Rio Sordo is famous for its noble rusticity and silky quality in the mouth thanks to lower calcium levels in the soils of this vineyard. The wine develops gamey mushroom qualities over time that scream out for it to be served with a decent roast beast.

Rio Sordo is one of the great red wines of Italy and is made entirely from the great structured red grape, Nebbiolo; exceptional in taste, complexity and its ability to age for at least a decade, evolving into a silky delicious wine over this time. It's made by the Produttori del Barbaresco. This highly respected winery cooperative was founded in 1958 and now has 51 members who collectively own approximately 100 hectares of the entire appellation, which means they own approximately a seventh of the appellation. The single vineyard wines, such as this one, are only made in highly rated vintages (all of the grapes go into a blend in other years) and released after four years maturation in the riserva programme. 

All single vineyard cru wines from Produttori del Barbaresco are fermented at 30°C and given 32 days of skin contact time before being pressed in large oak barrels for 36 months of maturation in wood followed by a further nine months aging in bottle, prior to release. 

Fast facts on Barbaresco

Barbaresco as an appellation was created in 1894

Barbaresco was given DOCG status in 1980

This is a small wine production area with approximately 700 hectares of vineyards registered to make Barbaresco – which must be 100% Nebbiolo and made within the same sub region in which the grapes are grown. 

Rio Sordo is famous for its noble rusticity and silky quality in the mouth thanks to lower calcium levels in the soils of this vineyard. The wine develops gamey mushroom qualities over time that scream out for it to be served with a decent roast beast.

Rio Sordo is one of the great red wines of Italy and is made entirely from the great structured red grape, Nebbiolo; exceptional in taste, complexity and its ability to age for at least a decade, evolving into a silky delicious wine over this time. It's made by the Produttori del Barbaresco. This highly respected winery cooperative was founded in 1958 and now has 51 members who collectively own approximately 100 hectares of the entire appellation, which means they own approximately a seventh of the appellation. The single vineyard wines, such as this one, are only made in highly rated vintages (all of the grapes go into a blend in other years) and released after four years maturation in the riserva programme.

All single vineyard cru wines from Produttori del Barbaresco are fermented at 30°C and given 32 days of skin contact time before being pressed in large oak barrels for 36 months of maturation in wood followed by a further nine months aging in bottle, prior to release.

This is a lot of fun; a sparkling, savoury Italian wine has a pale pink colour savoury and was made using the method? ancestral winemaking technique. This means it was fermented in the bottle where the CO2 dissolved into the wine to make it sparkling. It was not disgorged after fermentation so it retains lees (yeast cells) and therefore a light hazyness. 

Dry, refreshing, lively bubbly. Drink lightly chilled. We think this is great fun and great value.

Cantine Riondo is a large cooperative based near Soave with over 2,000 winegrower members. This Extra Dry vintage spumante (Italian for semi sparkling), offers rich and elegant scents of ripe Golden Delicious apple, acacia and wisteria blossom. Fresh and creamy on the palate with a pleasant silky finish.

Rocca delle Macie Chianti Classico is a fabulously affordable expression of Tuscany's great Sangiovese grape, which makes up 95% of the blend here with 5% Merlot providing a softness and supple texture to the wine as well as adding smooth plummy flavours. 

This is a savoury little number with bright acidity adding freshness and length to every sip. This is a tasty little number for drinking now or in the next couple of years.

THE CHIANTI CLASSICO APPELLATION

Chianti Classico is the heart of the wider Chianti production zone and its wines are distinguished by a trademarked black rooster on their labels. The wines of Chianti Classico are higher in quality and noticeably so in taste than wines labelled Chianti, which come from a broader area in Tuscany. The wines taste better because the vines are planted on hillsides with a higher degree of  iron rich soils and a greater diurnal temperature range, which provides more powerful, riper fruit flavours, which are balanced by higher acidity thanks to the cooler night time temperatures. 

The Sangiovese grape must make up 80% of all wines labelled Chianti Classico compared to 70% Sangiovese for wines labelled Chianti. 

Chianti was first defined as a wine producing sub region within Tuscany in 1716 by the Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo III, whose wanted to protect the integrity of the wines and prevent fraud. The Chianti Classico Wine Consortium was formed in 1924 with the distinctive Black Rooster trademark chosen to feature on the labels. 

Chianti Classico with a modern twist; Merlot makes up a small portion of this smooth, full bodied Tuscan red, giving it approachability and softness to complement the spicy, red cherry zing of the great Sangiovese grape. 

A Tuscan classic made in a modern style with beauty in every sip. Sensational now and will age superbly for up to a decade. 

Dry, flinty, lemon scented and with a savoury edge, Verdicchio is arguably Italy's greatest white grape - and definitely its best known top white wine, even if it is does not typically tend to travel far. 

San Lorenzo is an Italian wine producer in the Marché region on the east coast of central Italy, and the producer of this superb Verdicchio from the Marché region on Central Italy's Adriatic Coast.  

San Marzano Edda Bianco Salento IGP 2021

Area: Puglia/ Apulia

Edda (?she? in Salento dialect) is the feminine and sensual soul of San Marzano. It is a complex white wine, full of Mediterranean notes. Noticeable acidity intertwined with an enveloping and elegant warmth, savoury and mineral notes on the palate. The Chardonnay grapes give the wine finesse and longevity, together with different varieties indigenous to Puglia, that year after year compete to complement the blend.

Grapes: Mainly Chardonnay with white native grapes

Appellation: Salento IGP

Vine training: Guyot Vines per ha: 4.500

Production area: San Marzano (TA), Salento, Puglia. The area is about 100 m above sea level and benefits from great diurnal temperature variations

Vinification: Destemming of the grapes and cryomaceration for a few hours, followed by a soft pressing of the marc and cold settling. Alcoholic fermentation in French oak barrels

Ageing: In French oak barrels for 4 months on the yeasts with a weekly b?tonnage

Tasting notes: Straw yellow with goldish reflections; mellow floral notes, peach and delicate vanilla hints pervade the nose. Generous in its elegance, fresh, delicate and mineral

Best served with: Starters, fish first courses and cheese Serving temperature: 12-14?C

100% Negroamaro from Contrada Monte La Conca, between San Marzano and Francavilla Fontana. The soils here are finely textured red soils thanks to the presence of iron oxides and the vines are head-trained bush vines, grown at a density of 500 vines per hectare. The grapes are harvested manually with small baskets and experience maceration for 18 days on 80% of the mass followed by 25 days on 20%, with native yeasts selected in the vineyard. Fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature of 24-26 ?C and maturation follows in French and Caucasian oak barriques for 12 months.

Deep purple red in colour with a rich and complex bouquet that shows hints of spice, soft fruit and cherry jam. The palate is full-bodied, smooth and balanced with fine tannins, and a pleasantly long finish.

Best served with red meats, game and mature cheeses.

Sessantanni is a full bodied, rich red from the San Marzano region. The palate is very concentrated and juicy, with powerful tannins and complex notes of tobacco and cherry. The finish offers notes of cocoa, toffee and vanilla.

San Marzano 'Talo' Negroamaro Puglia IGP is a full-bodied, deep purple red wine with violet reflections from the Apulian based company, San Marzano. It has an intense aroma of blackcurrant and wild fruit, with notes of spice, vanilla and balsamic. 

The wine is aged in French oak barrels for six months and will age gracedully for five to six years. It pairs well with savoury dishes, meats and mature cheese.

Mt Etna is Europe's largest active volcano and the inspiration for the artwork on the label of this funky new, savoury flavoured, silky textured red from Etna. It's pale in colour with huge structure and earthy aromas supported by red fruit notes from the Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Capuccio grapes; famous for being grown only on Mt Etna. This wine is a relative newcomer for the Piccini family, a Tuscan based wine family who now own a vineyard called Scalunera on Mt Etna.