Three Italian wines appear in a selection of 12 labels recommended by New York Times critic Eric Asimov for the final days of summer 2026. The list favors light wines with alcohol content of up to 13.5%, suitable for still-high temperatures.
The selections include Ampeleia Unlitro Bianco 2025, produced in Tuscany; Tiberio Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo 2025; and Istine Chianti Classico 2023.
Three Italian labels in the selection
Ampeleia Unlitro Bianco 2025 opens the list. Produced in Maremma, Tuscany, the wine has 11.5% alcohol and brings together Vermentino, Malvasia and Trebbiano Toscano.
The second Italian wine mentioned is Tiberio Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo 2025, made with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and with 13.5% alcohol. The winery is run by siblings Cristiana and Antonio Tiberio.
The third Italian entry is Istine Chianti Classico 2023, produced by Angela Fronti in Radda in Chianti. Made entirely from Sangiovese, the label also has 13.5% alcohol.
Lightness over color
In the selection, Asimov considers that during hot weather, a wine’s weight and texture are more important than the traditional division among reds, whites and rosés. For that reason, the list also includes light- or medium-bodied reds, as long as they have moderate alcohol content.
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The 12 selected labels cost between $20 and $40 in the U.S. market, according to the selection published by the newspaper.
