Wine Focus: What shall we do for April?

[Robin Garr]

Trebbiano is kicking up quite a bit of discussion ... maybe we could take on Italian Whites? On the other hand, that's not a huge change from Pinot Gris/Grigio. which has bubbled along but never really caught fire.

Who's got a great idea for a topic that will really get us talking?

Pinot Grigio represents 1/2000th of available Italian wine. Let's go for it!

More Forza Italia!!!

I'm all for an Italian theme and my cellar is quite full of Langhe and Tuscan wines as well as one or two from the Aglianico grape from Italy's Deep South, but all red. All my Italian whites have been drunk up long ago .

[Robin Garr]

I'm all for an Italian theme and my cellar is quite full of Langhe and Tuscan wines as well as one or two from the Aglianico grape from Italy's Deep South, but all red. All my Italian whites have been drunk up long ago .

Tim, what if we expanded the focus a bit with a springtime vibe and made it "Light and white Italians"? This could bring in some of the less familiar Italian reds that veer toward the delicate side - Valpolicella (not Amarone), some of the northern Pinot Neros, Freisa and such, maybe even lighter-style Dolcetto and Barbera - as well as the whites, while leaving out the more usual red suspects. What say you?

I'm all for an Italian theme and my cellar is quite full of Langhe and Tuscan wines as well as one or two from the Aglianico grape from Italy's Deep South, but all red. All my Italian whites have been drunk up long ago .

Tim, what if we expanded the focus a bit with a springtime vibe and made it "Light and white Italians"? This could bring in some of the less familiar Italian reds that veer toward the delicate side - Valpolicella (not Amarone), some of the northern Pinot Neros, Freisa and such, maybe even lighter-style Dolcetto and Barbera - as well as the whites, while leaving out the more usual red suspects. What say you?

That's a good idea, Robin.

It has me rushing to web sellers of Italian wine, because the local choice is likely to be very poor. I have so far located two promising sites, one Italian and the other German, both of which send to France. Conforming to national caricatures, the Italian site is more attractively presented and the German one gives more information, including usefully when buying without tasting or advice, details on élevage, barrel type, stainless steel,etc. and time therein.

One big problem is that the offers are so tempting and the freight tariffs so favour larger orders that I'll be running into trouble with my domestic budget manager .

You will not be the only one Tim! There is a query-ing discussion here about my need to buy more Italian this month .