Featured Wines & Goods

6 Pack… These 6 bottles are included in all packages

• Franco Conterno Pietrin Barolo (Piedmont, red)
  Franco Conterno is a family-run winery down the road from the tiny hamlet of Barolo. They have multiple generations working on site producing some of the best wines that I personally experienced while in Piedmont. It’s a thrill for me to introduce them to you. Barolo, of course, is the “King of Italian Wine” and this Pietrin is a special one indeed.
  
  

• Delinquent Nebbiolo (Piedmont, red)
  This bottle is a first-release for my friends Amanda & Gianni in Piedmont. They have put years into building their dream and their first release is being met with great reviews! Nebbiolo is the most “nobile” red grape in Italy and the grape of Barolo and Barbaresco wines as well.
  
  

• MonteRossa Franciacorta Blanc de Blanc (Lombardia, white sparkling)
  Franciacorta is the “champagne” of Italy. From the Lago Iseo area in Lombardia, the classic Chardonnay + Pinor Noir and double fermentation process is the norm in this area, and is completely different than the prosecco process or other sparkling wines. This Chardonnay-based dry sparkling Franciacorta is a complex and well-structured wine from MonteRossa winery.
  
  

• Inama Soave Blanc de Blanc (Veneto, white)
  Soave is one of my favorite dry white wines in general. Located between Lake Garda and Venice, the Garganega grape is the star here. You have a medium-full body with white flower and some stone fruit flavors, as well as the signature almond finish. If you’ve been trusting me with new whites this summer, I think you’ll really like this one as well.
  
  

• Valfaccenda Roero Arneis (Piedmont, white)
  Another one I hope you’ll trust me with, this is a dry white just a stone’s throw from Barolo and Barbaresco land. Like Soave, it’s a dry white but with quite the personality. It’s easy drinking and a joy to get to know and try new bottles as you explore more of Piedmont and more whites in general.
  
  

• Ripa della Volta Amarone della Valpolicella (Veneto, red)
  If you know your big-bodied reds well, then you probably already know about Amarone. If you don’t know about it, here is a fantastic intro. Made with such a unique style and process, this is a powerful wine with a big body, big alcohol content, with dark red fruit flavors and complex notes of chocolate and tobacco. You’re welcome in advance.

The next 6 products… are included in the 12 and 24 packs

•  Franco Conterno Barbera d'Alba (Piedmont, red)
  Also from the lovely Conterno family in Piedmont, the Barbera d’Alba is a smooth and easy-drinking wine that became one of my personal favorites to have on hand at all times. Barbera is the most grown grape in Piedmont for good reason.
  
  

• Grosjean Petit Arvine (Valle d’Aosta, white)
  The Valle d’Aosta region in NW Italy is Italy’s smallest region and smallest wine producing region. It’s not totally common to see this region’s wine on our shelves so I definitely wanted to include a unique bottle. The region is home to very steep growing cliffs and this wine is a complex one of citrus and fennel notes.
  
  

• La Tunella Rjgialla Ribolla Gialla (Friuli Venezia Giulia, white)
  From the most significant DOC within Friuli and near the Slovenian border, this is probably another dry white that you’ve not heard much about. It’s a fantastic grape featuring great acidity, citrus and floral perfumes and flavors.
  
  

• Arpepe Chiavennesca (Lombardia, red)
  Chiavennesca is the local word for “Nebbiolo” in northern Lombardia. You know Nebbiolo as the star grape of Barolo and Barbaresco, but up in Lombardia it has a different profile, while still maintaining some core aspects of the grape. The Valtellina valley along the Adda River and near the southern border of Switzerland. These wines give us finesse and an earthy component that will be fun to try against some nebbiolos we will enjoy from other regions.
  
  

• Foradori Teroldego (Trentino Alto Adige, red)
  Because I do know you so well and want to offset some of these (delicious) whites with your full-bodied reds, I wanted to include a unique, deeply colored, classic red from the Trentino Alto Adige region. These wines are known for their dark color, intense fruit and good tannin. It’s a great, well-balanced wine that will be delicious with some fall meals.
  
  

• Bertoni Traditional Balsamic Vinegar  (Emilia Romagna)
  I would like to include a specific balsamic vinegar “tour and tasting” in the series where we look at the grapes, aging process, and talk about how to best utilize your balsamic vinegar, how to make it last, and best ways enhance your favorite dishes.

The next 12 products… These items are included in the 24 pack

• Zardetto Prosecco Superiore  (Veneto, white sparkling)
  How and why is prosecco different from Champagne or Franciacorta? We’ll talk about the differences, how its made, and why all those reasons are totally fine! Prosecco is its own lovely wine style from Veneto and with a “superiore” we will enjoy one a step above what we normally find in our local shops.
  
  

• Lunae Colli di Luni Vermentino  (Liguria, white)
  You know I love a Vermentino. The last one we tried with the wine club was from Sardegna – this one is from Liguria, home of Portofino and Cinque Terre. If you follow the “shellfish rule” of eating clams, mussels, etc in months that have an “R” in them (a.k.a September - April when they’re fresh), then you’ll need some of these refreshing, dry whites around for fall and winter too. Linguine alle vongole all day every day over here!
  
  

• Alois Lageder Gewurztraminer (Alto Adige, white)
  This dry white from Alto Adige is a native German variety, aromatic but not sweet. It has great body and flavor that you can even pair with heartier dishes such as sausages or patè (like the one included in this package). Live a little and let’s try this one together!
  
  

• Pra' Amarone della Valpolicella (Veneto, red)
  I wanted to include a second Amarone for several reason. Number one is it’s a huge crowd-pleaser, including for myself and Mr. Slice. It’s a fantastic full-bodied red with a high alcohol content that’s great for a small group gathering, especially around the holidays. It’s one that you could give as a nice gift if you needed something special in a pinch. But try and keep it for yourself and let’s enjoy it on a virtual call!
  
  

• Cantina della Volta Lambrusco (Emilia Romagna, red sparkling)
  Have you ever had Lambrusco, or do you remember the tacky commercials from the 70s? It is made in various styles in Emilia Romagna, which we will talk about. There are many high-quality versions of Lambrusco and locals still enjoy it as the every-day drinking wine with their favorite local fatty foods of prosciutto, parmigiano and other salumi. It’s a lightly sparkling red wine with body. It’s generally dry to just off dry. We’re party people and this is a party wine, so why not?!

  
  

• Scarzello Barolo (Piedmont, red)
  Another amazing Barolo, “king of Italian wines” for us to enjoy together. Scarzello puts a lot of care and attention into their few wines. Let’s enjoy a fabulous bottle together.
  
  

• Lageder Schiava (Alto Adige, red)
  Schiava is admittedly a recent discovery for me. It is an ancient grape from northern Italy which has long been enjoyed as an “everyday wine” by the people of Alto Adige. I’m all aboard the Schiava train now and thrilled to explore different bottles. It’s got good acidity making it easy to drink, but also lovely complimentary flavors and can pair with lots of dishes.
  
  

• Last red bottle is TBD. I made the decision last-minute to switch out a white for a red. We’re trying to determine what that bottle will be still, but I know it will be great. I’ll update the website just as soon as we have it.
  
  

• La Tunella Verduzzo Friulano (rare dessert wine from Fiuli Venezia Giulia)
  This is a very special dessert wine (think vin santo or sauternes) that is enjoyed sipped at the end of the meal. This one is made in a very specific area with grapes that are dried on the vine in a special room concentrating the sugar before it is fermented. I LOVE a good sipper dessert wine - you can keep them around the house for a long time and surprise guests with a special treat after the meal. These are so much fun to have around or give as gifts.

• Enoteca Alessi Balsamico Bianco (A gem! A personal favorite of mine) – First introduced to me by Toni with Taste Florence as her personal favorite, it has become something that I need to keep in my house at all times. To me, it is the perfect salad dressing and it is completely different than any other “white balsamic” you’ve ever tried.

• Laudemio 2019 Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Fabulous EVOO from last year’s harvest.

• Tuscan patè crostini spread – typical chicken liver patè as you would enjoy in any Tuscan trattoria. It’s a favorite of mine, plus it goes well with several of the wines we will be trying. If it’s not your thing, give it as a holiday gift to an adventurous friend.