Wines of Southern Italy

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When most people think of Italian wine, they think of Chianti or maybe Pinot Grigio or even Prosecco. All three are the more popular wines from Central and Northern Italy. The wines of Southern Italy and Sicily are gaining prominence, so let’s take a look at some of them today, focusing on the wines from Puglia, Campania, Basilicata & Sicily.

The South has abundant sunshine and great soil. The higher elevations on the slopes of volcanoes provide cool nights for complex wines. The south’s reputation is predominantly built on the red grapes Aglianico, Primitivo, Negroamaro and Nero d’Avola and the white grapes Vermentino, Greco and Trebbiano. The first grape vines came from Greece nearly 4,000 years ago. One of the more popular white wines in Campania is named Greco di Tufo.

I thought I knew Italian wines until our trip to Sicily last fall proved otherwise. I had never heard of Grillo or Carricante. The Grillo was soft and not to my taste, but the biancos from the slopes of Mt. Etna had more structure and balance and were better with the seafood that we seemed to order for every meal.

The widest selection of Southern Italian wines are found at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five and include:

Glass or Bottle

Tormaresca Calafuria Rosato Salento (a Negroamaro Rosé from Puglia)

Villa Pozzi Dalla Sicilia Moscato IGT - Sicily (crisp, refreshing white, slightly effervescent)

WHITE (Bottles Only)

2017 Claudio Quarta Vignaiolo Sanpaolo Vineyard DOCG Greco di Tufo Campania

REDS (Bottles Only)

Pietra Dolce Nerello Mascalese Etna Rosso Sicilia

Cantine Colosi Nero d’Avola Sicilia

Antica Masseria Primitivo Puglia

Terredora di Paolo Aglianico Campania

Adam Stellmon is one of the managers at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five and is in charge of the beverage program. Take a tip from him for your next wine selection: “I love the Cantine Colosi and the Terredora Rosato, they both are great.”

Some Southern Italian wines can be found in local stores including Total Wine. All under $20, look for:

Apassimento Salento Bonari (Red Blend - Puglia)

Mucchieto Primitivo (Puglia)

Marchese di Borgosole Salice Salentino (Negroamaro - Puglia)

Tenuta del Portale Aglianico del Vulture (Aglianico - Basilicata)

Donnachiara Falanghina (Falanghina - Campania).

Now, you are ready to discover some of the best of Southern Italy!

Changes to M’tucci’s Social Media

Instagram

We now have one Instagram feed, called M’tucci’s Restaurants, which will feature company news and videos of our team and guests. There will not be posts for each location on Instagram. Follow us on Instagram: @mtuccis_restaurants

Facebook

There is a Facebook page for each M’tucci’s location. This is where you will find Live Music schedules, Weekend Specials and the occasional bit of news about our restaurants

TikTok

Fun videos posted every week for the single account: mtuccis

YouTube

More than 80 videos showing cocktails, cooking demonstrations and the M’tucci’s on Monday segment that airs every other week on KRQE’s New Mexico Living program. Watch the videos and subscribe to the channel by clicking this link.

M’tucci’s Catering

M’tucci’s Catering will continue to have an Instagram feed: @mtuccis_catering and a Facebook page: MtuccisCatering

New Mexico Living Cooking Demos now on our YouTube Channel. Here are the most recent.

Weekend Specials

M’tucci’s Italian

Ravioli - Prosciutto Ricotta filling, Patagonia Pink Shrimp, Mushrooms, Roasted Red Bell, Pepper, Artichoke, Cilantro Cream Sauce $27

Cut of the Day -24oz Hand Cut Bone-In NY Strip: Crispy Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Balsamic Reduction $38

Pan Seared Rockfish: Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Arugula, Grilled Artichokes, Lemon Caper Sauce $25

Braise - Red Wine Braised Beef, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Caramelized Onion, Creamy Brodo and Pan Seared Gnocchi $25

Weekend Cocktail

The Caddy: Green Hat Navy Strength Gin, Grand Marnier Cuvée Louis-Alexandre, Fresh Lemon Juice, Cane Sugar, Dried Lemon


M’tucci’s Moderno

Cut of the Day 24 oz Hand-cut T-Bone - Traditional Italian Salsa Verde, Crispy Saltwater Potatoes, & Grilled Asparagus $38

Pan Seared Mahi Mahi - Roasted Artichoke, Sautéed Organic Arugula, Mashed Potatoes, Caper Lemon Butter Sauce, & Smoked Prosciutto Powder $27

Seafood Cannelloni: Pink Shrimp, Atlantic Lobster, Crab & Ricotta filling, Tomato Cream Sauce, Fresh Pasta $27

Weekend Cocktail

M’tucci’s Mai Tai - Bumbu Rum, Orgeat Syrup, Fresh Lime Juice, Diplomatico Rum Float


M’tucci’s Twenty-Five

Frutti di Mare: White Clams, Black Mussels, Wild Shrimp, Spicy Roma Tomato Sauce, Linguine $21

16 oz Veal Porterhouse: Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Grilled Broccolini, Smoked Blackberry Bone Marrow Butter $38

Pan-Seared California Halibut: Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Braised Greens, Stem on Artichoke Hearts, Lemon Butter Caper Sauce $31

Appetizer: Black Mussels, Spicy N’duja, Shallots, Seafood Brodo, Local Feta & House Bread $7

Weekend Cocktail

De la Louisiane Who Say Mardi Gras Has to End? - Rye Whiskey, D.O.M. Benedictine, Italian Vermouth, Aromatic Bitters, Absinthe. “This classic New Orleans cocktail is the perfect way to keep ‘them spirits alive.”

Live Music for March at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five and M’tucci’s Moderno

Thursdays @ 6:30 & Fridays @ 7:00

M’tucci’s Italian has soft cello or violin dinner music every Thursday night.

3/4

Lani Nash @ Moderno

3/10

Lani Nash @ 25

Nathan Fox @ Moderno

3/11

Melissa Rios @ Moderno

3/17

Amy Faithe @ 25

Jason Seel @ Moderno

3/18

Lani Nash @ Moderno

3/24

Eryn Bent @ 25

Melissa Rios @ Moderno

3/25

Kirk Matthews @ Moderno

3/31

John Martinez @ Moderno

Austin Van @ 25

Thanks for reading. See you next Friday. Ciao

Visiting Tuscany & Sicily

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Editor’s Note: All M’tucci’s Locations Closed on Thanksgiving

While Tuscany and Sicily are part of the same country, they couldn’t be more different. Tuscany receives more rainfall and the hills are more lush and green. Sicily is also mountainous, but significantly drier and cacti grow throughout the island. The cuisine in Tuscany relies more on pork and beef, while the seafood in Sicily is predominant.

After saying goodbye in Rome to the M’tucci’s partners, I met family in Florence and then spent a few days in Montalcino and a few more days in Rome. We flew to Catania in Sicily and spent five days along the Southeastern Coast of the island.

Before arriving in Montalcino, we stopped for lunch at the architecturally modern Antinori Winery. The Antinoris have been making wine since 1385 and the business is now run by two Antinori sisters. M’tucci’s carries several Antinori wines, notably Guada al Tasso. Dining in their restaurant allowed us to sample several of their reds and enjoy a very good Tuscan lunch of charcuterie, pasta and Chianina beef.

Montalcino is one of my favorite Tuscan hill towns: with great wine and food. The small town is very walkable and features incredible views over the vineyards that produce one of Italy’s best (and priciest) red wines, Brunello di Montalcino. The village is the perfect place to eat, walk and do little else - or you have your pick of winery tours.

In Sicily, we visited the town of Noto, which had been destroyed in an earthquake in the late 1600s and rebuilt in the baroque style, certainly unusual compared to the sun-drench stuccoed houses of the island. The small, sleepy coastal town of Marzamemi is gaining popularity with summer visitors and the movie industry, but was quiet and charming on an October afternoon.

The 2,700 year-old town of Siracusa was the most important city in the Greek empire, allied with Sparta and Corinth. In the 5th Century B.C. it rivaled Athens in size and power. Walking the streets of Ortigia, the historic part of the city, is like walking through history and should be a stop during any visit to Sicily.

Throughout the island, there is one constant - amazingly fresh, expertly prepared seafood. Calamari, prawns, shrimp, anchovies, swordfish, tuna and mussels. Fried, grilled or served with pasta, we couldn’t get enough of it. Many of the dishes reminded me of the appetizers and seafood pastas at M’tucci’s. Almost as if they had hired a Sicilian consultant for the menu. I highly recommend a trip to Sicily for your next Italian vacation.

In the past, Alitalia was the most popular way to travel to Sicily. However, they are in bankruptcy and ceased operations in October. ITA Airways, Vueling and Whizz Air are three possibilities for traveling to Sicily. Renting a car on the mainland and taking a car ferry from Calabria to Messina is also another option. My recommendation is to visit during the spring or fall and avoid the crowds and heat of summer.

Today (Friday, 11/19) is the last day to order a Thanksgiving Pie. Pickup is available next week.

Pumpkin with Pumpkin Seed Brittle & Ginger Vanilla Chantilly Cream - $17

Apple with Toasted Oat Streusel $15

Bourbon Pecan Pie with Vanilla Chantilly Cream $18

The toppings will come packaged separately, so you can add them when you are ready for dessert (or breakfast). Please call the restaurant closest to you to place your order and to arrange a pick up time (online ordering is not available). Add a pint of Salted Caramel Gelato for $7.

M’tucci’s Italian Stuffing for Thanksgiving

Watch Cory demonstrate the recipe on M’tucci’s YouTube Channel.

Weekend Specials

M’tucci’s Italian

Ravioli: House Made Ravioli filled with Lobster & Herbed Goat Cheese, tossed with Butternut Squash, Sautéed Pink Shrimp, Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Rapini in a Lemon Cream Sauce topped with Fresh Arugula & Lemon Zest $25

16 oz Hand Cut NY Strip: Crispy Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Balsamic Reduction $33

Pan-Seared Corvina: Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Artichoke, Sautéed Arugula, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce $29

Sackett Farm Pork Belly Braised in Red Wine, Porcini, Spinach, Sun-Dried Tomatoes over a Creamy Risotto $25

Weekend Cocktail

The Copperhead: Copper & Kings Apple Brandy, Berto Rosso Sweet Vermouth, Angostura Bitters, Lemon Twist


M’tucci’s Moderno

24 oz T-Bone: Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Salsa Verde $38

Pan-Seared Barramundi: Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Arugula, Roast Artichoke, Caper Lemon Butter Sauce, Prosciutto Powder $27

Sackett Farms Pork Belly: Creamy Carnaroli Risotto, Carrots, Celery, Mushrooms $21

Weekend Cocktail

The Yohoho: Pyrat Rum, Chai Simple Syrup, Grapefruit Bitters, Bruleed Orange Slice



M’tucci’s Twenty-Five

Herb Roasted Sackett Farms Pork Porchetta: Creamy Risotto, Braised Greens with a Gigante Bean Brodo, garnished with Lemon & Parmesan $26

Ruby Trout: Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Grilled Escarole, Stem on Artichoke Hearts, Lemon Butter, Capers $21

NY Strip: Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Grilled Brocollini, Smoked Blackberry Bone marrow Butter $27

Weekend Appetizer

Ciccioli di Miale: House Cured Sackett Farms Fried Guanciale, Red Chile Fennel, Honey, Arugula, Amalfi Lemon Oil & Shallots $6

Weekend Cocktail

Enjoy a great evening for a great cause.

Live Music for December & January at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five and M’tucci’s Moderno

Thursdays @ 6:30 & Fridays @ 7:30

11/19

Oscar Butler @ Moderno

11/26

Jason Seel @ Moderno

December

12/2

Lani Nash @ 25

Kirk Matthews @ Moderno

12/3

RJ Perez @ Moderno

12/9

Jason Seel @ 25

Cali Shaw @ Moderno

12/10

Lani Nash @ Moderno

12/16

Kirk Matthews @ 25

RJ Perez @ Moderno

12/17

Jason Seel @ Moderno

12/23

Amy Faithe @ 25

Eryn Bent @ Moderno

12/24

?? @ Moderno

12/30

RJ Perez @ 25

?? @ Moderno

12/31

Jason Seel @ 25 7:30-10 plus DJ 10:30-12:30

Lani Nash @ Moderno 7:30-10 plus DJ 10:30-12:30

January

1/6

Cali Shaw @ 25

Jason Seel @ Moderno

1/7

Lani Nash @ Moderno

1/13

Kirk Matthews @ 25

Sloan Armitage @ Moderno

1/14

Eryn Bent @ Moderno

1/20

Amy Faithe @ 25

RJ Perez @ Moderno

1/21

Kirk Matthews @ Moderno

1/27

Lani Nash @ 25

Melissa Rios @ Moderno

1/28

Jason Seel @ Moderno

Don’t miss next week’s La Gazzeta for news about Holiday Gift Cards, a fundraiser for the Sophia Fund and M’tucci’s participation in the Nob Hill Shop & Stroll.

Thanks for reading. See you next Friday. Ciao!

Let's Go To Italy!

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NOTE: All M’tucci’s locations are closed on the 4th.

It’s time to travel and I’m sure that some of you are ready - if not already making plans to travel. My wife and I, along with her parents, are planning our Italy trip for September. The plan is to visit Venice, Tuscany, Rome and Sicily. I would like to offer some tips and ideas to help you plan your own trip to Italy. I will also visit some bars in Rome for the new M’tucci’s Bar Roma, coming to Albuquerque’s Nob Hill neighborhood in December.

At the moment, Italy does not require a vaccination card from U.S. visitors. There are two paths to entry without having to quarantine. You must show a negative Covid test within 48 hours of departure and you must take a rapid Covid test upon arrival or show a vaccination card. Two negatives and you won’t be required to quarantine. The rules could be revised on July 31. Click here to see the rules from the Italian Ministry of Health.

Seats are filling up, so if you are thinking of traveling, don’t wait too long. The route through Atlanta on Delta is heavily booked. There are seats available and decent fares on American and Alitalia. I recommend booking through the airline’s site. In case anything goes wrong, or if there are delays, the airlines will be more helpful if you booked directly with them, rather than if you book your trip through Expedia or another travel site.

We have been using Air BnB, VRBO and Booking.com for accommodations. There is a great site for traveling from point A to point B, called Rome2Rio.com (it was much better before Expedia bought it). Plug in two destinations and the search results tell you how long it takes by train, plane, car or bus and the approximate cost for each mode of travel. Train travel in Italy is not as fast as pre-pandemic times, since the high-speed trains between cities are not running at the moment, probably due to low demand. As of now, the trip from Rome to Florence takes 3 hours and 40 minutes instead of an hour and a half on a Frecce train. Hopefully that will change by late September.

As always, walking, eating and il dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing) are the reasons for visiting Italy. In Venice there will be cicchetti, the Venetian version of tapas, found at bácari, the small wine bars found throughout Venice. Some of the popular small plates are: polpette (meatballs), fried zucchini flowers filled with baccala, cheese and fennel crostino and variations on local, fresh seafood. Locals move from place to place, sampling the small glasses of wine with their cicchetti, some for as little as 2 euros per glass. Small plates at M’tucci’s are inspired by cicchetti, such as Pizzeta, Shrimp Cocktail and Fried Artichokes.

In Tuscany we will be sure to have ragu and salami made from wild boar, young Tuscan pecorino, Chianina beef and lots of Brunello di Montalcino. Some of the specialities in Rome include the four kings of pasta; cacio e pepe, amatriciana, carbonara and gricia, as well as fresh burrata, and lots of artichokes.

Our first trip to Sicily will concentrate on the Southeast coast of the island, taking in some historic Greek ruins, Baroque hill towns and lots of seafood. Some of Sicily’s specialties are: arancini (fried rice balls stuffed with ragu or cheese and available at all M’tucci’s), caponata (the sweet and sour eggplant appetizer and fresh sardines grilled or with pasta. The slopes of the active volcano, Mt. Etna, are producing some of Italy’s best wines and an amaro called Amara, made from blood oranges and herbs. So many new things to try!

I prefer using books as a reference for restaurants and sights, as opposed to TripAdvisor and all the other “review” sites. The opinions of seasoned travelers, writers and eaters like Matt Goulding, Elizabeth Minchilli and Frances Mayes are much more valuable to me than some unknown person with questionable taste and an opinion.

If you aren’t planning on venturing across the Atlantic, you can have the next best thing at M’tucci’s with bar seating, patios and, as always, the best chef-driven Italian cuisine possible.

M’tucci’s Bar Roma

Coming to the corner of Central and Wellesley sometime in December is our newest restaurant, which will concentrate of craft cocktails, small plates and Charcuterie. We are beginning the process of renovation, and recently had the site cleansed of any bad juju and negative vibes. Bar Rome will be a new and vibrant addition to Nob Hill. Follow the Bar Roma page on Facebook for updates. Click here to follow.

M’tucci’s Artisanal Italian Sausage

Now in New Mexico Albertsons Markets in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos. Sourced from our farm partners, Sackett Farm, it’s made with red wine and spices (and costs less than the national mass produced brands). Cory has created another recipe for using the sausage. You’ll love the Spicy Marinara & Sausage Pasta. Check out the video below and follow Cory’s instructions.

corysausage.001.jpg

M’tucci’s YouTube Channel

There are more than 80 videos on our channel demonstrating cooking techniques and cocktail recipes. Click here to go to the channel. You can subscribe for free so you will be notified when a new video is added.

Weekend Specials

NOTE: All M’tucci’s locations are closed on the 4th.

M’tucci’s Italian

24 oz Hand-Cut T-Bone: Crispy Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Broccolini, Balsamic Reduction $34

Pan-Seared Sand Dabs - Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Artichoke, Sautéed Arugula, Lemon Caper Sauce $21

Pesto Ricotta Ravioli: Spring Peas, Caramelized Onion, Tomato, Garlic, Morcilla, Goat Cheese & Roasted Red Bell Cream Sauce $23

Pasta Della Forma

House Made Spaghettini & Piave Vecchio Cheese, Minimum of two orders, Prepared Table side - $38, Chef’s Condiments Add $3

Appetizers

Beer-Battered Herbed Ricotta-Stuffed Squash Blossoms: Capers, Aioli Pickled Zucchini $10

Clam Toasts & Pancetta with Fennel, Sun-Dried Tomato, White Wine Butter Broth $12

Weekend Cocktail

Italian Sangria

Sunday Only

Half Rack of Smoked Baby Back Ribs, Salt Water Potatoes, House Made Cole Slaw and House BBQ Sauce for $18

M’tucci’s Moderno

10 oz. Hand-Cut NY Strip: Crispy Saltwater Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Salsa Verde $32

Pan-Seared Rockfish: Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Arugula, Roasted Artichokes, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce, Prosciutto Powder $21

Braised Beef Short Ribs: Mascarpone Cream Polenta, Sautéed Spinach, Red Wine Tomato Sauce $24

Weekend Cocktail

Aperol Bergamot Spritz: Mionetto Prosecco, Aperol, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto Liqueur


M’tucci’s Twenty-Five

12 oz. Hand-Cut NY Strip: Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Broccolini, Smoked Blackberry Bone Marrow Butter $27

Pan-Seared Mahi Mahi: Seared Artichokes, Grilled Escarole, Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce $23

Amaro Glazed Beef Tips: Roasted Tomato Polenta, Sautéed Gralic & Greens, Walnot Gorgonzola Scallion Gremolata $21

Weekend Cocktail

Fit for a King: : Copper & King Bourbon Barrel-Aged Apple Brandy, Cardamaro, Schonhauer Apfel Liqueur, Dolin Blanc Vermouth, Bitterman’s Tiki Bitters

Live Music at M’tucci’s

M’tucci’s Moderno

7/2Lani Nash

7/8 Melissa Rios

7/9 RJ Perez


M’tucci’s Twenty Five

7/1Lani Nash

7/8 Kirk Matthews

Thanks for reading. See you next Friday. Ciao!