Italy

• Abruzzo
• Alto Adige
• Apulia
• Basilicata
• Calabria
• Campagna
• Emilia-Romagna
• Friuli-Venezia Giulia
• Liguria
• Lombardia
  • Franciacorta
• Marche
• Molise
• Piedmont (Piemonte)
• Sicily
  • Mt. Etna
• Trentino-Alto Adige
• Tuscany
  • Brunello di Montalcino
  • Chianti
• Umbria
• Valle d'Aosta
• Veneto
  • Prosecco
  • Soave
• Sardinia

A tremendous value for a tasty, food friendly wine that has some "stuffing" to it.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is open with cherries, pomegranates, forest floor, slight earthiness and sandalwood.  Medium to full bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is open and drinks easily.  Flavors of cherries, dark cherries with some underlying earthiness.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  It would be perfect with a plate of pasta or a pizza with tomato sauce.  Drink over the next five years.  

This organic wine from Tuscany is 100% Sangiovese fermented in terracotta amphorae and aged in wood barrels.  Deep purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice  with dusty cherries, slight spice, leather and slight thyme.  Medium body.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, flavors of cherries with a bit of dust.  Good finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another five to ten years.It is nice on its own but better with food.  A great choice for Pizza nights but also a classic pairing with pasta.  

This is a blend of Glera and Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir) from northern Italy.  Pale orange/pink in color with a nice mousse of small-ish bubbles.  The nose has strawberries, and slight peach.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is semi-sweet with citrus (orange and grapefruit) and a touch of strawberries.  Moderate finish.  This is nice on its own and very food friendly.  It will work well with fried calamari (or other seafood) but also chocolate.  Drink over the next few years.  

Nosiola is a grare that is indigenous to the Dolomites in northern Italy.  Pale straw in color, clear and bright.  The nose is fresh and inviting with pears, slight pine, white floral notes, and a whiff of spice.  Medium bodied.  Ever so slightly oily texture.  Nice balance.  On the palate, flavors of peach and a white flower/garden quality that is unique and interesting.  Good finish.  This is drinking well at age 4 but it probably should be consumed in the next few years.  Nice on its own but very food friendly, this would work well with Cheese Fondue.  

This is an excellent value (and wine) in Amarone.  It is a blend of Corvina 60%, Corvinone 30%, and Rondinella 10%.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with black cherries, cherries, coffee, slight anise, slight raisin, and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, flavors of cherries, black cherries, chocolate, raisins, and spice.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  Braised Venison would be a great match but so would a Pepperoni Pizza.  Drink over the next ten years.