Who makes it?

Pizzini Pietra Rosso Sangiovese is just one of the many Italian single varietal wines that the Pizzini family do very well.  Two of the red grapes that Pizzini are well known for are Sangiovese and Nebbiolo. The family were amongst the first vineyards, after McLaren Vale’s Coriole, to plant Sangiovese in the 1980s.  The Pietra Rossa is part of the King Valley Craft wine range. This range explores what the King Valley in Australia does well. 

For some of the Sangiovese - Pizzini history, why not read: Pizzini does Sangiovese.

I can still remember visiting them for the first time well over a decade ago. I first wrote about the family in 2011 after I discovered the King Valley winery cellar door for myself on a family trip : Part 2: Where wine is King!  Wine and food are family passions and the cellar door includes Katrina Pizzini’s cooking school. For those who cannot make it to a cooking lesson, here is her excellent recipe book that you can read about here: Pizzini – A Tavola!  

Did you know?
That Pietra Rossa is Italian for red stone.

How do they make it?

The name Pietra Rosso Sangiovese refers to the red soil the vines grow in. The family use the same yeast in their ferments for this wine as Brunello di Montalcino producers. The wine then rests in old oak French oak for up to 14 months.

What does it taste like?

The Pizzini Pietra Rosso Sangiovese is a richer in style red. It is still on the elegant side with a fuller body and shapely tannins.  The fruit is bold with juicy sour cherries, plums and sage with a nutmeg cream oak wrap. Some raspberry fruit freshens up the finish. The overall impression of this wine is lip licking.

It is a worthy cellar dweller too. However, if you wish to drink it now then do! It is such a remarkably good value red. 

What to drink it with?

Enjoy this bold red with some rich meaty dishes. A slow cooked Italian tomato based stew or ragu would be great. Or just a roast meat with some herby and garlic roasted potatoes.

Cheese

This wine will match with blue cheeses with some age on them. Such as Stilton. However, it will also match well with semi-hard or matured hard cheese. Think Comte, Manchego, Pecorino and Cheddar. A truffle flavoured cheese is good too. 

Quickie review « A finely tuned Sangiovese from a family who take their Sangiovese very seriously. »

Country of Origin:  King Valley, Australia
Tasting Date: January 2026
Price:  UK £20 | AU$ 30
Drink: now – 10+ years 
Needs food: no
Source: tasting

If you like Australian red wines, why not check out:
Pizzini La Volpe Nebbiolo
d’Arenberg The Innocent Weed
Mount Horrocks Nero d’Avola
The Hedonist Shiraz

Visit pizzini for more.