If there's one lesson I've brought home from travelling through Italy, it's that great food and wine don't have to be complicated. Many of the most memorable meals I've enjoyed have been little more than a simple bowl of pasta (usually drenched in unbelievable olive oil), a bottle of local wine and good company.
These are the wines and dishes I keep coming back to at home. They're the bottles I reach for on a Tuesday evening when I want supper on the table in half an hour, just as readily as when friends come round at the weekend. They all capture something of that Italian philosophy: wines made to be enjoyed with food rather than simply tasted in isolation. It also helps that my daughter, who started life happily eating absolutely everything, has now decided she'll only eat pasta – and only certain shapes at that – so our midweek menu has become rather Italy-focused!
Pasta with sage butter and peas
I eat pasta at least once a week, and this remains one of my favourite suppers. Butter, olive oil, Parmesan and fresh sage create a wonderfully comforting sauce, while peas bring sweetness and freshness.
The richness of the dish calls for a white with lively acidity rather than too much weight. Verdicchio, Soave, Gambellara and Falanghina all work beautifully, their citrus fruit and gentle almond notes cutting through the butter while complementing the sweetness of the peas.
Also try with: carbonara, pizza bianca or simply grilled white fish.
Pasta pomodoro
Few dishes demonstrate the genius of Italian cooking better than spaghetti with tomatoes, garlic, basil and olive oil. It may be simple, but tomatoes can be surprisingly demanding when it comes to wine.
Barbera is one of my favourite answers. Its naturally bright acidity mirrors that of the tomatoes, while juicy cherry fruit makes the whole dish seem sweeter and more vibrant. Chianti is another excellent choice, particularly if you're adding meatballs or fennel sausage.
Antipasti night (aka ‘Picky tea’!)
This is one of my favourite kinds of supper because it requires almost no cooking. Whether it's a no-fuss night in on your own, a relaxed evening with friends or simply a fridge raid that turns out better than expected, good focaccia, a selection of cured meats and cheeses, olives, grilled vegetables and plenty of olive oil are usually all that's needed.
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Nero d'Avola, Valpolicella (ideally chilled) and Salice Salentino all have the generosity to match the savoury richness of an antipasti board while remaining wonderfully fresh and food-friendly. Pour yourself a generous glass, pile everything onto one board and enjoy the very Italian art of keeping things simple.
Sunday favourites
When there's time for a slower meal, perhaps a ragù that's been bubbling away all afternoon destined for a huge lasagna or bowl of spaghetti, rosemary and garlic roast chicken or a thick steak, I like to open something with a little more structure.
Langhe Nebbiolo, Aglianico or Chianti Classico all have the savoury depth and freshness to make these comforting dishes sing without ever overwhelming the food.
The beauty of Italian wine is that it rarely asks for a grand occasion. Open a bottle alongside a simple meal and you'll quickly understand why, in Italy, the best wines are so often those poured by the carafe in the local trattoria.
>>Discover all our Italian wines
>>Read Sarah’s article – vino della casa – which explores further why Italians love their local wine
