Slightly lighter than the straight montepulciano from Casal Thaulero makes this the pefect wine to accompany some alfresco dining. Sangiovese may have strayed from its principal home of Tuscany but its sour cherry fruit combines well here to make a very enjoyable lively wine.

I am always trying to find more Chardonnay to put on the list as it frustrates me that it seems to have fallen out of favour with many because of its association with over-oaked Australian exam-ples of the 80’s and 90’s. This is a delightfully fresh and zesty incarnation a million miles away from the clunky wines mentioned above.

Soft and fruity with good acid but only a little tannin makes this cherry and licorice scented wine soft enough to chill. Perfect in the garden served with Pizza or pork.

This straw coloured Pinot is light bodied, crisp and refreshing, yet has enough weight and perfume to balance the flavours. Wonderful with fish, light meats and salads or to consume on its own, exceptional value.

This unusual wine from Veneto is full of dark, ripe fruit that fills the glass with the aromas of summer, yet on the palette it is autumnal and rich giving a balance of sweet and dry flavours leaving the mouth with a clean dry aftertaste. Lower in alcohol than many reds it is an excellent summer wine.

People often assume that the south of Italy only produces hugely alcoholic and rich reds but by nature Primitivo is medium-bodied with crunchy red fruit (even if it is capable of very high alcohol levels). As always balance is the key and this is a well made introduction to Primitivo that makes a welcome change to Claret when accompanying..

This wonderful Italian classic from Casal Thaulero epitomises what you should get from a top Sangiovese, the wine is deep, dark and full of red berries, plums and spice with enough tannin to perfectly match with exciting starters, red meat, game, cold cuts, mature cheese and great pizza.

The Montepulciano grape hails from Abruzzo in central-east Italy and produces wine full of dark sweet juicy fruit. This example from Casal Thaulero has all that fruit but with just enough tannin to make it sing with food whilst still being perfect by the glass. One of our most popular wines, a crowd-pleaser.

A light and subtle frizzante with less fizz (around half) than Prosecco and lower alcohol (10.5%) but excellent as an aperitif or with hors d’oeuvres, appetisers and lighter cuisine. Fresh, delicate and pleasantly dry, with yellow mature fruit smells and floral shades, plus a presentation that has elegance and style.

A step above many Prosecco's, this is light and aromatic with a fine perlage, on the nose it has apple and a citrus that transfers to the palette as a balanced and delicatly dry spumante. It is presented in a classic fashion that would not be out of place on any table or fizz occasion.

A pale rosé with peach tinges. Light and crisp with raspberry and strawberry overtones yet this is a wonderful dry spumante with a persistent, creamy effervescence. Perfect as an aperitif, great with fruit salads and of course shellfish and salmon.

Piedirosso meaning red-foot should perhaps be more aptly named red-fruit because that is exactly what you get with this cherry and strawberry laden wine. Perfect with salami, bruschetta or a good home-made pizza. (Organic wine)

Smelling like a freshly baked Bramley apple, this excellent example of the ancient Falanghina is perfect with a plate of Spaghetti Vongole or alternatively served as a sophisticated aperitif. Gambero Rosso award.

Casal Thaulero make five different Montepulcianos and this, although by no means the most expensive, is our favourite. It is beautifully constructed with sweet fruit balanced by fine oak and the trademark acidity of all good Italian wines. Fine.

With less sweetness than most ‘dry’ Prosecco this really is the perfect aperitif. The nose is dominated by the smell of dessert apples and the mousse is very fine and delicate, more akin to the mouth-feel one associates with Champagne. It is also relevant to mention that the bottle is dressed nicely and generally looks quite chic unlike m..

Multi award winning for good reason, this exceptional Zinfandel is the result of low-yielding, hand-picked vines that have produced a big bold wine full of delicious fruit described simply by the supplier as 'yummy'.....I couldn't have put it better myself.

This wonderful Valpolicella Ripasso is stuffed full of warm, ripe cherry and damson fruit and has a depth and persistence of flavour that tips a significant wink to its big brother, Amarone, Perfect with game and rich stews. If time allows uncork an hour before imbibation.

This top cuvee from Ocone (only 3000 bottles produced) is made from 85 % Piedirosso which allows the wine to be drunk whilst still relatively young, yet it will continue to improve. Piedirosso gives wine great dollops of concentrated cherry fruit and with the remaining grape being Aglianico, it allows this wine great ageing potential by a..

Recioto is an intensely flavored, sweet red wine made from dried (passito) grapes. If I could sit down with a glass of this during afternoon tea, the tea wouldn't get a look in, cakes and Recioto...mmmmm.

This fabulous offering from Di Meo is a stunning example of what the Aglianico grape can produce. The dark, jammy, super ripe fruit explodes upon the palette yet is perfectly balanced with the wine's structural components. Well-matched with red meats such as entrecote steak, fish steaks and hearty casseroles. This will continue to improve..

Amarone in translation from the Italian literally means ‘bitter’ and from a nation that produces and consumes tanker loads of Campari we should not be surprised that they see no marketing problem for a wine that describes itself thus. Yet the bitterness referred to is only noticeable as part of the finish where amongst the array of comple..

Wine Spectator gave a rating of 98 out of 100 to the 2006 Bibi Graetz Toscana Testamatta. Recognised as the finest wine from Toscana in 2006! Beautiful blackberry, coffee bean and chocolate aromas, with toasted oak undertones. Full-bodied, with soft tannins and a follow through that lasts for minutes. So much milk chocolate and fruity ch..