It is a meditation wine.
'Meditazione' — stress on 'me-di-ta-ZIÒNE'. Five syllables.
Use to describe a complex, powerful wine meant to be sipped slowly and contemplated alone — not consumed with food.
'Vino da meditazione' is a uniquely Italian concept with no English equivalent. These wines — Amarone, Sagrantino Passito, Vin Santo — deserve full undivided attention.
È un vino da fine pasto.
It is an after-dinner wine.
'Fine pasto' = end of meal
Si gusta da solo, senza cibo.
It is enjoyed alone, without food.
Explains the concept simply
È un vino da sorseggiare lentamente.
It is a wine to sip slowly.
'Sorseggiare' = to sip — conveys the slow approach
The concept of 'vino da meditazione' was popularised by Italian wine writer Mario Soldati in the 1970s. He described certain wines as requiring the same calm attention as reading great poetry.