Free Wine from Wine52!

Wine52 are offering you a FREE case of wine (just cover the postage) showcasing the joys of food and wine from Italy!

This box, especially with Christmas and feasting modes in mind, celebrates Italy's rich culinary heritage through iconic regional wines and expertly paired traditional dishes. Journey through Italy’s diverse regions - Sicily, Calabria, Umbria, Tuscany, Veneto, Lazio - each with its unique culinary specialities and corresponding wines reflecting local terroir and traditions.

Delight in the Sicilian Nerello Mascalese, pairing beautifully with Pasta alla Norma, a dish named after Bellini’s opera, featuring smoky grilled eggplant and tangy tomato topped with ricotta salata. Or, have something hearty with the rustic Sangiovese-Merlot blend from Cantina Castelsina that perfectly offsets the charred richness of Bistecca alla Fiorentina, Tuscany’s iconic T-bone steak.

This box offers you not only bottles of wine but invites you to experience Italian culture through food and wine. Simply cover £9.95 postage and it's all yours.

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

• Muto come un pesce Inzolia by Cantina Sociale Birgi - Inzolia, a native grape of the island, thrives in the hot, coastal terroir of western Sicily, where sea breezes and volcanic soils enhance its zesty freshness and aromatic complexity. On the nose, expect vivid tropical fruit, wild herbs and a twist of candied lemon. The palate is dry and crisp, led by assertive citrus peel and refreshing acidity – the ideal counterpoint to the rich, oily flavours of sardines, fennel, and pine nuts in Pasta con le Sarde.


• Confab Sangiovese-Merlot by Cantina Castelsina - This Tuscan red brims with sun-warmed cherries, a whisper of wild herbs, and the supple richness of dark plum. There’s an easy balance here: bright, mouth-watering freshness wrapped around a smooth, mid-weight frame, with soft, ripe tannins. The bright sour-cherry finish beautifully offsets the succulent, smoky flavours of Bistecca alla Fiorentina, cutting through the steak’s richness to create a harmonious pairing. Decant and serve slightly chilled.


• Senno Nerello Mascalese by Cantina Sociale Birgi - This vibrant Nerello Mascalese showcases ripe strawberry and earthy herb aromas, a direct expression of Sicily’s terroir. Light-bodied with subtle tannins and lively acidity, the wine’s earthy strawberry notes mirror the smoky grilled eggplant and tangy tomato sauce in Pasta alla Norma. The acidity cuts through the richness of ricotta salata, making this traditional pairing a harmonious balance of flavours.

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: Volcanic Italy

Whilst we prefer to imagine Italy as a beautiful, bucolic country of rolling hills, vineyards, beaches and sun, the dramatic landscape is shaped by volcanic formations that form an integral part of the cultural divides between the provinces and, of course, of the eco-system and soils for wine!

The scope for this case is vast covering regions from Lazio and Campania along the western shores to Basilicata in the South and Veneto towards the Alps.

Volcanic soils and wine are a bit of a match made in heaven, and Italy is blessed by its geographical past in this regard. Mineral rich, extremely fertile, free-draining and complex patchworks, volcanic soils provide all the right ingredients for excellent wines. Whether it’s the mineral backbone that the wines tend to possess, the wonderfully high acidity to bring balance to the wine, or the earthy, flinty characteristics, volcanic wines are among some of the best.

The Wine Tasting

Piperinus Frascati DOC

Hailing from the Roman hills of Frascati, Piperinus is a perfect blend of Malvasia Puntinata and Trebbiano. Malvasia Puntinata, or Malvasia del Lazio, is commonly used for dessert wines and is the noblest white grape variety in Frascati. It is relatively aromatic, fruity and floral with a mineral character driven by the soils. Trebbiano Toscano (Ugni Blanc in France) is an important balancer bringing acidity and freshness to the wine. There’s also a touch of Bombino and Malvasia Bianca di Candia for good measure.

So, quite a blend! But how is it? Expressive was the first word that came to mind. Exuding lemon skin, quince, acacia, peach, apricot, blossom and honey, it keeps the fruit in balance with good acidity and mineral undertones that you’d expect of the soils. It is light and elegant but with surprisingly strong fruit concentration - a great evening sipper.

Despite the name meaning “of pepper” in Latin, (even though they have got the declension ending wrong! – knew that Classics degree would come in handy), the wine is not particularly peppery (if at all). That said, I don’t think it is trying to be, but I can certainly see it going with a nice pasta and some fresh black pepper!

Trilussa Castelli Romani Bianco DOC

Castelli Romani covers the wider area of the Alban Hills, within which sits Frascati, and was/is Rome’s wine version of a bread basket. The Trilussa’s vineyards are exposed to cooler aspects, with breezes coming in from the Apennines and Tyrrhenian Sea, helping encourage bright fruit flavours and freshness.

This is a blend of Malvasia Puntinata, Trebbiano and Greco which brings a real point of difference compared to the Piperinus that is exciting to explore. Ripe green apple, pear and ripe lemon carry through from the Malvasia and Trebbiano, and the Greco brings body, floral, stone fruit and smoky elements to the wine. It’s got great structure and poise.

Ardor Castelli Romani Rosso DOC

Ardor is a more familiar Italian blend, taking Montepulciano and Sangiovese together and forging a great wine, as the label and name might suggest.

Red and black fruit driven, with cassis, wild berries and strong red cherry notes, this wine belies its complexity at first. Delve a little deeper and uncover earthy, savoury depth with structure and stony mineral character. A lovely bright fruity finish is supported by acidity and the volcanic mineral streak.

Overall, it’s full-bodied and wonderfully smooth.

Erupting in style, the latest Wine52 case an exciting exploration honing in on Italy’s unique soils and giving some great contrasting wines to compare.

• Clever exploration providinga full on experience tasting the volcanic styles
• Wines with varietal and terroir character
• A very informative glug magazine and Italian snacks
• Latin!