Italian Wine

Nebbiolo from the foothills of the Alps in Lombardy gives a prettier, more accessible, delight than the stern wines of Barolo and Barbaresco. As you’ll taste here in a wonderfully ripe and silky expression of Nebbiolo with... Read More

Owned by Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini since 2003, Altesino has been one of Montalcino’s leaders since the zone exploded into international prominence in the 1970s. The wine style is traditional, with all large, Slavonian oak,... Read More

Organic/Bio From deep Southern Italy comes this delicious, gutsy, but still nicely fresh take on Primitivo, the Italian cousin to Zinfandel. There’s plenty of dark black plum and blackberry preserve fruit at the core with... Read More

Organic/Bio This more or less natural wine estate in Tuscany focuses on biodynamic farming of non-traditional grapes for the region. Like here, a wild blend of Alicante Nero, Mourvedre, Sangiovese and Alicante Bouschet done -... Read More

This is a terrific introduction to Piemonte Nebbiolo done in a nicely open, ready to drink, style. It's made all in tank with the cap held submerged to give lovely aroma, flavor and color with milder-than-expected tannins.... Read More

When we talk about Nebbiolo from Piemonte it’s often in reference to Barolo or Barbaresco. Roero Nebbiolo, though, is something else entirely – less astringent, brighter in fruit and a bit more savory. This is a great... Read More

From the only producer with 100% of their vines in the Grand Cru of Montosoli and one of the original 13 Brunello estates, a wine tempting now and drinking through 2040. As Wine Advocate says, Baricci's wines are some of the... Read More

Like their Etna Bianco, Etna pioneer Benanti’s Etna Rosso is a blend of multiple vineyards on the volcano’s northern and southern slopes and is built for pure pleasure enjoyment! As Vinous says, it “wafts up... Read More

One of the most deliciously savory Proseccos we've ever tasted comes from the very best subzone of the region and brother/sister team making benchmark wines for the past 20 years. The Vinous 91 point review describes it well:... Read More

Organic/Bio As Vinous says, Gilberto Bonipert is one of the rising stars of Alto Piemonte, the region above Barolo and Barbaresco that reaches into the foothills of the Alps. This is his all-steel Nebbiolo and it’s a treat... Read More

“Gulpable” Chianti Classico isn’t really a thing, but maybe it should be? This blend of 90% Sangiovese plus Merlot and Colorino aged in big Slavonian oak casks would be a fine example. It’s bursting with... Read More

Just what you’d hope for in $20 Prosecco, but for less! This is crisp, clear and very fresh with pretty apple and yellow pear fruit accented by notes of thyme and wild herb. The tiny bubbles give the wine a creamy feel that’s... Read More

Lower ABV In the 1970's, Arneis almost went extinct despite being the most important white grape in the Langhe. Luckily for us, a resurgence in interest for Piemonte whites saved Arneis and we get this expression from Ca'Viola.... Read More

Coco Chanel used to advise that the last thing a fashionable person should do before walking out the door is take off one accessory - less is more. Here, despite a brief stay in barrel, the winery left the oak at home and lets... Read More

This is old-school Barolo at it's best. Fruit from across Barolo, 30 days on the skins and 24 months in large oak cask gives a wine of outstanding intensity and grip. As James Suckling says in the 95 point review, A structured... Read More

A stylish Chardonnay/Pinot Bianco blend made like Champagne but tasting like Italy.

Lower ABV The “Vernaccia” in the winery name is a reference to the traditional wine of this part of Sardinia – a lightly fortified, Sherry-like, wine named for Sardinia’s version of Vernaccia. A small group... Read More

Lower ABV Christian Bellei is, as Vinous said recently, one of the true Lambrusco di Sorbara masters. A 4th generation Lambrusco maker, Bellei continues his father's innovation of making Lambrusco in the Champagne method -... Read More

Christian Bellei is, as Vinous said recently, one of the true Lambrusco di Sorbara masters. A 4th generation Lambrusco maker, Bellei continues his father's innovation of making Lambrusco in the Champagne method - with the... Read More

Lower ABV Founded in 1908, forty families contribute the fruit from their tiny plots of Nebbiolo to this very traditional co-op winery in northern Piedmont. The bright, fresh, fruit ferments and macerates 30 days with native yeast... Read More

If you don't think of Alto Adige for Chardonnay...well, you will after this! From hand-harvested grapes done 50/50 in steel and big, old, oak casks, it has the richness to satisfy California fans and purity, acidity and minerality... Read More

As Wine Advocate said in their 93 point review of the 2021: Here's a wine to stock in your refrigerator for easy access when needed. It’s full of crunchy fruit and stone aromas and flavors with a bit of dried lemon and... Read More

At any other winery, this would be their top Pinot Blanc, if not their top white overall. It's from a super-steep, mountainside, site with barren quartz soils and huge swings in day/night temperature. Wine Spectator describes... Read More

Always one of our favorite Pinot Grigio’s for it's compelling blend of depth, richness, vibrancy and cut. It’s grown by the 143 member/farmers of the Terlano cooperative winery (founded 1893!), each paying lots... Read More

From the masters of Alto Adige’s traditional “Terlaner” blend – Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay and a little Sauvignon Blanc – this is one of Italy’s benchmark whites. It’s from the co-op’s... Read More

Lower ABV From the volcanic soils of Italy’s Campi Flegrei – or, the Phlegraean Fields – where moon-like craters dot the landscape and more than 100 pools bubble and steam away a few miles from Naples and Mt.... Read More

From the makers of Cappelletti, this is a true taste of The Dolomites. The main bittering agent and flavoring is Mugo Pine, found growing on rocky upland mountain slopes. The buds and cones are harvested in Spring and allowed... Read More

Bellone was the dominant grape of this hills and valleys of Lazio, the region around Rome, in antiquity, made into a strong, sweet, nutty-brown wine consumed Roman elites at day-long symposia. After phylloxera, it was nearly wiped... Read More

West of Montalcino, Monteccuco balances inland Tuscany warmth with altitudes of more than 1,000 feet. That balance of sunny ripeness with freshness shows nicely here in this blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Ciliegiolo and 15% Montepulciano... Read More

Organic/Bio From its very first release from vintage 1980, Rampolla’s Sammarco has consistently delivered as one of Italy’s most outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon-based “super-Tuscan” reds. And we’ve... Read More

Lower ABV No, we’d never heard of Pelaverga either. It’s an old grape from the Barolo region that today is still hanging on here and there in the hills to the north. Gian Luca Colombo makes this alongside his Barolo... Read More

Organic/Bio Complex, stony and salty - what you'd expect from wine grown on a volcanic island in the middle of the sea! The Vinous 93 point review of the 2021 tells you what to expect here: wafts up with a rich bouquet that... Read More

Organic/Bio Complex, stony and salty - what you'd expect from wine grown on a volcanic island in the middle of the sea! The Vinous 93 point review of the 2021 tells you what to expect here: wafts up with a rich bouquet that... Read More

Organic/Bio Complex, stony and salty - what you'd expect from wine grown on a volcanic island in the middle of the sea! The Vinous 93 point review of the 2021 tells you what to expect here: wafts up with a rich bouquet that... Read More

Lower ABV A lovely rose of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo that's dry, soft, and welcoming with building intensity through the spiced cherry finish. As Wine Enthusiast says in the 93 point review, The nose is fresh and floral,... Read More

Built to age, this is Pecorino of enourmous presence and potential. As Vinous says in the 91 piont review, understated and a bit backward in the glass, with nuances of savory herbs, wildflowers and crushed green apples. It opens... Read More

Lower ABV Chased out of post-phylloxera vineyards by higher-yielding Trebbiano, Pecorino was thought to be extinct until a few very old vines were discovered in the mid-1980s. Today it's arguably the flagship white of Italy's... Read More

Trebbiano d'Abruzzo is emphatically NOT the boring version found in Tuscany. Especially when grown with care and given a natural fermentation and raising like here. As Vinous says in the 93 point review, seduces from the first... Read More

Organic/Bio Since its debut in the 2003 vintage, Ciacci’s Brunello “Normale” has established itself as one of Montalcino’s greatest values – and finest wines! The fruit for this bottling comes from... Read More

Antonio Galloni's 95 point review in Vinous is accurate enough for where this beauty was when he tasted it last summer: The 2021s were brought in from late September to early October, a pretty classic time frame by today's... Read More

Located right next door to the Asti wine region, the vermouth is 100% Piemonte, from the base wine being the local Cortese grape (same grape as Gavi DOC) to the local Piedmontese botanicals. Giulio Cocchi knew what he was doing... Read More

Lower ABV The debut release from Francesco, Lorenzo, and Caterina Cordero—the grandchildren of Luciana Vietti and Alfredo Currado – after departing Vietti is very impressive. Even the label – done by the Cordero... Read More

Lower ABV Frankly, this is just better than most any Moscato d'Asti you've ever tried. It's from 40-50 year-old vines on limestone which gives an extra dose of concentration and minerality to the super-ripe apricot... Read More

Lower ABV Nothin' fancy here! Just 100% Trebbiano d'Abruzzo picked at balanced ripeness - so both nice fruit and a crisp, mineral, feel - and done all in steel to lock in the freshness and flavors. The vines are cooled... Read More

The d’Angelo family specialize in site-specific and truly varietal expressions of southern Italy’s best red grape, Aglianico, but with more freshness, suppleness and immediate appeal than you’d find in Taurasi... Read More

D’Angelo was one of the first wineries in Vulture to experiment with aging Aglianico in small French oak, and as this shows, that extra expense creates something very special indeed! All of Aglianico’s earthy power... Read More

Lower ABV The kind of excellent value in all-purpose, clean, fresh, and delicious Pinot Grigio that's getting harder and harder to find. Importer Lia Tolaini-Banville sources fruit from across the Veneto and ferments it cool... Read More

Always built to show well on the early side, the 2020 Barolo Lecinquevigne benefits from Damilano's plump and nicely fruit-filled house style. As Wine Spectator says in their 94 point review, Stitched with pure cherry and... Read More

Pecorino was the dominant white grape in the Marche for hundreds of years before it dwindled post-phylloxera in favor of more productive vines. Thought to be extinct, a few plants were rediscovered in the 1980s and today it's... Read More

Nebbiolo in the foothills of the Alps in northern Lombardy is more beautiful than powerful and widly food-friendly. As Vinous says in the review of this village release, attractive, if a touch ethereal. Crushed red berry fruit,... Read More