Free Wine from Wine52!

Wine52 are offering you a FREE case of wine (just cover the postage) that highlights Italian wine in all its glory.

This theme focuses on Classic Italy, showcasing iconic wines, rare indigenous varieties and historic regions that have shaped Italian winemaking for centuries. From the rolling hills of Piemonte to the sun-drenched coastlines of Falerio, this theme illustrates why these wines are considered timeless classics. Simply cover £9.95 postage and it's all yours.

Here's a taste of what you can get this month:

• Truciolo Ribolla Gialla by Cantina La Salute - Ribolla Gialla has been rooted in the hills of Friuli for centuries, and this bottle shows exactly why the grape has such enduring appeal. The warm days coax out ripe orchard fruit, while the cool evenings preserve a spine of clean, herbal freshness. The result is a wine that feels generous on the palate, with a pleasing weight, yet it finishes bright and lifted, carrying hints of wild herbs.


• Ad Pedem Montium by Cantina Tre Secoli - A vibrant wine from the rolling hills of Piemonte, this blend captures the region’s balance of freshness and depth. The local climate, with its diverse soils, lends a vibrant lift to the fruit while maintaining good structure. On the nose, it’s all about juicy berries, giving way to a palate that’s bright, light in body, and driven by energetic acidity. Soft tannins frame the wine without weighing it down, making it as easy to sip as it is to pair. This is the sort of red you can also enjoy slightly chilled to accentuate its brisk, crunchy character.


• Lizard in love by Cantina La Salute - This native grape from northern Italy flourishes in the cool breezes that flow down from the Alps. The vines dig into gravelly, mineral-rich soils that help tame Refosco’s natural sturdiness, giving a wine that’s both vibrant and structured. It is filled with sour cherry, redcurrant, and a hint of wild plum. The palate is ripe yet lifted, with brisk acidity sharpening the fruit and a firm but finely balanced tannic grip. Unlike heavier reds, this is bright and energetic, making it a very approachable.

The choice is all yours. Pick from a red, white or a mixed case which will also include a copy of Glug magazine and two tasty snacks. You can even add a 4th bottle if you fancy!

Wine52 is a wine discovery club which showcases a new region every month. From velvety reds to crisp whites, focusing on native grape varieties from iconic regions they ensure that there's a perfect pour for every occasion and palate preference.

Wine52 Case Review: Classic Italy

This month, Wine52 are returning to an old favourite, Italy. We have seen a few Italian cases from Wine52 over the past year, exploring Sicily, Puglia, Campania and more. And there is good reason for this.

The beauty of Italy is that there is so much to explore, so many regions, so many indigenous grape varieties and so many regional specialties. You can keep returning to Italian wines for years and never get through them all. And no, I don’t mean your average Chianti or Barolo, but rather these very unique, regional specialties that have been part of the Italian scene for centuries.

Despite the case name, this is not the classic Italy in terms of global popularity, this is exploring Italy from its own perspective and historical production. The mixed welcome case specifically explores Northern Italy, looking at Friuli and Piemonte. You can add a 4th bottle if you like, and I imagine it was quite a challenge for them choosing which 3 they would choose to showcase Classic Italy so that is well worth doing. In any case, they did a very good job with the wnes they have selected for you to enjoy!

The Wine Tasting

Truciolo Ribolla Gialla

Produced by Cantina Vigna Verde, who have been making wines on the plains of Friuli-Venezia Giulia since 1976, this Ribolla Gialla is an absolute staple of the region’s craft.

On the nose, it is brimming with orchard fruits, lemon zest and a lovely, complex herbal undertone. To taste, the fruits seemed to develop into even riper versions of themselves, with a little sourness tempered well by a flinty backbone. The body is nice and full and the finish fresh, zingy and lengthy. This is probably one of the best I’ve had from Wine52!

Lizard in Love Refosco

Also made by Vigna Verde, Refosco is a lesser-known ancient Friulian grape variety that always impresses me. You don’t see it nearly enough so credit to Wine52 for bringing it to light here.

On the nose you get a gorgeously tempting whiff of Tangfastic sour cherries, black pepper, poached pear, bramble fruits and black plums. This is met with equal vigour on the palate, with an uplift of a slight gamey note.

If the inky red colour wasn’t enough of a clue, you’ll find that the tannin is high in this one. Firm but well-balanced for those who enjoy a dark, plush red with brisk acidity and a surprisingly refreshing finish.

Ad Pedem Montium Barbera/Nebbiolo blend

Moving onto Cantina Tre Secoli, who are based in Piemonte with vineyards on UNESCO’s World Heritage Monferrato hills, they have been making wine here since the late 19th century.

This wine is testament to the cooperative’s shared expertise between growers and winemakers. Nebbiolo is the grape behind wines like Barolo, making perfumed, aromatic, tannic reds. Barbera is more widely grown in Piemonte, making low tannin, lighter reds. The result is a delicious blend of light and dark, creating very good harmony between the styles.

On the nose, savoury characteristics and oak spice that you’d expect to associate with Barolo come through nicely, but are matched nicely by red fruits and juicy berries bringing the lighter element forwards. On the palate, violet, cherry, red plum and redcurrant come into play more. Tannins are wonderfully smooth and help the wine lean more towards the light and fresh Barbera-style. However, Nebbiolo is used very well to bring darker, more intense flavours making this a great blend.

The Verdict

As I said, this is not Classic Italy in the sense you might expect. This is an exploration of Italian wine from the local perspective. Ribolla Gialla, Refosco, Nebbiolo and Barbera are all on display with great varietal character which gives you a true introduction to the world of Italian wine beyond the big hitters.

And so, it is a very good intro case that will give you a proper idea of what to expect from Wine52 going forwards. Start your new journey today!