Wines of Southern Italy

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When most people think of Italian wine, they think of Chianti or maybe Pinot Grigio or even Prosecco. All three are the more popular wines from Central and Northern Italy. The wines of Southern Italy and Sicily are gaining prominence, so let’s take a look at some of them today, focusing on the wines from Puglia, Campania, Basilicata & Sicily.

The South has abundant sunshine and great soil. The higher elevations on the slopes of volcanoes provide cool nights for complex wines. The south’s reputation is predominantly built on the red grapes Aglianico, Primitivo, Negroamaro and Nero d’Avola and the white grapes Vermentino, Greco and Trebbiano. The first grape vines came from Greece nearly 4,000 years ago. One of the more popular white wines in Campania is named Greco di Tufo.

I thought I knew Italian wines until our trip to Sicily last fall proved otherwise. I had never heard of Grillo or Carricante. The Grillo was soft and not to my taste, but the biancos from the slopes of Mt. Etna had more structure and balance and were better with the seafood that we seemed to order for every meal.

The widest selection of Southern Italian wines are found at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five and include:

Glass or Bottle

Tormaresca Calafuria Rosato Salento (a Negroamaro Rosé from Puglia)

Villa Pozzi Dalla Sicilia Moscato IGT - Sicily (crisp, refreshing white, slightly effervescent)

WHITE (Bottles Only)

2017 Claudio Quarta Vignaiolo Sanpaolo Vineyard DOCG Greco di Tufo Campania

REDS (Bottles Only)

Pietra Dolce Nerello Mascalese Etna Rosso Sicilia

Cantine Colosi Nero d’Avola Sicilia

Antica Masseria Primitivo Puglia

Terredora di Paolo Aglianico Campania

Adam Stellmon is one of the managers at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five and is in charge of the beverage program. Take a tip from him for your next wine selection: “I love the Cantine Colosi and the Terredora Rosato, they both are great.”

Some Southern Italian wines can be found in local stores including Total Wine. All under $20, look for:

Apassimento Salento Bonari (Red Blend - Puglia)

Mucchieto Primitivo (Puglia)

Marchese di Borgosole Salice Salentino (Negroamaro - Puglia)

Tenuta del Portale Aglianico del Vulture (Aglianico - Basilicata)

Donnachiara Falanghina (Falanghina - Campania).

Now, you are ready to discover some of the best of Southern Italy!

Changes to M’tucci’s Social Media

Instagram

We now have one Instagram feed, called M’tucci’s Restaurants, which will feature company news and videos of our team and guests. There will not be posts for each location on Instagram. Follow us on Instagram: @mtuccis_restaurants

Facebook

There is a Facebook page for each M’tucci’s location. This is where you will find Live Music schedules, Weekend Specials and the occasional bit of news about our restaurants

TikTok

Fun videos posted every week for the single account: mtuccis

YouTube

More than 80 videos showing cocktails, cooking demonstrations and the M’tucci’s on Monday segment that airs every other week on KRQE’s New Mexico Living program. Watch the videos and subscribe to the channel by clicking this link.

M’tucci’s Catering

M’tucci’s Catering will continue to have an Instagram feed: @mtuccis_catering and a Facebook page: MtuccisCatering

New Mexico Living Cooking Demos now on our YouTube Channel. Here are the most recent.

Weekend Specials

M’tucci’s Italian

Ravioli - Prosciutto Ricotta filling, Patagonia Pink Shrimp, Mushrooms, Roasted Red Bell, Pepper, Artichoke, Cilantro Cream Sauce $27

Cut of the Day -24oz Hand Cut Bone-In NY Strip: Crispy Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Balsamic Reduction $38

Pan Seared Rockfish: Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Arugula, Grilled Artichokes, Lemon Caper Sauce $25

Braise - Red Wine Braised Beef, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Caramelized Onion, Creamy Brodo and Pan Seared Gnocchi $25

Weekend Cocktail

The Caddy: Green Hat Navy Strength Gin, Grand Marnier Cuvée Louis-Alexandre, Fresh Lemon Juice, Cane Sugar, Dried Lemon


M’tucci’s Moderno

Cut of the Day 24 oz Hand-cut T-Bone - Traditional Italian Salsa Verde, Crispy Saltwater Potatoes, & Grilled Asparagus $38

Pan Seared Mahi Mahi - Roasted Artichoke, Sautéed Organic Arugula, Mashed Potatoes, Caper Lemon Butter Sauce, & Smoked Prosciutto Powder $27

Seafood Cannelloni: Pink Shrimp, Atlantic Lobster, Crab & Ricotta filling, Tomato Cream Sauce, Fresh Pasta $27

Weekend Cocktail

M’tucci’s Mai Tai - Bumbu Rum, Orgeat Syrup, Fresh Lime Juice, Diplomatico Rum Float


M’tucci’s Twenty-Five

Frutti di Mare: White Clams, Black Mussels, Wild Shrimp, Spicy Roma Tomato Sauce, Linguine $21

16 oz Veal Porterhouse: Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Grilled Broccolini, Smoked Blackberry Bone Marrow Butter $38

Pan-Seared California Halibut: Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Braised Greens, Stem on Artichoke Hearts, Lemon Butter Caper Sauce $31

Appetizer: Black Mussels, Spicy N’duja, Shallots, Seafood Brodo, Local Feta & House Bread $7

Weekend Cocktail

De la Louisiane Who Say Mardi Gras Has to End? - Rye Whiskey, D.O.M. Benedictine, Italian Vermouth, Aromatic Bitters, Absinthe. “This classic New Orleans cocktail is the perfect way to keep ‘them spirits alive.”

Live Music for March at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five and M’tucci’s Moderno

Thursdays @ 6:30 & Fridays @ 7:00

M’tucci’s Italian has soft cello or violin dinner music every Thursday night.

3/4

Lani Nash @ Moderno

3/10

Lani Nash @ 25

Nathan Fox @ Moderno

3/11

Melissa Rios @ Moderno

3/17

Amy Faithe @ 25

Jason Seel @ Moderno

3/18

Lani Nash @ Moderno

3/24

Eryn Bent @ 25

Melissa Rios @ Moderno

3/25

Kirk Matthews @ Moderno

3/31

John Martinez @ Moderno

Austin Van @ 25

Thanks for reading. See you next Friday. Ciao