Welcome to a new series on The Wine Chef, where I share quick takes on wines I’ve tasted that all wine lovers should know about, from samples that land on my doorstep to bottles encountered at tastings, lunches, and dinners with producers.

Think of these posts as your fast-pass to wines worth seeking out, with just enough detail to spark your curiosity. Below I feature six wines tasted during a lunch at Felice 83 on Manhattan’s Upper East Side with three Italian producers: Fabio Costantino of Terra Costantino (Etna, Sicily), Giacomo Satta of Michele Satta (Bolgheri, Tuscany), and Filippo Antonelli of Antonelli San Marco (Montefalco, Umbria).

Here’s what stood out.

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Two Whites, Four Reds

1. Terra Costantino de Aetna Etna Bianco 2023 (avg price $34)
🍋 Carricante’s volcanic clarity in a glass—fresh, saline, and lemon-tinged. Zippy and mineral. Would be equally at home with oysters or chicken breasts with fresh chopped tomatoes, basil, and lemon zest.

2. Antonelli Trebium Spoleto Trebbiano Spoletino 2023 (avg price $23)
🌿 Herbaceous and lively with fennel, green pear, a gentle waxy texture, and a refreshing saline finish. A terrific example of this rising Umbrian white that could pair well with everything from tuna tartare to full-flavored cheeses and creamy pasta dishes.

3. Terra Costantino Blandano Etna Rosso Riserva 2018 (avg price $39)
🌋 This classic Etna blend of Nerello Mascalese with a small amount of Nerello Cappuccio is structured and smoky, with red fruit tension. It shows the aging potential of serious Etna Rosso. Pair with tomato-based pasta dishes, mushroom risotto, and grilled oily fish and meats.

4. Michele Satta Bolgheri Rosso 2022 (avg price $29)
🍒 Smooth, supple, and immediately friendly, this classic Bolgheri, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Merlot, and Syrah, is fresh and lively with juicy red berries and a touch of spice. Pair with mushroom, truffle, and cheese dishes.

5. Michele Satta Piastraia Bolgheri Superiore 2022 (avg price $49)
🍷 Bordeaux blend meets Tuscan earth. This blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 20% Sangiovese exudes red and dark fruits, herbs, spices, and cedar. More depth, more gravitas than the Rosso (#3) with many years of life ahead. Drink this bold red with hearty dishes like thyme-infused pork stew or beef short ribs.

6. Antonelli Montefalco Sagrantino 2019 (avg price $40)
💪🏼 Big, bold, and tannic—but beautifully balanced. Blackberry, clove, and a savory grip that can be enjoyed now, but promises years of evolution. Paired like a dream with Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine Steak).

Lunchtime Pairings

Felice 83 is a cozy, authentic Italian restaurant on the Upper East Side. I had never been before, and I was pleasantly surprised at how good the food, service, and atmosphere were. I don’t usually like meatballs, but these were so light and fluffy with great flavor. Everything was top-quality in taste and presentation.

The white wines (numbers 1 and 5 above) were terrific with the array of delicious appetizers:

Veal meatballs in a tomato sauce with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Burrata cheese with Tuscan prosciutto
Lasagna topped with basil and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Tuna tartare with caperberries, Taggiasche olives, peperoncino oil, and yellowfin tuna sauce

The reds went beautifully with the two main courses:

Florentine Steak with buttered rosemary Yukon Gold potatoes and cauliflower
Whole Oven-Roasted Branzino with cherry tomatoes, olives, braised shallots, parsley, and roasted lemons (the fish arrived at the table “en papillote”

Thank you to the three hardworking Italian producers for making wines they care about and want to share with the world!