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 comes from southwestern Sardinia and is made from the Carignan grape.  The name Buio means dark.  The wine is a deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, some black raspberries along with salinity and wild thyme.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate this has black cherries with roasted herbs, char and some minerality.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  It worked nicely with a selection of cheeses and olives.  Drink over the next few years.  

One of my favorite white wines, this is made from the Arneis grape in the Roero district of Piemonte, Italy.  Light gold in color with green hues, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with lemons, a touch of pineapple and nice minerality.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this has nice minerality with peach, apples and citrus.  A hint of almonds on the finish.  This is nice on its own but even better with food.  It worked with with a plate of pasta, butter and mushrooms.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

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.