Two Italian wines to try: a white that’s good on its own and a red with a smooth finish

SuperValu has an Italian wine sale running until Wednesday, June 7th. It features many familiar names and no less than five varieties of prosecco. In addition to the wines featured here, I enjoyed the Millefiori Pinot Grigio (€10), the Emotivo Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (€9) and the Sammicheli Chianti Riserva (€9.99).

Today, two wines from Tuscany. Vermentino, known as Rolle in France, has grown in popularity in recent years, partly because it retains acidity in warm climates. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is no relation to Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, another Italian favourite. It is a region in Tuscany and the primary grape is Sangiovese.

Cortezza Toscana Vermentino 2020

Plump peaches with green almonds and a rounded finish. Drink solo, with salads, or summery pasta dishes. Abv 12.5%, €10.

Cortezza Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano 2018

Soft, smooth, ripe dark fruits with an easy tannin-free finish. Try this with grilled or roast pork, lasagne, or aubergine Parmigiana. Abv 13.5%. €15.