Drink of the Week: Podere San Giovanni Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2005

Looking for a well-priced go-to wine for the holidays? We recommend the 2005 Podere San Giovanni Vino Nobile di Montepulciano—perfect for any holiday occasion and available across the country. Straightforward and slightly rustic, with notes of ripe berry fruit and just a hint of dusty spice, this is the kind of wine that offers something for palates of all persuasions. A blend of 90% Sangiovese (the same grape used to make Chianti) with Italian-indigenous varietals Cannaiolo and Mammolo also added to the mix, we’ve sipped this second-label wine from Tuscany’s Corte alla Flora estate alongside everything from radicchio salad to lasagna and wood-fired pizza, and it holds its own with every bite.
$22, thewineshopbend.com