After two years, I finally found a bottle of one of my favorite Italian wines: Sangue di Giuda!
I first drank this sweet red at a little gelato shop about a week after I moved here. Each time I went back I always ordered at least one glass, but for the life of me I could never remember the name long enough to track down a whole bottle.
I finally found the bottle and I was pleasantly surprised that this is a very affordable wine, it only cost me about $6. They were charging 2.50 euro (almost $4) a glass at the gelato shop, so I think that is the last time I will be drinking there!
Sangue di Giuda (literally, Blood of Judas) is a sweet, mild red with a little bit of fizz (called frizzante). The low alcohol content means you can drink it in the middle of the afternoon and not worry about making bad decisions by dinner time.
I went hunting around google for some good info to give you about this wine, and what I found is that not many people drink Sangue di Giuda (maybe it has something to do with the name), or at least they don’t write much about it.
I did find this article:
http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineadvisor1/tswa051005.phtml
Apparently, the legend is that the name came from friars who disapproved of the supposedly aphrodisiac effects of the wine.
Before I move on I have to rant a little here: the article describes the wine as encouraging “quaffing”. I cannot even begin to describe to you how much I hate the word quaff and all of its ugly little cousins (quaffing, quaffable, etc). Just say it is very drinkable!! Which it is.
Rant Over.
Anyway, the wine is made near Mlian in the Oltrepo Pavese wine zone of the Lombardy wine region, with grapes like Croatina, which means “little Croatian girl”.
I drank my Sangue di Giuda chilled with dinner outside and it was wonderful, but I can also see how this wine would be a good dessert wine paired with some fruit (or gelato).
If anyone sees a bottle of this in the states please let me know where and how much, I am very interested to see if there is a huge markup because it is not well known.
Ciao for now!
I just experienced this wine and I love it. It is truly refreshing and awesome flavor. The name isn’t the greatest but the taste helps overcome that. I purchased a bottle for 14.99. Please keep me posted of anymore wines of this caliber.
Hi Marcus! Did you find the wine in the states? I am hearing that it is hard to find in America.
I know they have it at Spec’s in Texas.
The same exact wine in your picture at the top!
We sell it at “That Wine Place” in Pembroke Gardens, Fl (Pembroke Pines area)
I found it at one of the Air Force bases in San Antonio Texas…….
I have been drinking the Montebello brand, with pink labeling, of Sangue. I absolutely love it. It’s around $16 a bottle at the Villiage Wine Shop in Lakeland, FL.
Yes, the pink label!! They have it a shop here in Fort Lauderdale, FL… It was there I fell in love with this wine!!
They sell it online too for anyone who wants to try it… http://www.tuscanywines.net
That’s awesome! I can’t believe I never heard of it until I moved here!!!
Like Justin said, they are in the Spec’s in Texas. I went in looking for a bottle of Stella Rosa. They were sold out, but recommended Sangue de Giuda. I’ve been able to get it easily at two Spec’s stores in Austin so far.
Thats awesome! Do they have Torcolato at Spec’s?
There’s a guy at a mall here in Charlotte, NC who sells it for 21 bux a bottle. The brand is Cantina di Casteggio. Glad I found this site. I’m going to see if I can order a case for much cheaper.
$21 a bottle is crazy!! I will let you know if I hear of any places to get it cheaper in the states.
I have bought a bottle for 30$ , 2 weeks ago at a restaurant in ft lauderdale , fl . I have been looking for it for 2 years and there’s is the only place I can found it
It is so disappointing that it is not available more places, I think it would be a big seller!
There is a store called Bevmo they sale the brand Cantina di Casteggio (Sangue de Giuda) for only $14.99,you buy one bottle get the second one for 5 cents..sounds crazy I know but its a great deal but I absolutly love this wine its a good sweet red wine, good for dessert as well it best when chilled.
By far the best brand of Sangue di Giuda I have purchased. Bought it at BevMo in CA for $10 or $12 a bottle. However, they have a 5 cent sale from time to time and your second bottle is 5 cents.
I just bought a bottle at Food Lion in Greensboro, NC. It was part of a cart marked “Reduced for Quick Sale” so I’m not sure of it’s original price, but the marked down price was $9.44. I also got a bottle of Red Guitar Old Vine for $6.99 which I don’t believe is a huge mark down from it’s original price if that helps any.
It sounds like it is finally making the rounds in the states! How was the Red Guitar Old Vine?
Ciao! I live in Italy and drink Sangue di Giuda regularly. It’s available at the markets by my house for 2-4 euro per bottle (of different types). The bottle pictured above is a type that’s commonly imported to the states (especially AF bases) by Dolce Imports.
Hi Jared! Do you remember any of the other brands of Sangue di Giuda? I would love to find as many as possible for a good sampling!
I just purchased a bottle of this wine (the one with the pink label) in downtown St. Augustine, FL at a little shop called The Gifted Cork. I don’t remember how much it was, but it is definitely my new favorite wine!
Hi Kelley! I heard through the grapevine that St. Augustine has some great local wines, have you tried any? Any suggestions?
Erica, I learned about a Sangue Di Giuda from Luigi Scarani which is also from the Oltrepo Pavese region. I fell in love with this wine the very first time I tried it. I came across this article as I researched the wine and found that it is sold in Ft Lauderdale, FL for about $14. I will be paying them a visit. Here’s the link:
Give it a try, you’ll love it!
http://tuscanywines.net/estore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2
I tried this wine and the white Moscato version back in 2004 while living in Portugal. I love it and have been looking for it since i’ve been back stateside. I have found it at some AF bases but not many. Will check this site out. Thanks
The “Wine Cellar” in Mt Dora, FL sells it too. It’s my favorite as well!
Binny’s Beverage Depots in the Chicago area carry it for $15 a bottle. I had it for the first time a few years ago at a local Italian restaurant. http://www.binnys.com/wine/Luigi_Scarani_Oltrepo_Pavese_Sangue_di_Giuda_43640.html
Hopefully, this can help you out. I too am a fan.
http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/sangue+di+giuda
Awesome! Thank you!!
The Bean and Grape in Winter Haven Florida
I found this wine at Cork and Olive in Brandon, FL.
Found this same bottle at Four Winds International Food Market in Pensacola, FL.
I just picked up this exact same bottle at AAFES (the military exchange) here in Korea. Very thoroughly this wine!
I just ordered the pink label off the Tuscany wines website! They also carry a less expensive version at 10.99 per bottle. I’ll let you know how it tastes in comparison
Besides Sangue I also love brachetto d’acqui !
All these Florida posts and I can’t find it anywhere in Jacksonville
http://www.facebook.com/winelists
Serving it up at our new years on the 5 course with pairings in Senoia Georgia.
This wine shop in st Augustine fl sells it for around $14. I live in jax and got down to st aug. just bought some a month ago.
Vinodelgrotto.com
I live in Houston and was at my local Spec’s picking up a bottle of Stella Rosa when one of the employees told me to try this wine. I love it!
Hi. It’s availability it’s certain at a retail wine store in NYC. La vid wine and Spirits . 315 6 th Ave 10014 and its awesome wine that I think people should taste. I’m promoting it trying to get people to know what it is. Hope this will help you. BTW the producer is Vanzini.
Hi! I absolutely love this wine. One of my favorites along with Dezzani Dolce Sweet Red. These wines are sold at many Air Force/Army exchanges for about $6 to $8. It really is a great deal. I’ve been stationed in Germany for a few years now and I definitely have a glass with dinner every night
Also a huge fan of this wine. I found it at All Star wine and liqueur in upstate ny for 7.99
A bottle under the distributor Bronis. Not a big wine drinker but absolutely love this one
I love this wine too…………….but it’s hard to find, even in NYC area.
we had some last night. I usually drink a nice Lambrusco (Lini is good) when I can’t find this wine.
Stacey