Explore the hidden gems of Italy

Discover a curated selection of award-winning Italian wines that bring fresh stories, distinctive native grapes and strong value to any list.

by Beans Boughton MW

Some of Italy's best wines aren't always the most famous. They're the bottles that will impress your customers from the very first taste, crafted by producers with great stories to tell; family-run wineries, women-led estates, and forward-thinking winemakers bringing a fresh approach to traditional regions. Alongside their character and authenticity, many of these wines regularly receive prestigious awards, which can reassure less confident consumers.

We have brought together some of our favourite hidden gems from across Italy, grouped by style and drinking occasion, making it easier to explore the range and find the perfect wine for any occasion.

These are wines that consistently overdeliver on quality, character and value. They are award-winning bottles from producers we believe deserve a place in your wine selection.

Something sparkling, something rosé

These two award-winning wines are made for relaxed gatherings, long, leisurely afternoons and quick wins.

 

Rallo, who call themselves "bianchisti" or white wine specialists, are devoted to Sicily's local grapes and organic farming. They pick early to preserve freshness and lock in varietal aromatics. Their La Maggiore Pet Nat is a fun, vibrant sparkling Grillo from vineyards by the sea near Marsala, bursting with notes of honeysuckle, ripe peach, persimmon and tangerine. 

5367 | Rallo Azienda Agricola, La Maggiore Petillant, Pét-Nat, IGP Terre Siciliane, Italy, 2025

(2024 vintage received the SWA 2026 trophy for Pét-Nat of the Year)

Mora & Memo is now run by the mother-and-daughter team of Alicia and Lia Tolaini. Their labels, designed by Sardinian artist Katia Marcias, celebrate the island's strong matriarchal values. The e' Rosato captures the spirit of Sardinia, featuring delicate red berry and floral aromas, a beautiful salmon-pink hue, and a refreshing saline finish. Whether your customers are grilling at a BBQ or enjoying a Sunday lunch with friends and family, these are joyful, characterful wines, making them perfect for bringing people together.

6674 | Mora & Memo, é Rosato Isola dei Nuraghi IGT, Sardinia, Italy, 2025

SWA 2026 Silver medal; 2026 Wine Merchant Top 100 Best Rosé trophy; 2026 Wine Merchant Top 100 Winner

Standout whites from native varieties

These are whites with character crafted to impress with their bold flavours, depth and distinctive sense of place—little upgrades to benchmark Italian whites.

Italian whites are in their ascendancy, and this trio showcase the exceptional quality that can be found across different price points.

 

ILatium Morini represents a new wave of Soave and Valpolicella producers. This family-run estate is led by seven brothers and cousins, and their wines have been gaining increasing acclaim. Their Le Calle Soave comes from a single vineyard of old vines planted on chalky soils, with a short appassimento-style drying process adding richness and texture while preserving freshness. A great step up from standard Soave.

2889 | ILatium Morini, Soave, DOC, Le Calle, Veneto, Italy, 2024

SWA 2026 Silver medal; Wine Merchant Top 100 Highly commended.

Marche's Zaccagnini was founded by two brothers dedicated to showcasing the potential of Verdicchio. Their Salmagina comes from steep hillside vineyards at 450 metres above sea level, on soils once shaped by ancient salt mines, giving the wine a distinctive mineral character.

2684 | Zaccagnini Verdicchio di Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Salmagina 2023

SWA 2026 Silver medal; 2026 Wine Merchant Top 100 Winner

Feudo Antico, from one of Italy's smallest DOCGs, Tullum in Abruzzo, is devoted to expressing the best of Pecorino. Their Casadonna Pecorino, created in collaboration with 3 Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito, is grown at 800 metres altitude, combining mountain freshness with depth and elegance.

6673 | Feudo Antico, Casadonna Pecorino, Terre Aquilane IGP, Abruzzo, Italy, 2022

SWA 2026 Bronze medal

Vibrant reds breaking with traditions

From the hills of Chianti to the slopes of Barolo and Bardolino, our Italian winemakers are champions of change and innovation, bringing freshness, precision and new energy to classic red-wine regions.

 

Riecine, located in Gaiole, Chianti, farms vineyards at a remarkable 480–600 meters above sea level. Since its foundation in 1971, it has remained a Sangiovese purist, rejecting the Cabernet varieties allowed under Chianti Classico regulations. Their Riecine di Riecine comes from the historic, 50-year-old-vine Palmina parcel and is fermented and aged entirely in concrete rather than oak - an a thoughtful departure from regional convention that preserves purity and precision. The result is a mineral, high-tension Tuscan red with the elegance and aromatic focus often associated with Burgundy, offering a compelling alternative to more traditional Tuscan listings.

1129 | Riecine, Riecine di Riecine, Chianti, IGT, Tuscany, Italy, 2021

Cascina Adelaide, a boutique 12-hectare estate spread across eight historic crus in the Barolo appellation, is led by Chiara Drocco, who took the reins from her grandfather in her twenties and started making waves with a young team around her. Their Barolos favour elegance and approachability over austerity, and have picked up strong recent scores and awards from wine critics and sommeliers alike.

3090 | Cascina Adelaide, Barolo, DOCG, Piedmont, Italy, 2021

SWA 2026 Gold medal; SWA 2026 Critics choice winner; SWA 2026 By the glass winner; SWA 2026 Pub & bar winner

Montezovo, the Cottini family's four-generation Veneto estate at the foot of Monte Baldo, became the world's first winery certified "Biodiversity Friend" in 2013 and is known for its high-altitude vineyards. Their Montebaldo Bardolino is grown on the estate's stony morainic soils high on the slopes of the mount bearing the same name — a juicy, fragrant, immediately appealing red that puts smiles on faces.

6627 | Azienda Agricola Montezovo, Montebaldo Bardolino DOC, Veneto, Italy, 2023

If you would like to learn more about our wines, discuss samples, or add any of these wines to your offerings, please contact us.