Italian Values
by Jane Augustine
2023 Vino Rosso
Italy | Piedmont
One thing to know about Marco Tintero is that he is first and foremost the Italian equivalent of a gourmand, a true bon vivant. He cures his own sausage, makes his own wine (clearly), and has hosted his own bed-and-breakfast for years: he simply loves to indulge in, and celebrate, the fortunes of Piedmont. The wines he produces, albeit gentle on your wallet, are anything but slight. They are proud ambassadors for the region and accomplish something great: they capture the beauty and diversity of Piedmont’s local grape varieties, and the earthy character of its undulating hillsides.
2023 Bardolino “Le Fontane”
Italy | Veneto
Le Fontane has always been one of my favorite bottlings from the Piccolis. It was one of the first “light reds” I’d ever tasted during my early days working at KLWM, a category I hadn’t explored much. It turned me on to the brightest of horizons—red wines with weightless bursts of peppery bright juice and a vinous kick. When the desire for a low-stakes splash of something new strikes, I recommend reaching for Corte Gardoni’s highly quaffable wines.
2023 Gambellara Classico “El Gian”
Italy | Veneto
The hills of Gambellara are home to a distinct terroir: an ashy soil of black basalt rock that comes from Monte San Marco, a dormant volcano. Five hundred meters away, you’ll find Davide Vignato’s winery, where ever since helping his dad in the vineyards as a kid, he’s been getting his hands nice and sooty! To capture the purest expression of this corner of the Veneto, Davide is committed to organic and biodynamic viticulture, even becoming the first grower in the appellation to be certified organic. El Gian is zesty, salty, and so crystalline, you’ll think of it when looking to pair clean flavors and pared-back cuisines with a similarly transparent companion.