our ample library boasts exclusively Italian wines that are expertly curated by our Sommelier Daniel Bossi.
The Wine Selection at Ristorante LUCCA
Italy is the world’s biggest wine producer, accounting for a quarter of the world’s production. The country’s rich and diverse wine heritage dates back more than 2000 years. Each of Italy’s 20 geographically-defined wine regions is notable for a certain type of wine which enhances and complements the food of its region.
At Ristorante LUCCA, every single bottle of wine has been hand-picked by Sommelier Daniel Bossi, who has built the most enviable, robust wine cellar of any restaurant in all of New Jersey. His continually-growing wine list features more than 300 bottles of wine — more than 20 of which are exclusive to LUCCA — and all graded at 90 points and higher. The full collection, including more than 20 varieties of luxury, sparkling, and dessert wines, is stored in a temperature-controlled wine cellar to ensure the perfect glass of wine in every bottle.
In addition to building an Italian-only wine list, Daniel also creates amazing food and wine pairings for every dish, and unique special events at Ristorante LUCCA designed to inspire a deeper love and appreciation for Italian wine and cuisine.
The top-tier nature of our wine program is made evident by our proud position of being fully endorsed by the Caterina de Medici Society.
Gaja wine
Gaja is one of the best-known wine producers in all of Italy. Originating in and still based in Barbaresco, in northwest Italy, the Gaja name remains most strongly associated with Nebbiolo-based wines, though the company now makes more wine in Tuscany than Piedmont.
The business was founded in 1859 by Giovanni Gaja with just two hectares (five acres) of vineyards in Barbaresco. Each generation saw expansion, although Angelo Gaja, who took over full-time in 1970, is often credited with the estate's more recent success.
He was responsible for overseeing sweeping changes in the vineyards and cellars, and introducing the famed single-vineyard Barbaresco wines Sorì San Lorenzo, Sorì Tildìn, and Costa Russi (now Langhe DOC wines). These changes were not always well-received: famously, the name of the Darmagi Cabernet Sauvignon translates as 'what a pity', referring to Angelo's father's regret over the introduction of Bordeaux varieties.
Gaja is famous for having introduced Barbaresco wines to a wider audience and for modernizing Piedmont – introducing international grape varieties and winemaking practices more common in Bordeaux or California. However, traditional elements remain, such as long macerations and the use of larger oak barrels (albeit in combination with new barriques).
The estate generated significant attention when it began to blend a small amount of Barbera into all but two of its Barbaresco and Barolo wines, relegating them to the Langhe DOC classification. Angelo Gaja insisted this was a traditional practice to correct acidity, and at any rate, the label focused on the vineyard name, rather than the appellation.
Gaja's move beyond Barbaresco started in 1988 with the acquisition of the Sperss vineyard in neighboring Barolo.
In 1994, Gaja took over the 27 hectare (67 acre) Pieve Santa Restituta estate in Montalcino, followed by the 118 hectare (290 acre) Ca' Marcanda estate in Bolgheri. The name of this estate, acquired after protracted negotiations, translates as 'House of Haggling'.
Although Angelo Gaja has never announced his retirement, the company is run in conjunction with daughters Gaia and Rossana.
OUR full collection, including more than 30 Wines By the Glass, including luxury, sparkling, and dessert wines is stored in a temperature-controlled wine cellar to ensure the perfect glass of wine in every bottle.
One of Italy’s Best-Kept Secrets: Incredible Sparkling Wine
An hour east of Milan at the foothills of the Alps lies the historic city of Brescia, a picturesque sweep of Renaissance *palazzi* medieval castles, and Roman ruins. To its west sits Lago d’Iseo, a narrow, crystalline lake hugged by wooded mountains and ancient hamlets. Directly between the two, sprawled across a chain of hills, lies one of Italy’s best kept secrets: the Franciacorta wine region.
Formerly a rural escape for Milanese aristocrats and industrialists, Franciacorta is now home to what many wine connoisseurs are calling Italy’s best new sparkling wine. Like Champagne, Franciacorta refers to both the geographical region and the wine itself, which was granted DOCG—the highest level of Italian wine classification—in 1995.
Though it’s produced using méthode champenoise and with the exact same grape varietals of chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot blanc, it should not be mistaken for champagne; Franciacorta is distinctly Italian and a remarkable expression of the region’s unique terroir.
LUCCA will have the largest selection of Franciacorta as well as other Italian Sparkling wines in the Northeast.
Dessert Wines
LUCCA is proud to showcase an extensive dessert wine list including: Vin Santos, Asti Spumantes, Recciotos and Passitos — and one of my favorites — Ben Rye Passito from Donnafugata, which comes from a very tiny island south of Sicily called Pantelleria.