Lambrusco

Antipasti typically consists of a variety of cured meats, cheeses, marinated vegetables, and olives, creating a diverse flavor profile with savory, tangy, and salty notes. Light, crisp wines with good acidity help cut through the richness of the meats and cheeses, while refreshing beers with moderate carbonation cleanse the palate between different components.

Fried chicken offers a delightful combination of juicy meat, crispy coating, and savory seasonings that create multiple pairing opportunities. The richness and salt content calls for beverages with either cleansing effervescence and acidity (like Champagne, Riesling, Pilsner) or complementary malt sweetness (like Chardonnay, Pale Ale) to cut through the fat while highlighting the savory aspects.

Parmigiano-Reggiano offers concentrated umami richness with nutty, fruity, and savory notes that develop with aging. Its crystalline texture and complex flavor profile call for beverages that can either complement its intensity or provide contrasting effervescence to cleanse the palate between bites.

Pepperoni pizza features savory tomato sauce, melted cheese, and spicy cured pork that call for beverages with enough acidity to cut through the fat while complementing the savory flavors. Medium-bodied, acidic red wines like Sangiovese balance the richness, while crisp, moderately hoppy beers refresh the palate between bites without overwhelming the dish.

Prosciutto's delicate, salty-sweet flavor profile and silky texture pairs beautifully with crisp, high-acid white wines that cut through its richness while complementing its inherent sweetness. Sparkling options like Prosecco provide refreshing contrast, while light beers with mild hop character and effervescence cleanse the palate between bites of this luxurious cured ham.

Salumi is a category of cured Italian meat products, primarily made from pork, with rich, savory, and sometimes fatty profiles that benefit from beverages with good acidity to cut through the richness. The salt and umami qualities in salumi call for wines with bright fruit and moderate tannins, while beers with carbonation help cleanse the palate between bites.

Denny Bini "Festa" is a traditional Italian Lambrusco, a lightly sparkling red wine from Emilia-Romagna. This festive wine offers the characteristic effervescence and food-friendly nature that makes Lambrusco perfect for celebrations and casual dining. The wine displays typical Lambrusco qualities with its approachable style and vibrant character.

Forget everything you think you know about Lambrusco – this isn't your grandparents' sweet fizzy red. Scarpetta's version captures what real Lambrusco is all about: a joyful, food-friendly sparkler that's both refreshing and surprisingly complex. The Scarpetta team (Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey and chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson) created Frico to showcase authentic Italian wine experiences at accessible prices. Their Lambrusco is the perfect party wine – versatile enough to pair with everything from charcuterie to pizza, and guaranteed to intrigue both wine geeks and casual drinkers alike. It's the bottle to reach for when you want to change someone's mind about red bubbles or simply enjoy something that's seriously fun without being simple.