FNF: Friends N Family
When I was growing up, my godmother owned an Italian restaurant. I would wait tables there during high school and college breaks. It was hard, but great. Few of my friends were able to bring home as much money as I did, working just three to four days a week.
One of the things I loved most about her restaurant was the family dinners the waitstaff would have when our shift was over. We’d count out our tips, while the grumpy chef would begrudgingly make us a meal. Even if he pretended to be annoyed about it, his dinner was always delicious and often my favorite: rigatoni with escarole. When I was old enough, I’d have a glass of wine with my plate, always the house red: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.
For years I would tell people I didn’t really love Italian wines, but that I had a special place in my heart for Montepulciano, because it reminded me of my aunt’s restaurant. The list of Italian wines I like is much longer now, but Montepulciano is still at the top. To me, it embodies what wine is all about: fond memories, family, shared experiences.
Even though Montepulciano is Italian, I’d say it has all of the characteristics of a true Francey Not Fancy wine. (We don’t just drink French wine around here!) It’s rustic, affordable, easy drinking, and delicious. It’s the kind of wine that works beautifully with a warm family-style meal like Sunday sauce.
This 2018 Podere Castorani Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Cadetto is just $12.99 on wine.com and gets 90 points from James Suckling. It smells a little dusty with faint animal aromas. It tastes of cranberry jelly and raspberries and is tart, acidic, and smooth. It was absolutely gorgeous with chicken parmigiana, the kind of wine you want to pour for the entire family when they’ve gathered around the table for a good time.
🍇 Note: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is from Abruzzo, which is in east-central Italy, and is made with Montepulciano grapes. It is not the same as Vino Nobile di Montepulciano which is from Tuscany and made with a base of Sangiovese grapes.
