The winner of this basket will receive a Tour of Italy Wine Basket with 6 wines representing the major wine producing regions of Italy, hand selected a Master Sommelier.

Tour Italy with a flight of fine Italian wines

Demystifying European wine for the American wine enthusiast has been a passion of mine for some time.  Straying from our domestic notions of national brands and fruit forward, single grape varietal wines, to the eccentric, rustic, geographically obsessed culture of old world winemaking, is a huge fundamental leap for the normal consumer.  To wrap our minds and palates around the notion of terrior, or the taste of a single location, is simply foreign to us. That fact that most European wines are labeled by where the grapes are grown but not what the grapes used are makes understanding these wines difficult. 

I have hand selected iconoclastic styles from Italy's most prolific wine appellations (grape growing regions).  Though they may all share the same genetic nomenclature of Vitus Venifera, all is not the same under the sun for these wine grapes.  How sun and soil, climate and rainfall, and all of macro and micro-climatic influences change these wines is as profoundly fascinating as it is delicious.  With each wine in our flight you will drink deep into the pride, passion, heritage, and patriotism of these legendary wine regions.  Cheers! 

    -Jonathan Reimer

Certified Sommelier, Lvl II Court of Master Sommeliers

Store Manager, BevMo! San Ramon

BOTTLE INFORMATION

Appellation-Tuscany/Chianti

Ruffino - Chianti Riserva Ducale Tan '07

Primary Grape: Sangiovese

The Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Tan Label is one of Tuscany's most classic reds; red fruit, with abundant sweet earth are found on the palate; sweet tannins in the finish.

Appellation-Tuscany/SuperTuscan

Treperuno - Toscana Rosso

Primary Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah

91 Pts WW - Defines the category Toscana IGT, the at once rustic and New World '11 Treperuno Toscana exhibits dried earth, brown leaves and juicy, black fruit.

Appellation-Piedmont

Damilano - Barolo "Lecinquevigne"

Primary Grape: Nebbiolo

90 Pts Wine Advocate - The '09 Damilano Barolo LCV is always a great value; showing ripe fruit with spicy oak tones; medium bodied with enticing layers of dried berries and anise on the finish.

Appellation-Sicily

Sephora - Nero d'Avola

Primary Grape: Nero d'Avola (Black grape of Avola)

91 PTS WW - A class act, the '12 Sephora Nero d'Avola is bright, fresh and full of black fruit goodness; a pleasing streak of mineral keeps the wine real.

Appellation-Verona

Zenato - Valpolicella

Primary Grapes: Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara

A ruby red hue that releases an elegant almond-scented bouquet, classically Valpolicella. Dry and full-flavored on the palate, with an excellent, velvet-contoured structure.

Appellation-Valdadige

Santa Margherita - Pinot Grigio

Primary Grape: Pinot Grigio

The Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio is a fine crisp white wine with a strong international following.