Wine52 Case Review: The Adriatic Coast

Wine52 have made a return to Italy, and a good thing too. Italy’s wine history stretches back to at least the 8th century BCE with Etruscan, Phoenician and Greek influences bringing wine into a cultural highlight. Plus, some lower estimates identify 500 local grape varieties. Clearly, Wine52 have a lot of exploring here to do!

The Adriatic Coast is the region of choice this time and quite a large one too, spanning from Friuli-Venezia Giulia down to Abruzzo and Puglia. It gives a great chance to try a variety of wines, all while showing off the coastal influence theme.

The Wine Tasting

Scintilla Spumante Brut

This was a welcome first for me, not the fizz from Veneto, but a fizz in a Wine52 case! But, when you explore Veneto, home of Prosecco, you do need to include a bottle of fizz really.

Now, this is not quite Prosecco, rather it is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Glera (the Prosecco grape). The result is something that I’d happily choose over most mass-market Prosecco thanks to its elevated flavour and texture. Pear, ripe peach and green apple are the mainstays, supported by a clean, mineral structure with a textured, creamy mouthfeel. It’s versatile and elegant, great for an excuse to pop something sparling open.

Il Dolce Far Niente

This is a great example of Italian wine taking an international variety, in this case Sauvignon Blanc, and delivering it in their own unique style. It isn’t a Marlborough trend chaser, but an elegant cool climate version from Veneto.

The initial nose is punchy and herbaceous, with tropical NZ-esque gooseberry tempered by capsicum and herby notes. The palate is lively with plenty of citrusy lemon and lime, with that cool herbaceous complexity lingering in the background. It has a nicely rounded texture too making it a good white to have with food in the evenings.

Alla Luna Merlot

Merlot is not my usual choice – it is often smooth, but very boring. But, I can see the appeal of this one.

The key driver of this wine is the fruit, with lashings upon lashings of ripe red fruit that have a baked, jammy character. Ripe cherry, redcurrant and a little blackberry stand out the most to me. The finish has a little spiced character bringing a nice bit of complexity to round it off. If you like soft, smooth, fruit-heavy wines then this is probably your ideal wine!

Wine52 Adriatic Review Verdict

• Delicious Fizz!
• A chance to explore Italian winemaking for both local and international grapes
• Informative Glug magazine to help you learn more about the wines and regions
• If you’re a first time customer, it’s free!