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 is made from the Carricante grape in Sicily.  The grapes are grown on the east side of Mt. Etna (an active volcano).  pale yellow in color, clear and bright.  The nose is interesting with pears, slight peach and a bit of a char quality.  Light to medium bodied.  Good balance.  Lively.  On the palate, more mineral drive but a bit of peach with some char.  Good finish.  This drinks well on its own and would work nicely with sea food.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

From the arch of Italy's boot, some of the best Aglianico wines come from here.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, char and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium to firm tannins.  Great balance and acidity.  On the palate, this is drinking well now.  Flavors of  black raspberries and black cherries with underlying char.  Long finish.  This is great on its own but better with food.  Almost anything grilled.  It would work well with grilled squash.  Drink over the nexxt five to eight years.  

This wine is Kosher for Passover.  Mevushal.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, slight plums and dust.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, cherries and plums.  Moderate finish.  A nice wine that works better with food.  nice value, too.  Pair it with brisket.  Drink over the next few years.  

This is 100% Moscato from the Terre Siciliane IGT in Sicily, Italy.  Pale golden in color with some straw color, clear and bright.  The nose is lively with a bit of peach and some guava and a slight salinity.  Light bodied with a nice texture.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet with peach and some salinity.  Enough acidity to work with lighter foods.  Tasty.  good finish that has a bit of lemon candy on it.  This lists 9% abv. and will work nicely with grilled shrimp or crab.  It also drinks well on its own.  Drink now.  

Also referred to as the Black Label.  It is made from 100% Cortese grape.  Light golden in colo, clear and bright.  The nose is expressive with lemons, and a floral note and a bit of minerality.  Medium bodied.  Nice texture.  Great backbone of acidity.  On the palate, the lemons and  minerals come thru along with a slight almond note especially on the finish.  While this can be drunk on its own, it works better with acidity.  It worked well with a plate of pasta and mushrooms in an Aioli sauce.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

Made from 100% Glera grapes. Silvery green in color, clear and bright.  Small to medium bubbles make up a thick mousse.  The nose is very nice with "sea air", green apples and slight floral note.  Medium bodied.  Medium acidity.  Nice balance.  On the palate, minerals, ginger and slight lemon with just a hint of sweetness.  Nice finish.  This drinks easy on its own but should work well with most foods. It worked nicely with Bruschetta and Olive Tapenade.  Drink now.  

Silvery green with slight yellow hues in color, clear and bright.  A nice mousse with smallish bubbles.  On the nose, minerals and seltzer and a bit of green apple.  Medium bodied.  Refreshing acidity.  On the palate, green apple and a touch of peach with a slight bitters notes.  Clean finish.  This is dry but just a perception of being off dry.  It is very food friendly and interestingly, worked well with Mexican food.  Drink now.