Spicy Sardines in Olive Oil Vintage 2023

Pollastrini di Anzio has been packing fish on the Lazio coast since 1889, and their vintage sardines are among the most carefully produced tins in the Italian conservas tradition — sardines caught at the peak of summer, packed in extra virgin olive oil, and dated by year in the same spirit as a great wine. This is the spicy version: the same exceptional 2023 vintage sardines, with the addition of chilli that adds a clean, direct heat without masking the quality of the fish underneath.

The chilli works with the richness of the sardine and the fruitiness of the olive oil rather than against them — a gentle, building warmth that makes the tin more interesting without turning it into a one-note experience. Like all vintage sardines, these will continue to develop and deepen with time in the tin. Eat them on toast with good butter, alongside pickled peppers, stirred through pasta with a handful of breadcrumbs, or straight from the tin with a cold glass of Vermentino or a crisp lager. The spiced oil is worth saving for a dressing or a dip.