In common with many other wine-producing areas, when looking for quality it is necessary to look to the best growers rather than famous site names. The best growers will allow the wine to express its terroir, not over-extracting and over-oaking to win points from unwary judges. With over 1000 indigenous grape varieties Italy has no need to make ‘international’ wines from the usual handful of varieties.
Wines - Italy
| Barbaresco, Roncaglie, Poderi Colla Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 185.00 |
| Full Bodied Red, Vintage 2001 | size: 75cl |
| Ample, layered spice and berry fruit on the nose. Full-bodied palate but with softness and elegance. | |
| Barolo, Cantina Manfredi Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 140.00 |
| Full Bodied Red, Vintage 2004 | size: 75cl |
| Attractive red brick/ochre in colour. Dried fig and faint truffle aroma, with some tannin. Good acidity and length. | |
| Barolo, Bussia, Dardi Le Rose, Poderi Colla Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 240.00 |
| Full Bodied Red, Vintage 2004 | size: 75cl |
| Appealling nose of great complexity with spice and mineral notes. Palate shows wonderful balance and finesse. | |
| Valpolicella Classico, Cantina Giuseppe Lonardi Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 75.00 |
| Medium Bodied Red, Vintage 2008 | size: 75cl |
| Intense aromas of cherry and violets, with a touch of ripe tannins on the finish | |
| Valpolicella Classico, Ripasso, C Giuseppe Lonardi Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 118.00 |
| Full Bodied Red, Vintage 2005 | size: 75cl |
| Lovely ripe, sweet cherry fruit. Full-flavoured, with great elegance. Made by fermenting the grapes used in Amarone | |
| Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Lonardi Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 250.00 |
| Full Bodied Red, Vintage 2003 | size: 75cl |
| Amarone is made by selecting the ripest grapes and drying them for several months to give great concentration to the wine. Deep and rich with aromas of cherry and spice. Full, ripe, and complex palate of great length | |
| Recioto della Valpolicella, Le Arle, Lonardi Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 180.00 |
| Full Bodied Red, Vintage 2004 | size: 50cl |
| Deep ruby red in colour with strong cassis and chocolate flavours. One of the world's greatest sweet wines. | |
| Chianti, Cantina di Montalcino Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 66.00 |
| Medium Bodied Red, Vintage 2008 | size: 75cl |
| Delicious soft, red fruit aromas, with richly textured palate and good length. | |
| Chianti Classico, Cantina di Montalcino Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 115.00 |
| Medium Bodied Red, Vintage 2007 | size: 75cl |
| Spicy nose with hints of cherry and violet. The palate is ripe and well balanced with good structure and length. | |
| Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Roxan Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 65.00 |
| Medium Bodied Red, Vintage 2008 | size: 75cl |
| Vigorous cherry and red fruit on the nose, and a touch of astringency on the palate. | |
| Sangiovese di Puglia, Vetriano Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 47.00 |
| Medium Bodied Red, Vintage 2009 | size: 75cl |
| A gutsy flavour-packed wine with spicey bramble fruit and a robust finish. | |
| Gavi, Ca'Solare Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 69.00 |
| Dry White, Vintage 2008 | size: 75cl |
| Clean, lemony dry wine from the Cortese grape, grown near the town of Gavi. | |
| Gavi del Comune di Gavi, Cantina Manfredi Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 87.00 |
| Dry White, Vintage 2008 | size: 75cl |
| 100% Cortese grapes from the La Chiara vineyards. A crisp zesty wine with generous apple fruit. | |
| Pinot Grigio, Ca'Solare Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 48.00 |
| Dry White, Vintage 2009 | size: 75cl |
| Fragrant citrus fruit with a fresh, clean palate. | |
| Pinot Grigio, Vetriano Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 48.00 |
| Dry White, Vintage 2009 | size: 75cl |
| Ripe citrus fruit character, a well-rounded creamy finish. | |
| Soave Classico, Ca' Visco, Coffele Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 86.00 |
| Dry White, Vintage 2006 | size: 75cl |
| Delicate elderflower and ripe apple on the nose; soft and fresh with a harmonious finish. | |
| Recioto Di Soave, Le Sponde, Coffele Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 154.00 |
| Sweet White, Vintage 2005 | size: 50cl |
| Rich, intenese dried fruit aromas. One of Italy's great sweet wines. | |
| Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi , Monticelli Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 65.00 |
| Dry White, Vintage 2005 | size: 75cl |
| Slightly perfumed, almond aroma. Attractive lemon acidity. Creamy texture, with a savoury character and a clean citrus finish. | |
| Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, Vetriano Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 47.00 |
| Dry White, Vintage 2009 | size: 75cl |
| Ripe peach and citrus fruit character and an enticing almondy mid-palate. Fresh, zesty acidity on the palate. | |
| Pinot Grigio Rose, Ca'Solare Italy | Case price excl VAT: £ 48.00 |
| Dry Rose, Vintage 2009 | size: 75cl |
| A dry fresh and fruity rose. | |