The Italian Trade Commission had their 19th Annual Italian Wine Tasting in Vancouver. There was the opportunity to meet the principals of 40 distinguished Italian wine estates. I tasted mainly white and sparkling wines at this tasting and at the very end tried a few Italian red wines. What I like about Italian wines is that many of the grapes are indigenous to Italy, so you would not see many of these grapes grown in large quantities in other countries. Take for example, Ribolla Gialla and Zibibbo. Ribolla Gialla is a white wine grape grown in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of northeast Italy. It is light bodied and often has a floral component. I found many tasty wines made from this grape at this tasting. Zibibbo, also known as Muscat of Alexandria, is an ancient white grape variety from the Muscat family. The grapes are typically dried to concentrate the sugars to produce dessert wines, but I tasted a dry version of this grape and had to recommend it below. Many of these white wines would fit in well with the upcoming holiday season. Now, let me tell you about my recommended wines from the tasting.
My Wine Picks
Casetta Roero Arneis 2024 – a pale lemon colour. Nice, fresh stone fruit nose. Dry, medium-plus body with a lean mouthfeel. Higher acidity. Fresh stone fruit flavour with a touch of bitterness. 
Dissegna Vino Spumante Extra Dry Millesimato, NV – This sparkling wine also wins with the most colourful and festive bottle at the tasting. It has a light, lemon colour. Sweet, fresh white flowers and stone fruit aromas. Fuller body, off-dry with high acidity. Very effusive bubbles. Lots of stone fruit flavour. An easy sipper and fun. 
–
le Rughe Prosecco Brut, NV – a fresh stone fruit nose. Fuller bodied. High acidity. Delicious flavours of mandarin oranges and stone fruits plus a touch of lime. A mix of small creamy and biting bubbles. Medium-plus length. –
Valpanera Ribolla Gialla, Venezia Giulia, IGT, 2024 – It has nice, medium intensity stone fruit aromas. Dry, medium body with a smooth, soft mouthfeel. Tasty stone fruits and maybe a touch of floral. Medium to medium-plus length. A touch peppery and floral on the finish.
Valpanera Carato Chardonnay 2022 – This oak aged wine has medium-plus, bright lemon colour. Very nice, fresh, lifted pineapple aroma. Medium body, dry, with a smooth mouthfeel. Tropical fruit, roasted pineapple and butterscotch on the palate plus soe sweet spices on the finish. Delicious. –
Birgi Trisoli Zibibbo DOC Sicilia 2024 – a light lemon-lime aroma in the glass with more on the palate. It is dry, medium bodied with medium acidity. Soft mouthfeel. –
Corte Moschina Granetto Pinot Grigio 2024 – It has a very light stone fruit nose. Dry, medium body with a smooth mouthfeel. Quite fruity with stone fruit flavours. Medium acidity. An easy sipper.
i Feudi di Romans Ribolla Gialla, Venezia Giulia, IGT, 2024 – Nice, fresh, light intensity stone fruit nose with maybe a touch of nuttiness? Dry, medium body with a smooth mouthfeel. Higher acidity. Light stone fruit flavour. An elegant wine. –
Cantina di Custoza val dei Molini 2024 – a blend of Garganega, Friulano, and Incrocio Manzoni. It has a light stone fruit and lime nose with more on the palate. Dry, medium body with a thicker mouthfeel. Medium acidity and length. Tasty.
Cusumano Alta Mora Etna Bianco 2023 – made with the Carricante grape. It has a light, flinty and stone fruit nose. Medium body with a smooth mouthfeel. Tropical fruit and butterscotch flavour with some pepperiness on the finish. Medium acidity and medium length. –
Nino Franco Valdobbiadene Brut Prosecco Superiore DOCG, NV – a light stone fruit nose. Full body with medium-sized, mouth filling, biting bubbles. High acidity. Bright stone fruit and pears on the palate. Medium length. –
Nino Franco Nodi Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, 2023 – a light, sweet stone fruit nose. Full body dry, with high acidity. Medium-minus sized biting bubbles. Floral and stone fruit flavours. Nice.
Obiz Ribolla Gialla 2024 – a medium intensity, bright lemon colour. Light stone fruit nose. Medium body with a smooth, soft mouthfeel. Light stone fruit and mint flavours plus some pears and grape stem. Medium length. –
Paladin Bosco del Merlo Prosecco Rosé Brut – a blend of 85% Glera, 15% Pinot Nero. This sparkling with has a pale pink colour. Nice aromas of strawberries and red cherries. Dry, medium body with high acidity. Red fruits and strawberry flavours. Medium sized, biting bubbles. Medium length.
Menicucci Appassimento Biano IGT Puglia, 2024 – light stone fruit aromas plus a touch of floral. Medium-minus body with a soft, smooth mouthfeel. Light stone fruit and a hint of tropical fruit flavours. Lower acidity. Easy sipper.
Le Monde Pinot Bianco 2024 – Fresh pears aromas. Dry, medium-minus body with a lean mouthfeel. Light acidity prickle. Tasty pears on the palate with a touch of pepperiness. Medium length. Tasty. –
Le Monde Pinot Grigio 2024 – a medium pear skin colour. Medium intensity, very ripe stone fruit nose. Medium body and acidity. Ripe pears and some baked pears flavours. A touch of pepperiness.
Luigi Leonardo Sangiovese Rubicone IGT 2024 – a medium intensity, dull garnet colour. Nice, medium intensity cherry nose. Dry, medium-plus body with a smooth and soft mouth feel. Red cherries on the palate. Medium acidity and light tannins.
Casetta Barbera d’Alba Superiore 2020 – a clear, medium garnet colour in the glass. Nice aromas of red apples, red cherries and Old World oak. Dry, medium body with a lean mouthfeel. Medium acidity and tannins. Red fruits, red cherries, and Old World oak flavours. Light pepperiness.
Nonino Quintessentia de Erbe Liquore Amaro Nonino – this is a great way to end a tasting, or a dinner with this dessert wine. It has a copper colour. Lots of orange aroma. Medium-plus sweetness with a smooth mouthfeel. Oranges, spicy and peppery. Medium-plus length.
Some of these wines are available in BC, while others are looking for representation. I don’t have a list of which wines are currently in BC, so if there is a wine you are interested in, check the BC Liquor store website, as well as Everything Wine and other private wine shops.
Thank you to the Italian Trade Commission for inviting me to attend this event.
