Restaurants

Savor a rare Morgante red wine at an elegant Boston restaurant

The North End’s Mamma Maria, Il Capriccio in Waltham, and Eataly Boston are the only places in Massachusetts to try Don Antonio Riserva 2016.

The Morgante Don Antonio Riserva 2016 is a robust red that matches well with aged cheese. Try this exclusive wine at Mamma Maria (pictured) and two other Boston-area restaurants. Carlos Arzaga

By Jacqueline Cain

1 minute to read

There are some wines so special they come only in what Italians call “formati importanti,” which translates to “important formats.” Specifically, they’re talking about an impressive three-liter double-magnum, four times the size of an average bottle. Don Antonio Riserva 2016 from Sicilian winemaker Morgante is one such wine: A fine Nero d’Avola, Don Antonio is a silky red with an imposing structure redolent of ripe cherries, rose, sweet spices, liquorice, and cocoa. It aged for three years in its formati importanti, and is rarely offered by the glass.

On March 9, Morgante is hosting a Cru Night at select locations to showcase this exquisite wine. Nearly 35 restaurants around the U.S. are pouring Don Antonio Riserva 2016, including Massachusetts destinations Mamma Maria in the North End, Il Capriccio in Waltham, and Eataly Boston.

Each restaurant will offer by-the-glass pours of Don Antonio Riserva 2016 during Cru Night while supplies last. The rich wine matches well with red meats and aged cheeses, while hospitality professionals — including sommelier Jan Novak alongside a distributor representative at Il Capriccio — will be on-site at each Cru Night location to offer expert recommendations and answer oenophiles’ questions.

Contact each restaurant directly to make a reservation during the March 9 Cru Night.