Many great things have come out of Italy but one of the best must surely be aperitivo hour, the great tradition of relaxing and unwinding at the end of the day with a glass of wine or spritz and some tasty nibbles. It’s something we practise often in our household (!) so the launch in Australia of Maretti’s new Italia range is very welcome.
The much-loved Italian wine brand is celebrated for its regionally expressive drops, and they are everything your Aperitivo Hour has been waiting for. These vibrant, modern Italian wines are sourced from the regions of Pavia and Puglia, and at an RRP of $17.99 they deliver on both quality and value.
There are five wines in the range: Sparkling Pinot Grigio, Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Rosé and Pinot Noir. If the three we’ve tasted are anything to go by, they are refreshing, bold and effortlessly enjoyable.
The 2024 Maretti Italia Pinot Grigio is light and zesty with a nice balance of green apple and lemon notes, and a clean, mineral finish. Definitely a wine with broad appeal.
The 2024 Maretti Italia Rosé is bright and aromatic, with notes of strawberry, watermelon and rose petal. The palate is crisp and slightly savoury, with a burst of fresh fruit and a dry finish.
The 2024 Maretti Italia Sangiovese is generous and nicely rounded with red plum and cherry note, soft tannins and a smooth finish.
All three would be the perfect crowd-pleaser at a barbecue, relaxed lunch or, as you’ve probably guessed, aperitivo hour.
Maretti winemaker, Janko Pelagic, says the brand is thrilled to bring the range to Australia. “Each wine in the collection has been crafted to reflect the essence of Italian winemaking – all regionally expressive, balanced and fresh,” he said.
“Offering both value and relaxed sophistication, our Italia range is the perfect drop for Aussies looking for a taste of Italy.”
For an even grander taste of Italy, you’ll have to enter the competition Maretti is running to celebrate its Australian launch. One lucky shopper will win a dream escape to the Amalfi Coast including return flights for two, 5 nights’ accommodation and spending money.
The competition runs until January 31. To enter, head to your local retailer, pick up a specially marked bottle of Maretti, and scan the QR code on the bottle tag. You can also enter the competition here. Salute!
The Maretti Italia range is available at independent retailers nationally, including Cellarbrations, The Bottle-O, Thirsty Camel, IGA Liquor and Duncan’s.
More information about the wines here.
Food Wine Travel was sent a sample bottle of each of the three wines mentioned in this post.
