Here’s the 13th installment of The Wine Chef’s December "Advent Calendar" wine series.

Burlotto Cantina Massara Verduno Pelaverga 2022

Ian D’Agata, the foremost authority on Italian wine, has this to say about Verduno Pelaverga.

“Verduno Pelaverga is one of Italy’s five or six hottest wines currently, with bottles literally flying off wine store shelves and restaurant wine lists all over the world, because people everywhere seemingly cannot drink enough of it. This success is well-deserved, as Pelaverga really is one of Italy’s most exciting, enjoyable red wines of today.”

Verduno Pelaverga is made from Pelaverga Piccolo grapes grown in Verduno, one of the eleven towns that comprise the Barolo region. Recently, I purchased a bottle of Burlotto Cantina Massara’s Verduno Pelaverga 2022 from Grape Collective, the wine shop where I work. When I opened the bottle that evening, I was first struck by its pretty light ruby hue with violet reflections. Then, the fragrant aromas drew me in, followed by mouthwatering flavor—think fresh strawberry, raspberry, white pepper, and a crushed stone minerality. It was so delicious that I called the shop immediately to ask my colleague to set aside another bottle for me.

Verduno Pelaverga wine pairs beautifully with light meats, pasta, risotto, mushroom dishes, and more. It also goes with many Asian dishes, particularly those with spices like coriander, cinnamon, star anise, allspice, fennel, and cloves.

Note: You can find the Burlotto for $41.99 on grapecollective.com. Another delicious one is Castello di Verduno Basadone Pelaverga which retails for about $29 and can be found on wine-searcher.com.