"ItalianWine" news and stories

Soave is a deeply complex white wine. Its rich, mineral flavors make it a really refreshing alternative to two common (and trite) styles of white wine: an oak-y Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc with tropical-fruit notes. Very clean and approachable, the light-bodied Soave is good to have on-hand when entertaining many different palates.

All Soave is made in Italy's Veneto region (in northeast Italy, near Verona). There are actually three Soave classifications: Soave DOC, Soave Classico DOC (made from grapes vinified in Soave and Monteforte d'Alpone) and Recioto di Soave Superiore DOCG (strict regulations for planting, and limited to specific hillside sites; you might see these referred to as "Riserva").

After the jump, see our Soave picks.

TV chef, mushroom evangalist and owner of the Carluccio café chain, Antonio Carluccio, has launched an Italian wine festival.

It is actually already underway with special tastings half-way through their run with one held or to be held in each of the Carluccio cafés. Carluccio himself has selected a wine from each of Italy's 20 wine regions with each available in the cafés and many available to buy online.

The remaining wine tastings are to be held in Putney (23rd May), Brighton (24th May), St Albans (30th May), Bicester (31st May) and Tunbridge Wells (1st June). Annoying I missed the one in Reading, which is just down the road from me, that was held on the 10th.

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Everybody raves over Two-Buck Chuck, the sub-three-dollar Trader's Joe's wine made by Charles Shaw.

What they don't rave over-- but should -- is Il Valore Primitivo, a wine from the Puglia region of Italy (the "heel "of the "boot," geographically speaking). It's made from red Zinfandel grapes, and it's perfect with Italian food (naturally) but would work well with any grilled red meats. And quite frankly, it has a depth and complexity that one expects from Zinfandels in the $10 to $15 range.

The price? That's the best part. At the TJ's in Northern Virginia where I make pilgrimages once every six weeks, it's selling for $4.99.

So why spend money on Charles Shaw when you could have a real wine for five dollars? I'll admit, Il Valore Primitivo doesn't have a catchy nickname ("Five Bill Il" was the best I could come up with), but dollar-for-dollar, it's more bang for the buck than Chuck.

"It tastes like bacon," my husband said, sniffing the dark red wine. He was bringing the first glass of a bottle I'd just brought home from the Italian market. The reason I'd selected it: it looked nice and meaty, and it was cheap. $6.99.

I laughed. He's such a silly guy, that husband of mine.

I took a sip. Ohmigod. It tasted like bacon.

It was salty, rich, and pork-flavored. And it was delicious. If you have a chance to try it, I highly recommend this bottle: the 2004 Vila Bonarda. It's especially delicious with prosciutto, goat cheese, cured olives. And bacon.