Ben Franks: Yammo! Italiano launches new wine list

In only a short amount of time Yammo! has become a local household name for great pizza. Now the sort-out restaurant is going back to its roots, keeping the fantastic pizzas but expanding into authentic Naples Neapolitan cuisine – they’re keeping greats like their moreish arancini, so nobody panic!

Best of all, they’ve brought out a brand new wine list to celebrate.

As a wine lover, it’s exciting to see more restaurants in Bath investing in their wine lists. The best food is only improved by great wine. Yammo has decided to bring the authenticity of their food into their wine list, stocking stylish Italian greats like the Sicilian plummy Nero d’Avola and fresh, genuine Pinot Grigio from Veneto.

Even their house red wine, made from the more recognisable Syrah grape variety, is a completely different take on the usually full-bodied wine. Instead it’s light, balanced, full of red cherries and spicy in the finish.

There’s no “everywhere-you-go” Sauvignon Blanc here.

Perhaps most excitingly are the two wines from the two Vesevo wines from Campania. The vineyards sit nearly 700m above sea level, subject to cooling winds that blow off the Bay of Naples.

My favourite of the two is the Aglianico 2011, which still manages to ooze juicy fruits alongside its full body and chocolatey texture. Black cherry is the fruit that stands out here. It would be perfect with all the street-style food Yammo! do, from their pizzas to their burgers – even the arancini!

Yammo! also stocks the Falanghina 2015, a beautifully fresh wine with white blossom on the nose and a citrus, mineral palette with just a slight hint of Mediterranean tropical fruits. They say to drink a glass with Mozzareline, but it would equally charm the socks off Yammo’s yummy pasta dishes.

Oh, and did I mention that the Aglianico and Falanghina just £24 when you dine in? – and those are two of the pricier bottles on the list! So if you love great Italian food and you want a decent bottle of vino to go with it, you should get along to Yammo! with haste.

Ben is launching his new wine business, Novel Wines, on 24 September 2016. If you fancy tasting a range of over 90 wines, you can book tickets now from just £12pp. Visit www.novelwines.co.uk to find out more.

Ben Franks

I’m always on the look-out for new wine lists to try and I’m here to help any restaurant or pub who think their wine list needs a seasonal update. For more information or to get in touch about some more of my favourite wine & dine destinations, call Ben Franks Wine on +44(0)7545353147.

For wine recommendations and free-to-view tasting notes visit www.benfrankswine.com or follow him on Twitter @BenFranksWine