With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s not too early to think about gifts for the important people in your life. A surefire option that will please nearly everyone on your list is a nice bottle of Italian wine.
This year, consider Chianti Classico, an Italian red wine from a region that has been recognized for over 300 years as an important Italian DOCG. Lamole di Lamole has been a leading producer of excellent Chianti Classico for almost a century, aging in the hand-stacked stone cellars of an ancient castle built to protect the region’s rich agricultural treasures. The Romans first discovered the fertility of the land here and planted the grapes and olives that began a thriving tradition that has endured to this day. The soil in the valley floor of the vineyards is rich in minerals, and the resulting wines, predominantly made from Sangiovese grapes, are complex and food-friendly, making them perfect pairings for celebratory holiday meals. While you can still find a Chianti bottle in a traditional straw basket, there are so many other options available these days. Lamole di Lamole’s range of wine offers options at several price points with different ages and flavor profiles, making it easy to find something for everyone.
Ready to start shopping? Here are the best bottles to buy for the most important people in your life this holiday season.
For Your Parents:
You want to impress your folks and make them aware that you know a thing or two about wine, but also communicate that you are still sensible when it comes to spending money – after all, fiscal responsibility is important to parents. A bottle of affordable, classic Chianti Classico makes an impressive but levelheaded statement with bold flavors that won’t break the bank. Its aromatics reveal bright fruit and dried herbs with big bursts of black cherry and a nice balance of sweetness and spice on the finish.
For Your Significant Other:
Go ahead and splurge a little on a bottle for the person who truly makes life worth living. Go for a Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, the crown jewel of the category that is barrel-aged for two years, resulting in a balanced wine with strong aged tannin notes and ruby hue. Dry spiciness, subtle sweetness, and a hint of acidity are all in perfect harmony here, making this a fantastic wine to enjoy during a romantic dinner of grilled steak, or to linger over alongside a cozy fire and your beloved.
For Your Boss:
You’ve been working hard all year, and that promotion might be just around the corner. Don’t go overboard with a gift for your boss, however; it’s likely that they earn more money than you. There are plenty of mid-range Chianti Classico Riserva options that are both full of flavor and beloved by critics and casual enthusiasts alike. Spice, floral, and earthy aromas are immediately evident on the nose, and the wine’s 24 months of oak aging contributes warm and savory notes on the palate. This bottle of wine just may tip the scales in your favor.
For Your Grandparents:
Your grandparents have been around long enough to gain some knowledge about the world, so why not reward their seasoned expertise with a legendary bottle – they deserve it. Go above and beyond with a specialty Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, which by law is required to be aged for at least 30 months in French oak, allowing the wine to develop layered, complex dark fruit notes with hints of smoke, spice, earth, and tobacco. This wine pairs with rack of lamb, roasted root vegetables, braised short ribs, and a long, meaningful conversation with your elders.
For Your Sibling:
Whether you see your brother or sister fairly often, or reunions happen just once a year, give them something they won’t have to carry home in their checked luggage, such as wine that you both will enjoy during your holiday dinner. An oak-aged and affordable Chianti Classico Riserva pairs well with a wide range of food, from Mom’s infamous lasagna to a holiday roast to a day-after Thanksgiving turkey sandwich. Your sibling will thank you for the great meal, and for saving them a checked bag fee.
This article is sponsored by Lamole di Lamole.
