat and pork also play heavily into dishes. The renowned cheese Pecorino Sardo, a hard cheese that can take on nutty or salty flavors, comes from sheep’s milk. For something truly Sardinian, try fregola, a small, pearl-shaped pasta that’s best eaten with a spoon.

These distinctive dishes require a wine with an equal level of personality. The Cantina Mesa Giunco, Vermentino de Sardegna D.O.C is a complex and powerful white wine, with ripe fruit, herbaceous notes, and a touch of salinity that nods to the surrounding sea. For cool summer nights, Mesa Buio Carignano del Sulcis, D.O.C fights the chill. Dark plum, wild herbs, and peppery spice flavors are not only warming, but it partners perfectly with the region’s heavier dishes, such as lamb.

To learn more about the Italian Wine Mosaic and Italy’s unique, terroir-driven wines, as well as how to bring the Italian “la dolce vita” lifestyle into your home this summer, click here.