Friulano (free-oo-la-no) is the superstar white grape of north eastern Italy’s Friuli Venezia Giulia region. It makes a light bodied crispy wine with herbal notes, lemon, apricot, gooseberry and bitter almond. A glass of Friulano to accompany a the local Prosciutto di San Daniele is a classic match.
A fruit forward and fragrant red from Piedmont Italy. The wines are typically low in acid with medium tannin levels which can give the allusion of sweetness due to the softer mouthfeel.
An ancient Sicilian white grape variety and the most planted on the island. Quality varies from very neutral juice best for Marsala production or in the hands of a skilled vigneron, it can produce bright citrusy whites with herbal notes and a mineral quality.
White grape indigenous to Sicily. The wines are crisp with high acidity and minerality and aromas and flavours of lemon, green apple, orange blossom and fresh mint are typical. It is often blended.
Sardinian name for Grenache. The grape produces full-bodied red wines with medium to high alcohol, and low to medium acidity and tannin. The wines are characterized by opulent juicy red fruit, floral and spice. It it made as a single varietal or blended and used for both red and rose wine making.
Barbera is an important red grape from Piedmont, Italy. It plays second fiddle to Nebbiolo and therefore the best growing sites are reserved for the later. However, Barbera makes a delicious wine that is consumed more readily by locals than Nebbiolo as it is accessible and more affordable. Barbera usually makes a medium bodied wine […]
Albariño (“alba-reen-yo”) is a high-quality, light-bodied white that grows mostly in Spain and Portugal. It is refreshing with lots of citrus notes, high acid and a dry lightly saline palate. It is a wonderful partner for seafood dishes.
The other white Burgundy grape. It is naturally very high in acidity and needs ideal exposure to fully ripen and tone down the tartness. Most of the best sites in Burgundy, however, are logically reserved for Chardonnay. As a result Aligote grown in Burgundy is often used as the wine base for the blackcurrant aperitif […]
