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

Citra is a collection of 3,000 growers who came together to form a winery, so basically a co-op.  Terre di Chieti is a growing area in Abruzzo that has yet to achieve DOC(G) status.  This is a charming red wine that is inexpensive and ready to drink.  The bottle is screw capped.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries and leather.  There is also a sweaty horse scent which I enjoyed.  It is warm and earthy and in the back ground so not over powering.  On the palate, this has a soft texture.  It is earthy but clean with nice cherries.  Slightly drying tan

This is a nice inexpensive white wine from the region of Abruzzo.  It is made with the Trebbiano grape.  Pale, silvery copper in color.  The nose has citrus (grapefruit and orange) with slight mint.  On the palate, this has a nice mouthfeel.  Pink grapefruit flavors.  Tart.  It actually has some slight tannins.  Long finish.  This will be great at a party.  it will go well with salads and pasta dishes as well well as fish or fowl.  The screw cap will help it maintain its freshness but it should be drunk now.  

Purple in color with some ruby swirls.  This is a big wine that is more about darker fruits than a more traditional Brunello.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, some spice and just a hint of forest floor.  On the palate, the black cherries and black raspberries come thru.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This wine is delicious.  It is still young but drinks well.  Great on its own but should work with bigger foods and roasted dishes.  

An interesting and fairly priced wine from northeast Italy.  The Kerner grape is a cross between Schiava and Riesling.  Light pale gold in color.  The nose has some peaches and a bit of minerality.  On the palate, this is round and soft.  It sets the expectation for acidity but there really isn't a lot.  It drinks easy with the peach notes carrying thru.  This probably should be drunk now.  It will go well with salads and quiches.  

The first two bottles opened of this were both corked.  The third was sound.  Refosco is the name of the grape mostly used in northeast Italy.  Deep ruby in color, lighter at the rim.  The nose is dusty with dark cherries and slight mild mint.  On the palate, light tannins with tart acidity.  Cherries and red currants.  This is drinking well but should be drunk sooner.  Some depth.  This will go well with pasta, pizza and most foods.  

Sagrantino is another of those Italian grapes that seem to take a long time to mature.  That said, this is drinking surprisingly well if a bit tannic already.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, black licorice, and roasted herbs.  On the palate, this has firm tannins.  Lovely black cherry fruit with an underlying charred damp earth.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This went great with a pasta dish.  A bit pricey for the wine at $31 but that is more than fair for the quality.  This will continue to integrate for at least five years and be good until 2029 and probably beyond.  

This is a blend of Sangiovese 60%, Merlot 30%, Sagrantino 10%.  It was purchased in Italy and brought back by friends.  This is one of those simple wines that probably tastes better young and certainly when consumed on vacation.  That said, it was delightful in a local Italian restaurant with some simple pasta dishes.  This vintage doesn't seem available in the US, but later vintages retail for around $16.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, roasted herbs and a bit of chocolate.  Just guessing, but this likely sees no oak.  On the palate, this has nice acidity.  The cherries come t

Made from the Teroldego grape, this is the basic wine from this wonderful producer.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, lots of minerality and a touch of salinity.  On the palate, there are firm tannins on this.  Lots of black cherries and some cherries.  An underlying minerality.  This is drinking nicely now, but surely will improve as it integrates over the next five years.  Nice acidity.  This begs for food right now.  Pasta in a cream sauce is a great choice.  

This is a very interesting take on Brunello.  It is big in a modern style sense but also more about minerality than fruit.  In any event, it is quite good and just starting to hit maturity.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, iron, minerals and slight tea leaves.  On the palate, this has light tannins.  Nice cherry fruit with underlying minerality.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This will work great with traditional Tuscan foods but any fowl or pork dish should also work well.  If drinking now, let it breathe for a few hours if you can.  This may improve for a couple of years and wi

If you own any of this, open a bottle.  It is drinking quite well and this bottle anyway, seemingly at peak.  100% Sangiovese.  Purple in color with ruby swirls and ruby at the rim.  The nose is great.  Mature, deep and intoxicating.  Aromas of cherries, forest floor, tea leaves, leather and a hint of menthol tobacco.  On the palate there are cherries and plums layered with tobacco and earthy forest floor.  Great balance with the acidity.  Just the slightest bit of tannin left.  Nice finish.  This in contemplative when drinking but will be even better with some pasta.  It certainly has a de