The Italian Answer to Summer's Spicy Wine Moment

Sauvignon Blanc with a little heat on the side has become one of the season’s favorite pairings, and Banfi is making the case for a Tuscan alternative. La Pettegola Rose Toscana IGT, the newest release in the winery’s flamingo-labeled La Pettegola line, leans into the easy, salty-air spirit of the Italian coast. The name translates to both a coastal seabird and, more playfully, a gossip, the kind of chatter you imagine drifting across a seaside piazza as friends catch up over a glass.

In the bottle, the wine reads bright and uncomplicated, with citrus, wild berries, and soft floral notes over crisp, well-balanced acidity and a long saline finish. It is built for the way people actually drink in summer: long lunches, aperitivo hour, and low-effort entertaining. At an SRP of $19.99 and 12.5% ABV, it is priced to be a repeat buy rather than a special occasion splurge.

If you want to plug into the spicy-sip trend without reaching for a jalapeno, Banfi suggests pairing the rose with fresh Calabrian chilis, letting the pepper’s gentle heat play off the wine’s acidity. It also does the classic Italian thing beautifully alongside light dishes, appetizers, and fried fish. Banfi, founded in 1919 and now led by third-generation proprietor Cristina Mariani, is the sole U.S. importer of the family’s estates, Castello Banfi in Montalcino and Banfi Piemonte in Strevi.