As the holidays approach, sharing a guide on the best wines to enjoy over the festive season from Troy Sides – sommelier and wine manager at Divino Enoteca – recently crowned Best Italian Restaurant at the prestigious Scottish Italian Awards.
Whether you’re hosting an intimate dinner or a grand gathering, these wines promise to impress your guests and elevate the Christmas dining experience. Or, for Edinburgh locals and visitors, come along to the cosy wine cellar venue to try these prestigious wines under Troy’s guidance from their unique self-serve Enomatic machine.
- Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Valdipiatta, 2019 – Red
Extraordinary aromatics from an extraordinary, 5-Star vintage for the Montalcino area, full-bodied and complex as hell.
- Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Sordo, 2004 – Red
Rocche di Castiglione is a single vineyard within the Barolo zone held in such high esteem it is commonly ranked in the top 5 vineyards of the whole region; from a top year by a top producer and a satisfying 20- year maturity right now.
- Chianti Rufina Riserva Vigneto Bucerchiale, Selvapiana, 2020 – Red
There are some wines that transport you, whether to a good memory or to the place where it was made; this wine does both.
- Brunello di Montalcino, Il Poggione, 2019 – Red
Power, finesse, structure, and layers upon layers of flavor are descriptors that do not begin to do this wine justice; a 5-Star vintage and one of our best values in the whole building.
- Adarmando Umbria Bianco, Tabarrini, 2016 – White
My favorite white wine of 2025; 100% Trebbiano Spoletino, 100% mind-blowing in its complexity, nuance, balance, and depth.
- Cervaro della Sala, Castello Della Sala, 2022 – White
One of the best white wines in all of Italy year after year and probably the most famous single wine from Umbria, this is Chardonnay expanded by the addition of a bit of Grechetto, an indigenous Umbrian varietal.
- Etna Bianco, Planeta, 2022 – White
It was very cheeky and ambitious of Planeta to pair Mount Etna’s famous, volcanic and mineral freshness with a bit of oak aging, but they nailed it: beautifully integrated and complex stuff.
- Barolo Riserva, Giacomo Borgogno, 1967 – Red In the category of age-worthy wines, few names are as famous as Giacomo Borgogno, a traditional estate famous for the large amounts of bottles it sets aside to mature for decades and decades; this 1967, a 5-Star year, is worthy of any special occasion.
- Sassicaia, Tenuta San Guido, 2018 – Red
Revolutionary and regal, Sassicaia’s Cabernet Sauvignon blend is a true Italian legend, embodying history and elegance in every sip.
- Ornellaia, Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, 2006 – Red
The top wine that Antinori, a blockbuster name in the Italian winemaking world, ever produced, from a blockbuster vintage. A captivating Bordeaux-style blend based on Cabernet Sauvignon that demands a special occasion, beautiful company, and your utmost attention.
Divino Enoteca offers a cosy, rustic wine cellar setting ideal for festive celebrations with friends, family, and colleagues. The restaurant’s festive set menus showcase delectable Italian-inspired dishes with a Scottish twist. Diners can indulge in mouthwatering options like merlot-braised beef cheek, fragrant roast stuffed turkey, and creamy sage and walnut gnocchi.
What truly sets Divino apart is its unique self-serve wine machine. This innovative feature allows guests to embark on personalised wine tastings throughout the evening, adding an element of fun and discovery to any gathering.
For more information, or to book a table, please visit www.divinoedinburgh.com
