Buongiorno, Dabblers, this week, we’re celebrating the wines of Italy at Dabbler Depot! Italy is the world’s leading wine producer, and the country offers a dizzyingly vast spectrum of different styles and winemaking regions to explore. To help the uninitiated (and offer a bit of entertainment to the learned), we crafted this list comparing some of Italy’s most distinctive styles of wine to Italian-American celebrities that you know and love. Salute!

ALL WEEK LONG, SAVE 15% ON ITALIAN WINES WHEN YOU BUY 2 OR MORE! SHOP OUR DAILY DEALS

Super Tuscan is Sylvester Stallone

In the 1970s, a rebel faction of Italian winemakers broke against their country’s appellation system to create a new twist on the faltering Chianti style. Flying in the face of tradition and designation, they created brawny, muscular blends utilizing foreign grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux in addition to their native Sangiovese. These bold, iconoclastic wines became a runaway success against bureaucracy and long odds, just like John Rambo and Rocky Balboa. Like the Italian Stallion himself, these wines are burly, full-bodied, and leave a strong impression.

Valpolicella Ripasso is Guy Fieri

Are you ready to take a trip to FLAVORTOWN? Valpolicella Ripasso is made with 2 fermentations, the first one with fresh grapes and the second one in contact with sugar-laden dried grape skins. This process concentrates the wine’s intensity of flavor, all while retaining a freshness that makes it a perfect pairing with many foods, which would make Guy Fieri proud. While this style offers plenty of class and complexity, it’s not so highfalutin as to be out of place at a diner, a drive-in, or a dive (if you ask us).

Schiava is Gwen Stefani

Schiava is an elegant wine from Italy’s alpine Alto Adige region that smells like rose, potpourri, and strawberry. Its feminine, perfumey charms remind us a bit of a Tragic Kingdom-era Gwen Stefani, with bright flavors of bubblegum and cotton candy contrasted by spicy notes of white pepper. Like No Doubt’s multi-talented frontwoman, this wine style offers plenty of complexity and versatility, making pairings with a variety of foods a breeze.

Gattinara is Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny

At first glance, Gattinara, made from Italy’s famous Nebbiolo grape, doesn’t look like it packs much of a punch. It pours light and delicate, looking a bit like Pinot Noir or Gamay. But don’t let appearances fool you. Gattinara is energetic, fiery, and complex. Just like the entire courtroom underestimated Tomei’s character in her Oscar-award-winning performance, Gattinara will make you look like a fool if you judge this book by its cover.

Barbaresco is Téa Leoni in Madam Secretary

In the political drama Madam Secretary, Téa Leoni’s character Elizabeth McCord enters the film with a serious pedigree as a former CIA analyst. As the name of the TV show suggests, McCord goes on to become Secretary of State, and later, (*spoiler alert*) an even higher position within the U.S. government. While McCord boasts some serious political gravitas, she still approaches her career with warmth and compassion. Similarly, Barbaresco, one of the most iconic Nebbiolo growing regions in Italy, boasts plenty of power and renown but is incredibly approachable.

Barbera is Joe Pesci

A real workhorse grape, Barbera tends to play second fiddle in Italy’s famous Piedmonte region to the star, Nebbiolo. But Barbera is an incredibly ‘talented’ grape in its own right. Given the tough, hardy nature of the grape, it’s capable of producing incredibly high yields that can be almost as prolific as Joe Pesci’s cinematic career. In some forms, Barbera can feel a bit rustic or rough around the edges, but that’s exactly what gives it its charm.

Prosecco is Lady Gaga

There’s something about the bright, fun bubbles of Prosecco. They make you want to just dance! Without the high-class reputation (and high price tag) of Champagne, you could say that Prosecco is on the edge of glory. Think of this wine as “bubble bath bubbly” as opposed to “black tie bubbly.” Prosecco doesn’t take its informality personally, either. It was born this way and does its casual elegance thing better than any other wine can. If you aren’t sure which of our many Prosecco options to pick, stop by and talk to us or send us a text on our store telephone. You can try to tell us with your best poker face that you don’t like Prosecco, but we’ll see right through you!

Soave Classico is Frank Sinatra

“Soave” literally translates to “Suave” in Italian, and you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone that embodies that word more than Old Blue Eyes. This light-to-medium-bodied wine is crisp like Frank’s diction and as dry as his sense of humor, with notes of elderflower, citrus zest, and peach. Soaves designated as “Classico” are the jewel of the style, made with a strong eye towards tradition, and featuring a subtle nuttiness and salinity that add layers of complexity and nuance. Unlike many whites, Soave Classico makes a great candidate for aging, growing creamier and more aromatic with an enhanced minerality after a few years in a bottle. Just like Sinatra’s music, it seems to get better with age!