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“New” might be the wrong word since most of these varietals have been growing in their respective regions for longer than any of us have been alive, but they’re certainly not widely recognized. Try some of these interesting under-the-radar darlings and impress/infuriate your favorite wine snobs and hipsters:
The 2022 Cataldo Calabretta Cirò Rosso Classico Superioreis a certified organic red wine made from 100% Gaglioppo grapes grown on 40-year-old bush-trained vines in Calabria's clay-limestone soils. Fermented with native yeasts and aged for 10 months in concrete tanks, it offers aromas of dried cherry, oregano, and leather, leading to a structured palate with notes of prunes, tobacco, and a touch of salinity. This elegant, medium-bodied wine balances rustic charm with freshness and has the potential to age gracefully for over a decade.
The 2022 Azienda Agricola La Visciola, Passerina Del Frusinate ‘Donna Rosa’is 100% Passerina from 60+ year old vines, grown the Piglio appellation of southern Lazio. The vineyards are only 4.5 hectares, co-planted with Cesanese, and all owned by the vigneron Piero Macciocca. The Passerina is biodynamic, unfined and unfiltered, and aged in stainless steel for one year before release. The nose is reminiscent of tea, pear, and fresh herbs, while the body is rich with hay and yellow apple and a round acidity, with a lightly saline finish.
Braunewell’s 2023 “Unser Täglich” Scheurebe is your juicy, one-liter answer to boring wine nights—bursting with tropical vibes, zingy grapefruit, and a splash of blackcurrant. It's crisp, lightly off-dry, and dangerously easy to pour a second (or third) glass. Run by the fun-loving Braunewell family in Rheinhessen since the 1600s, this wine proves that heritage doesn’t have to be stuffy. Made from Scheurebe grapes.
We’re not saying obscurity is a virtue in and of itself, but come on – Gaglioppo, Passerina, Scheurebe? These are both fun to say AND obscure! The only thing more fun than pronouncing them is drinking them, so pick up your new discovery today.
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