Italy
From the rolling, foggy hills in Piedmont to the sultry, volcanic plains of Campania to Sicily’s perfect marriage of wine and food, Italy is a sensualist’s dream and a wine lover’s heaven.
The energy and dynamism of Italy’s young winemakers is palpable in every glass. You can never be bored with Italian wines, as nowhere else in the world will you experience such a rich selection of unique native grapes, each with their own character and flavor, than in Italy. There is an unbroken record of history and of taste in Italy’s many vineyards, many which were first established as far back as Roman times—and still are under vine today. Importantly, a movement to modernize winemaking—from improving vineyard care to acquiring better, and more efficient, cellar technology—while not losing the passion and purity of wine in its most natural form, is sweeping the peninsula from the north to the south.
In our 20 years of exploring Italy’s wines, we’ve never been more excited or more optimistic about the future. Today there is a greater selection of wines than ever before, whether wines based on a single native grape, vibrant blends or even joyful, low-alcohol sparkling wines. The winemakers we partner with in Italy are almost always family operations, artisans who appreciate tradition but aren’t afraid to experiment in the pursuit of greater quality and terroir purity. We visit the country two to three times a year, to taste in cellars and to explore regions as-yet unexplored, as with Italy there is always another perfect winery beyond the next hill or another delicious, mom-and-pop trattoria to discover. If you like your wines with equal doses of style, energy and rustic soul, then Italy is your source.