I Need To Come
Clean About Something.
3 RED WINES FROM ITALY & FRANCE ASHWIN ACTUALLY DRINKS
As a wine professional who posts about weird grapes for a living, I need to come clean: I also drink 'basic' or 'conventional' wine from places like Italy and France. To be fair, I do live in Italy, where Italian wine is everywhere. But that's not the whole story, and here's what I don't usually say out loud.
Italian & French Wine Didn't Get
Famous By Accident.
I know it sounds a little hypocritical for someone who's built a whole page around finding you the weird stuff. But here's the thing: Italy and France have centuries of winemaking, native grapes, and small producers who've been making incredible wines for generations.
Because I live in Europe, I've met the winemakers who are doing things right: family-run, no additives in their wine, and genuinely underrated because everyone assumes "Italian" or "French" already means quality. It doesn't, not automatically. But the market is flooded with mega-corporations pretending to be small, artisanal producers and overcharging you for the name on the label. Here's how you find the ones actually worth your money.
- ✓Three red wines from small, family-run producers in Italy and France, hand-picked by Ashwin.
- ✓Real tasting notes for every bottle, so you're never guessing what's in the glass.
- ✓Traditional, organic winemaking, not a big name coasting on its country of origin.
- ✓Your money goes to the person who actually farmed and made the wine.
- ✓Free shipping, and this is a one-time purchase. No subscription, no catch.
Swipe Through What's Inside.
Here's my reasoning for each bottle, so you know exactly what's showing up on your doorstep.
The Confession
Bundle…
Thibault Ducroux, Beaujolais En Roue Libre
Thibault grew up the son of a Beaujolais grower and found his own path after discovering Jules Chauvet's minimal-intervention philosophy. "En Roue Libre" means freewheeling, both his winemaking style and his other passion, cycling: hand-harvested, whole-cluster carbonic maceration, spontaneous fermentation, aged on lees in concrete, no fining or filtration.
Try This
L'Erta di Radda, Chianti Classico DOCG
Diego Finocchi bought 5 hectares in Radda in Chianti at 24 years old and has farmed it organically ever since. The vineyard sits on a steep, high-altitude slope (that's literally what "erta" means), which is exactly what gives this Sangiovese its brightness.
Try This
Montenidoli, Il Garrulo Chianti Colli Senesi
Elisabetta Fagiuoli showed up to this property in 1965 when it had no road, no water, and no electricity, and has farmed it organically the entire time since. She's made over 50 vintages and still follows a Chianti recipe that dates back to the 1700s.
The Weird Stuff Is Great.
So Is This.
Three small producers, two countries, zero mega-corporations pretending to be artisanal.
Same Countries,
Very Different Bottle.
I'm not telling you all Italian and French wine is the same. I'm telling you the name on the label isn't a shortcut to quality by itself.
- Famous because of the country on the label, not the farming
- Often bought as grapes or bulk wine, blended at scale
- Priced for the name, not always the quality inside
- Easy to find, easy to forget
- Small, family-run producers who farm and make the wine themselves
- Organic farming across all three, most for decades
- Your money goes to the person who actually did the work
- A different story, and a different level of care, behind every glass
Three Bottles. The Real Story.
- 1x Thibault Ducroux, Beaujolais En Roue Libre
- 1x L'Erta di Radda, Chianti Classico DOCG
- 1x Montenidoli, Il Garrulo Chianti Colli Senesi
- Tasting notes for every bottle
- Free shipping, no minimum
Real Talk From
Real Customers.
The Honest FAQ
Is this a subscription?
No. This is a one-time purchase. You won't be charged again unless you choose to order more.
Why does a "weird grape" guy have an Italian and French bundle?
Because I also drink wines from the more traditional countries. The trick is finding the small producers actually doing the work, instead of the big names coasting on the country's reputation.
Can I buy these wines individually instead of the bundle?
Yes. All three bottles are available individually on the UNPINNED site if you fall for one and want to stock up.
How fast will it ship?
We typically ship within 1 to 2 business days of your order.
Where does UNPINNED ship?
Most U.S. states, free shipping included. We currently can't ship to AL, MS, SD, TN, or UT.
Consider This
My Confession.
Three small producers, two countries, and the honest reason I actually reach for them.
Get The Bundle · $129All orders are reviewed, accepted, and fulfilled by Global Sphere Trading Company
3365 V Street NE, Washington, DC 20018