If you’re looking for a wonderful place to eat in Rome that has incredible and unique wines with a vast cellar, plus its very own bespoke Wine Club then Rimessa Roscioli fits the bill.
Today I chatted with Lindsay Gabbard from Rimessa Roscioli, about their wines and their bespoke Wine Club that features smaller artisanal wineries and a vast assortment of grape varietals.
About the Roscioli Family
If you’ve been to Rome or have researched top food spots in the Eternal City then you are already familiar with the name Roscioli and know that they've been in the food and wine sector for four generations. Alessandro and Pierluigi Roscioli carry on the family tradition through the Ristorante Roscioli, the Salumeria, the Antico Forno, the Caffè Pasticceria, the Rimessa Roscioli, and the Wine Club. The two brothers focus on top quality ingredients and wines.
Try lunch at Roscioli and dessert at the bakery!
About the Rimessa Roscioli
Although wine-aging and the barrels used, and the regulatory bodies that establish wine ratings and quality like DOC and DOCG have their importance, Rimessa Roscioli goes far beyond these parameters and prefers instead that customers experience firsthand the fabulous artisanal wines and unusual grapes that Roscioli features. Rimessa Roscioli works closely with some of the most fascinating people in the Italian wine arena like Paolo Zaccaria, wine writer & philosopher, and Gaetano Sacoccio, the natural wine guru. Maurizio Paparello is the head sommelier at Rimessa Roscioli and is considered to be one of Italy's top Italian wine experts.
Roscioli Wine Experiences
What Rimessa Roscioli offers its customers when they come for a dinner and tasting is a complete wine experience that goes far beyond a classical wine tasting. Because Roscioli uses the Coravin, a special technique whereby a needle is inserted into the cork to extract wine without removing the cork, customers are able to sample some exceptional and unusual wines like Sassicaia (one of the original Super Tuscan wines known for its elegance and supple texture), that might not otherwise be opened.
Schiopettino is just one example of the unique and unusual wines you might taste at Rimessa Roscioli. It’s a spicy and peppery wine from the very northernmost part of Italy, the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. This wine was brought back from near extinction after the late 19th century phylloxera epidemic.
Wines to Serve over the Holidays
The philosophy at Rimessa Roscioli is what grows together goes together so when you're pairing food and wine a local wine will go best with local vegetables and dishes.
Lindsay has a few suggestions to make for great wines to drink over the holidays.
Wines for Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve usually means fish and Lindsay suggests a Verdicchio wine from the Marche region of Italy. Best to choose your wine at a local wine shop rather than a grocery store to take advantage of your local wine shop owner‘s knowledge and suggestions. When we’re talking fish it's best to avoid wine with tannins, in other words what a wine gets from grape skin contact, as tannins bring out the metallic taste in fish. Also, oak doesn’t go well with fish.
Christmas Day Wines
On Christmas day the most popular meal of choice in Italy and lots of other places is roast lamb. A Brunello di Montalcino, or a vino nobile di Montalcino is a perfect pairing.
I’m serving duck on Christmas Day and will probably go with a full bodied red, but if you serve duck with a special sauce, like an orange sauce, then you’re better off choosing a white wine. A good choice might be a wine from the ribolla gialla grape or a Chardonnay.
Wines for New Year's Eve
On New Year’s Eve if you serve a luscious risotto dish then a Franciacorta is a great bubbly accompaniment.
Almost every Italian holiday meal concludes with panettone and the ideal wine to serve with it is a sweet moscato wine. If you prefer to serve a bubbly wine with panettone then choose a prosecco.
Rimessa Roscioli Wine Experiences during Covid 19
When we return to travel mode post-COVID be sure to put Rimessa Roscioli on your bucket list for your next trip to Rome.
And in the meantime check out some of the Rimessa Roscioli Wine Club videos and join the community.wine free social platform for wine lovers, winemakers and students.
The Rimessa Roscioli Wine Club
Of course the best way to delve into some of the fabulous wines from unusual Italian grapes and smaller artisanal wineries is through the Roscioli Wine Club.
They have a few formats you can choose from.
Wine Club 1 - organic, limited availability wines; a great way to discover new grapes
Wine Club 2 - limited production artisanal wines that are full-bodied and age-worthy
Wine Club, Collectors Club 1 - for wine collectors; wines from slightly older vintages; great to stock up your cellar with some names that have made a big impression in the world of wine
Serving Wine over the Holidays
Whatever wine you decide to drink remember that the holidays are a special time so serve your wine with extra special wine glasses and wine decanters. A classic glass decanter I like is the Simon Pearce Warren Glass Decanter. Or the classic Pewter Glass decanter handmade in Italy.
I especially love these Simon Pearce Cavendish Red Wine Glasses and the Simon Pearce Hartland Champagne Flutes.
Special Recipes for the Holidays
Are you interested in a few special recipes to make over the holidays?
How about this Pan-Seared Sea-bass with Tomatoes and Chickpeas for Christmas Eve.
Are you wondering what to do with your leftover panettone? Then check out this fantastic Panettone French Toast recipe.
Risotto is always a wonderful New Year’s Eve dish and you could try Pumpkin Gorgonzola Risotto.
Try these Holiday Cookies and Desserts.
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