Malcolm Jolley Zooms into the vineyards of Rocca delle Macie to talk to Sergio Zingarelli…

Oh, for some of the Tuscan sunshine I could see on my laptop screen when I spoke with Sergio Zingarelli from Rocca delle Macìe in the vineyards at his family’s home La Macìe, near Greve-in-Chianti. While the Tuscan hills were alive with the sights of green Sangiovese vines and blue skies, the mood at Rocca delle Macìe was measured. We talked about the difficulties of imposed by the terrible COVID-19 crisis in Italy, but also about the encouraging signs of the 2019 vintage.

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The Rocca delle Macìe label is, as Sergio Zingarelli alludes to in the video, a well known brand in Ontario. The 2018 Rocca delle Macìe Chianti Classico ($18.95 – LCBO# 741769) is currently in the LCBO’s Vintages Essentials program and has become a regular staple our self-isolating household this spring. At $19 it’s a great value, versatile wine from a notedly good year. Lots of earthy dark cherry notes and good food-friendly Sangiovese acidity. The 2016 Rocca delle Chianti Riserva ($15.95 – LCBO# 111641) is also an Vintage Essentials label, which means it is widely available. It’s even more vibrant than the Classico, despite being two years older, and full of juicy red cherry fruit that paired prefectly with a pulled pork shoulder roast on a recent quarantine evening.