It’s no secret that Northern Italy makes many good white wines, but it wasn’t always the case.
Not too many years ago, if you went wine shopping in a retailer’s Italian section, there would be few white table wines among the Barolos, Barbarescos, Chianti Classicos, Vino Nobiles and Brunellos of Northern Italy. “Do you have a bottle of good Italian white wine?”, was a common question wine clerks fielded.
Now, of course, very nice Italian white wines, especially from Italy’s north, can be found everywhere – very enjoyable, affordable and readily available. Although, you might have more difficulty in finding collectable, age-worthy bottles à la Burgundy and Bordeaux.
In this Dozen, we feature several that mostly cost in the range of a couple of hamburgers.
2022 Kaiken “Terroir Series” Cafayate Torrontes ($11) – Well-done, with a lot of crisp minerality to go with the Riesling-like fruitiness.
2022 Kris delle Venezie Pinot Grigio ($13) – A little flat mid sip, but nice fragrance, full-bodied with almost juicy tropical fruit and apple flavors and a crisp finish.
2022 Artesano de Argento “Agrelo Vineyard” Mendoza White Malbec ($15) – A little flat-tasting with Chardonnay-like apple flavors and quite a bit of gameyness.
2022 Umani Ronchi “Casal di Serra” Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore ($19) – Blue-green fruitiness with some white-cheese whey in the middle and a little vanilla – lovely paired with creamy poultry dishes.
2021 Serego Alighieri “Possessioni” Garganega e Sauvignon del Veneto ($20) – Reflects the Garganega’s Soave heritage with nice green Sauvignon notes and minerality.
2021 Kurtatsch Alto Adige Müller Thurgau ($21) – A light and lively wine with tart green fruitiness along with hints of mellow apple and good acidity.
NV Gonzalez Byass “Tio Pepe” Palomino Fino Muy Seco Sherry ($23) – A favorite sipping wine with nutty pecan and dry wood flavors – buy it for its unique taste.
2021 Gradis’Ciutta Ribolla Gialla Collio Goriziano ($24) – Steady, ripe fruity flavors with touches of tannin around the edges.
2022 Massolino Moscato d’Asti ($25) – Yes it is sweet, but it’s addictive, with its vanilla and butter flavors served up with fizzy bubbles, good acidity and only 5% alcohol.
2021 Astrolabe Kékerengu Coast Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($29) – Aromas of crushed berries with blue-green fruitiness, still tight and somewhat extracted, but a very good food wine.
NV Gonzalez Byass “Tio Pepe” Fino en Rama Sherry ($40) – Unfiltered and unclarified, with lovely pecan and floral aromas, full-bodied, a touch of bitters and a crisp finish.
2018 Tenuta di Fessina a’Puddara Etna Bianco ($55) – Lovely metallic minerality with haunting flavors of mixed stone fruits.
Prices listed are generally SRP or from wine-searcher.com. As more wineries are now shipping direct-to-consumer, check the winery website if you can’t find a bottle in your retail store.
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