Italian Village Restaurants, Chicago’s oldest Italian dining destination and home to the largest wine cellar in the Midwest, debuted its first private wine label, Castello di Monsanto, “Monrosso,” Chianti DOCG 2015.

For the first time in the restaurant’s 91-year history, Italian Village has partnered with Castello di Monsanto from Italy to create a private label bottle exclusive to the Italian Village brand. Selected as a wine partner for their pristine quality and incredible reputation across the globe, the Capitanini family worked with the Bianchi family, owner of Castello di Monsanto, to launch the label as an incredible milestone for both partners.

Italian Village Restaurants’ Beverage Director Jared Gelband worked closely with the family to develop a blend that is a beautiful melody of Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Merlot. With a light style and a delicate flavor on the palate, the wine embodies notes of red fruits, violets and an added bright acidity to complement the hearty Italian dishes at all Italian Village Restaurants including The Village, La Cantina and Vivere.

“The launch of our first-ever private wine label is a major milestone for Italian Village’s wine program and Italian Village Restaurants overall,” says Gelband. “Guests will be able to elevate their experience even more by pairing their favorite dishes with this unique and delicious blend or take home a bottle to enjoy. This wine is the embodiment of our restaurant’s historic roots and we are so proud to offer it to old and new customers.”

In addition to being known for authentic Italian cuisine, Italian Village houses an award-winning wine cellar, “The Cellar in the Sky”, with over 1,100 selections totaling over 30,000 bottles. The wine list spans the globe with a strong Italian focus, receiving awards from Wine Spectator for 30 consecutive years. A combination of culture, diversity and family, the wine list has evolved over the past 91 years and continues its legacy under Gelband’s expertise.