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

This an Organic, semi-sparkling Prosecco from Italy.  It is made from 85% Glera grapes, with 15% other allowed varieties.  The packaging is attractive.  Silvery/green/gold in color with a good amount of frothy bubbles.  The nose has minerality and some salinity along with green apples.  Refreshing.  On the palate, the green apples come thru along with a bit of sweetness.  Nice acidity to balance that.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own and should work well at the beginning or end of a meal.  It will work nice with fired calamari and also a not too sweet pound cake.  

This is non vintage but the Lot No. is L221095.  It is a delightful, low alcohol (5%) low alcohol wine from Italy.  This year's version seems a bit rounder and more fruity than prior versions.  Green/gold in color.  The nose has some peach with minerality and slight citrus.  Frothy.  Lightly sweet.  The palate again has some peach with a nice crispness to balance the sweet.  Easy to drink and tasty.  This will work well with fried appetizers or on its own.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

This is an interesting white from central Italy.  Golden in color, slightly deep, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with apricots and slight honey note.  Medium bodied.  Oily texture.  Dry on the palate with good acidity.  On the palate, guava with almonds and slight lime.  Some depth and complexity.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  It would go nicely with a plate of Proscutto di Parma.  Drink over the next few years.  

One of the ubiquitous Amarones and it usually delivers.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has dust, cherries, black cherries and herbs.  Full bodied.  On the palate, cherries and slight char.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for 8 to 12 years,  Nice on its own, this will work well with heavier foods such Osso Bucco.  

This was really nice and as it was less money than their Amarone, a good value.  Purple in color, garnet towards the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, slight leather and an herbal note.  full bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, black raspberry fruit with some black cherries with spice and slight forest floor.  Nice finish.  This is very tasty on its own and will work well with a lot of foods.  Classsic choice is pizza.  Drink over the next eight to ten years.

This is a blend of 50% Corvina, 30% Corvinone, 15% Rondinella and 5% Oseleta.  Garnet in color, darker at the core, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, black cherries, roasted herbs and slight leather notes.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has black cherries, red currants and spice.  Nice finish.  It is drinking well now and should continue to drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  It drinks well on its own and will work well with food such as pasta bolognaise.  

Very impressive showing.  This is a blend of 80% Corvina, 10% Rondinella and 10% Oseleta and Croatina.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, red currants, roasted herbs, dust and slight bitters note.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, Cherries, plums, red currants with some spice.  Long finish.  This is deep and complex.  Drinking well now, it should continue to so do for twelve to fifteen years.  Very nice on its own, but even better with food.  It went great with a pasta fagioli.  

Always a nice value in Amarone although the price has crept up.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  This is a blend of 75% Corvina Veronese, 20% Rondinella and 5% Rossignola and Negrara. The nose has cherries, dried cherries, dust, chocolate and herbal bitters.  Ful bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has cherries, black cherries and char.  Nice finish. Drinking great now and should drink well for ten to fifteen more.  Wonderful on its own, this will work great with hearty food such as Lamb Stew.

My first time trying this producer and I came away impressed.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, dried cherries, roasted herbs and dust.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, there is nice cherry fruit, some black cherries, with a slight warmth.  Long finish.  Plenty of depth with nice acidity.  This is great on its own and would work well with a nice plate of pasta. Drink over the next ten years.

A very nice Prosecco and a lovely way to start an evening.  Light golden in color with green hues.  A persistent stream of bubbles.  The nose has almonds, pears and minerals.  Medium bodied.  Slightly sweet on the palate.  Notes of pears and underlying minerals.  Nice finish.  This drinks easy and smooth.  Nice to sip on its own, it will work well with a wide variety of food.  Soft cheeses worked well.