On Friday during VanWineFest 2024, I spent my time in the International Festival Tasting Room, primarily tasting Italian red wines. There was a great variety of wines from across the country and while I attempted to visit every table, that was an impossible task. Here are the wines that I quite enjoyed. If there are red wines you tasted at the International Festival Tasting Room that I didn’t list, please comment below so that we can all share our red wine picks.
My Italian Red Wine Picks
Allegrini La Grola Veronese IGT 2020 – This is a single vineyard selection with vines around 90 years old! This wine is a translucent medium garnet colour. Fresh aromas of cedar, red cherries, oak and some pine needles. Dry, medium-minus body with a lean mouthfeel. Medium acidity and tannins. Pine needles, tart cherries and red fruit flavours. 
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Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 2019 – Light garnet colour with a light cherry nose. Dry, medium body, medium acidity and tannins. Cherries, red fruit, nutmeg and some pepperiness on the palate.
Collefrisio Filare Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2018 – This wine has a medium intensity, translucent garnet colour. Deeper cherry and earthy aromas with more on the palate. Medium-plus body with medium-plus acidity and firmer tannins. Nutmeg spice in addition to cherries and earthiness. Medium length.
Tenute Rade Historical – Nizza DOCG 2017 – A medium translucent garnet colour with some bricking. A light candied cherry and smoky nose. Dry, medium body, lean, with candied red cherries, red apples and a touch of sweet spices on the palate. Medium acidity and tannins. Tasty. – 
Ridolfi Brunello di Montalcino Mercatale 2017 – Pale translucent garnet in the glass. Medium-plus intensity aromas of red cherries plus Old World oak. Nice aromas. Medium body with medium-plus acidity and medium tannins. Spicy with red fruits, red cherries and some tarriness on the palate.
Tenimenti Civa Merlot Friuli DOC 2021 – This wine has a light, translucent garnet colour. Light aromas of ripe berries. Dry, smooth, and soft with a lean mouthfeel. Tea leaves, red fruit and minerality on the palate. Transparent flavours. Light tannins. A delicate wine.
Tommasi Family Estates Poggio al Tufo Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana IGT 2020 – A deeper translucent garnet colour in the glass. Light cherry and oak aromas. Dry, light body with a lean mouthfeel. Medium-plus acidity and firmer tannins. Red fruits and capsicum on the palate. A bit astringent. –
Tommasi Family Estates Poggio al Tufo Rompicollo Rosso Toscana IGT 2020 – A blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine has a light translucent garnet colour. Inviting aromas of cherries and toast. Dry, medium body and lean mouthfeel. Medium-intensity acidity and drying tannins. Nice flavours of nutmeg and cherry fruit plus a touch of oak. Medium-plus length. Tasty.
Tommasi Viticoltori Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC 2019 – A lighter translucent garnet colour in the glass. Light aromas of red cherries and Old World oak. Dry, medium body with a lean mouthfeel. Medium-plus acidity. Tasty red fruit, sweet spices and sausage on the palate. Medium-plus length with sausage and some pepperiness on the finish. –
Tommasi Viticoltori Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 2018 – A medium-minus translucent colour. Light aromas of nutmeg, red fruit, candied cherries and toast. This wine is dry, medium-bodied with a lean mouthfeel. Medium acidity and light tannins. Red fruits and sausage on the palate. –
Vini Tonon Camul Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 – A deeper translucent garnet colour. Medium-intensity aromas of dark fruits. Dry with tart and sweet black fruit, bacon, some nutmeg, tarriness and oak flavours. Medium-plus length. –
Tua Rita Perlato del Bosco Sangiovese 2019 – Pale translucent garnet in the glass. Light red cherry, sweet spices, bacon and toast on the nose. Medium body, dry with a roundish mouthfeel. Medium acidity and tannins. Red fruit and pepperiness on the palate. –
Marchesi di Barolo Barbera d’Alba Peiragal DOC 2021 – Medium garnet colour. Nice red berry aromas. Dry, medium body, lean mouthfeel. Medium acidity and tannins. Juicy red berries, red apples, red cherries and a touch of pepperiness.
Pio Cesare Barbaresco 2019 – A pale garnet colour. Light red fruit aromas. Dry with a lighter body and lean mouthfeel. Medium acidity and tannins. The tannins do get firmer on the finish. Red fruit flavours.
Rocca delle Macie Tenuta Fizzano Il Crocino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2020 – Medium intensity, translucent garnet colour. Light oak and red cherry nose. Dry, medium body with a lean mouthfeel. Medium acidity and tannins. Cherry flavour plus pepperiness.
I do not know which of these wines are generally available in BC liquor stores or private wine shops, but after the Festival, any unsold wine is sold at select BC Liquor stores, such as at 41st and Cambie. Cin cin.
