Veneto

Avanti   Casa Vinicola Botter was founded in 1928 by Carlo Botter in Fossalta di Piave, 30 kilometres northeast of Venice. Today it is managed by the family’s third generation.   The vineyards are in the Piave DOC area, just across the boundary line with Friuli.  This wonderful entry level Pinot Grigo is an incredible value, with classic flavors of citrus and green apple with brisk acidity.  The 2004 vintage was awarded a Best Buy in the Wine Enthusiast and garnered 87 Points.

Conte Collalto   Prosecco flourishes in the moderate climate of the Conegliano hills and produces a softer, fruitier style than the crisper, drier version from the Valdobbiadene region. Prosecco is normally made using the Charmat method where bubbles are produced through natural fermentation and retained in the wine through the use of an autoclave. The grapes are harvested young to maintain good acid levels and fresh perfumes, which in Conegliano is delightfully apple-like. Collalto Prosecco is refreshing, soft and fruity with hints of golden delicious apples in both the nose and on the palate. It has a lively sparkle and a pleasant, bitter almond finish. Enjoy with you favorite seafood or as the perfect aperitif to just about any antipasta or appetizer you can imagine.

Marchesi Biscardo   Made by Nicola Biscardo, third generation winemaker from Verona, this stunning Amarone is a classic blend of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara.  Nicola’s Amarone’s are always “Riserva” which means they spend a minimum of four years in barrel and one in bottle.  Stylistically, this wine has a foot in the old world and new world with hints of dried raisins and black currants balanced with velvety tannins and nice acidity.

Pasqua   Pasqua is a family owned winery begun in 1925 outside of Verona. The new generation of Pasqua brothers has clearly embraced their past by continuing to produce top Amarone and Valpolicella. However, in a constantly changing wine market they have recognized the need to change and expand their business model. The Pasqua brother have embarked on a diversified program to obtain quality fruit sources from other regions of Italy to produce solid, value-priced wines for export like Terre di Sole.

Azienda Agricola Trabucchi   Trabucchi is a small estate of about 18 hectares straddling the ridge just east of Verona. All of their .wines are produced in accordance with the Italian Association of Biological Agriculture, which means the grapes are not only grown organically, but the wine is produced organically as well. Valpolicella is the wonderful, fruity wine for which this region is famous, and comprises three flavorful grapes – Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara. Both the Colombano and Terre del Cereolo are ripasso Valpolicellas – a practice where dried grapes are added during the fermentation process for extra added flavor. The Cereolo cuvee goes through a slightly longer, ripasso treatment than the Colombano and it is aged completely in barriques giving it greater concentration. The Colombano spends time in large barrels and neutral used barriques to maintain a lighter, fruitier style.