Most wine lists read like a predictable script. Pinot Grigio, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc. Perfectly fine wines, but by the tenth time you know exactly what you are getting. No surprise left, no curiosity.
Yet just outside that familiar circuit lie lesser-known wines with more character than many a bestseller list would suggest. Wines from regions nobody thinks of, made from grapes you cannot pronounce, in bottles without a marketing budget.
These are five of those remarkable wines from the NEVINI collection. Every single one selected for taste, story and an honest price.
Saperavi from Gitana: an undiscovered Moldovan wine with character
Moldova. Not the first country that comes to mind when you think of wine. Yet it has a tradition going back centuries, favoured by a climate partly comparable to that of Burgundy.
The Saperavi grape itself originates from Georgia, where wine has been made for some 8,000 years. The name means 'giver of colour'. Pour a glass and you will see why straight away: deep, almost opaque ruby red.
Georgia is considered the cradle of winemaking. Archaeologists found 8,000-year-old wine residues in clay vessels there.
Gitana, a winery from the south of Moldova, knows exactly what to make of it. Dark cherries, cedar and a hint of mint on the nose. The palate brings blackcurrant, blackberry, liquorice and pepper. Velvety, yet firm enough for a steak or pasta with game ragout.
Here you are not paying for a famous name or a fashionable region. You are paying for what is in the bottle. That is how discovering wine should always work.
Kairos 2021 from Zyme: a remarkable Italian wine that brings everything together
There are wines you drink. And there are wines that briefly leave you speechless.
Kairos is Ancient Greek for 'the right moment'. Winemaker Celestino Gaspari of Zyme, in Valpolicella, tries to capture that moment in a bottle. Fifteen grape varieties go in. Eleven red, four white. Corvina, Rondinella, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Sangiovese, Teroldego, and a handful more that would make even seasoned wine connoisseurs pause for a moment.
On paper it sounds like an experiment that got out of hand. The result is exactly the opposite. Everything falls into place.
Red and black fruit, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, a hint of tobacco. Full on the palate, almost velvety. The wine matures for 36 months in French oak barriques, followed by another year in bottle.
The Kairos won the Vivino Wine Style Award for Northern Italy Red. A remarkable Italian wine you will not soon forget.
Not cheap, but honestly priced. Buying a special wine is not something you do every week, but when you do, it should be this kind of bottle. Perfect for an evening with good friends, a board of aged cheeses and nowhere else to be.
Le Argille Cabernet di Cabernet: a hidden gem from Veneto
Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc together in one bottle. Sounds like Bordeaux. But this comes from Veneto, and you can taste the difference.
47 Anno Domini makes this wine on clay soils. 'Argille' is Italian for clay. That soil retains moisture and gives the grapes a more intense, fuller flavour. Ripe black fruit, plum, vanilla, subtle tobacco notes. Warm and supple, with a finish that lingers longer than expected.
The most striking part? The wine matures for two years in concrete vats. No wood, no steel. Concrete. Sounds contradictory, but the result speaks for itself: pure fruit expression without oak dominating. The bottle itself comes in a concrete casing that protects against light and temperature swings. And it looks stunning too.
A wine gift with a story
If you are looking for an original wine gift for someone who loves red wine, Le Argille is a strong choice. The story behind the concrete ageing, the striking packaging, the wine itself. Everything fits, and it impresses without being flashy.
A Cabernet blend that makes you forget it does not come from Bordeaux. That says more about Veneto than about Bordeaux.
View Le Argille Cabernet di Cabernet →
Brunello di Montalcino from Banfi: the timeless one
Brunello di Montalcino may not be the most obscure name on this list. Many wine lovers know it. But surprisingly few people know the story behind it, and why this wine is so different from other Sangiovese wines.
Brunello is 100% Sangiovese. Specifically the Sangiovese Grosso clone that grows only around the town of Montalcino in Tuscany. The rules are strict: at least two years of ageing in oak, four months in bottle, and the wine may only be sold five years after the harvest. Five years of patience. You can taste it.
Banfi's 2019 is a textbook example. Intense ruby red with garnet reflections. Vanilla, liquorice and spices on the nose. Full and velvety on the palate, with a refinement you rarely find in other red wines. Ideal with ossobuco, game or a plate of truffle risotto.
Brunello di Montalcino as a wine gift
If you want to give someone a serious wine gift, Brunello is always a safe bet. It is a wine that impresses without being over the top. The recipient does not need to be a connoisseur to notice this is something special.
View the Brunello di Montalcino →
Alto Adige DOC Weissburgunder from Kreyss: a wine tip for white wine lovers
After four reds: something fresh. And we mean properly fresh.
South Tyrol is one of Italy's most underrated wine regions. Vineyards at 450 to 650 metres altitude, cool nights, the Dolomites as a backdrop. It feels more Austrian than Italian, and you can taste that in the wine.
The Weissburgunder, or Pinot Blanc, has been the leading white grape here for more than a century. Kreyss turns it into a wine that does exactly what you want. Green apple, pear, citrus and a stony minerality you rarely find in other white wines. Ageing on fine lees gives it a creamy texture, while the acidity keeps everything crisp and lively.
Excellent with prawns, grilled salmon or a summer salad. But just as good on its own, on an ordinary weeknight when you simply fancy a good glass. Good wine does not always need an occasion.
For less than twenty euros. Really.
View the Alto Adige DOC Weissburgunder →
Discovering remarkable wines: it starts with curiosity
You will not find these five bottles in the supermarket. That is exactly the point.
The urge to order the same wine every time is all too familiar. The same Pinot Grigio, the same Merlot. Safe and comfortable. But try something different for once. Pick a Pecorino wine from Le Marche instead of that standard Chardonnay, or a Saperavi from Moldova instead of yet another Malbec. You will discover how much is still out there.
NEVINI selects these wines directly from the winemakers, without middlemen. No frills, no hype. Just honest bottles from people who are proud of what they make.
The best wines are the ones that come with a story. Not because the label tells it, but because you experienced it yourself.
Looking for more wine tips or advice on which bottle suits your taste best? Feel free to get in touch. Or browse the full collection and let yourself be surprised.