What wine should you bring to a party? An age-old dilemma. My latest crush is Unlitro.

You’ve probably already figured out that it’s a big 1-liter bottle. (File under “D” for “DUH”.) So Unlitro is already the #partystarter. What’s on the inside is a light (12.5% alcohol), fresh, fun red wine.

Ampeleia Unlitro IGT Costa Toscana Red 

A Grenache-based wine, Unlitro hails from the Tuscan coast. I shouldn’t be surprised by how good it is since Elisabetta Foradori is one of the winery’s founders. If you haven’t tried her Teroldego,  do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars. Go directly to a wine shop and buy a bunch of bottles.

BTW, that brick wall? That’s my room in the East Village. I’ll be here until mid-January, when Brooklyn comes calling. I picked up my Unlitro for $20* at Discovery Wines, a short stroll from my place.

For wine-drinking in the area, I’ve been parking myself at Fifty Paces. (2018 UPDATE: Has been the fantastic Zadie’s Oyster Room for a few years now.) The food is good and the staff is chill and friendly.

I’m also very fond of the steps-away, no-nonsense Sophie’s, where I spent Thanksgiving eve watching Sixteen Candles on the TV via closed captioning while random early 90s music played.

Here’s a much nicer photo of the bottle:

Above photo by Andrea Scaramuzza. Label by Francesca Ballarini.

*Remember that this is a 1L bottle so Unlitro is 1 1/3 bottles-worth. 

Tags: best red wine for a party, dive bar east village, one liter bottle, one liter wine, teroldego, un litro, unlitro, wine bar east village