Pietradolce Archineri Etna Rosso 2014, Italy (from £27.55, Armit Wines, Oxford Wine Company or via Wine Searcher) I first came across the rugged, uncompromising wines of Sicilian producer Pietradolce at our wine festival and have followed them with interest since. I tried the full range at the recent Italian tasting...
The Society's Exhibition Chianti Classico 2013, 14%, Italy (£11.50, The Wine Society) We know all too well from our ongoing Saturday Kitchen wine hunts how tough it is finding great value wine at around the £10 mark. Our value antennae are constantly finely calibrated as a result. So it was...
Broglia Gavi di Gavi 2015, Italy (from £9 down from £14.99 until 21.2.2017, Waitrose - or via WineSearcher) At the discounted price, this Gavi is a bit of a bargain. What's more, it's a beautiful food wine to put with food, which is why I paired it with Marianne...
Lava Beneventano Aglianico 2012, Italy (£8, Tesco or via Wine Searcher) I recommended this hearty, seductive Beneventano Aglianico to partner a delightfully hedonistic beef fillet with cabbage and truffled mash by chef Fernando Stovell on Saturday Kitchen. The dish itself is like a deconstructed beef wellington - and...
Zenato Villa Flora Lugana 2015, Italy (£9.99, Waitrose, or via Wine Searcher) I took in the sights of a delightfully festive (and Beatrix Potter-themed) Leeds Castle in this Christmassy episode of Saturday Kitchen - before selecting what is a consistently delicious and great value Lugana to go with salt cod...
Passimento Bianco Pasqua 2015, Italy, 13.5% (from £7.99, Majestic or via Wine Searcher) Oooooh but this Passimento Bianco by Pasqua is yummy! It's also seriously versatile with food. And you need versatility when you're trying to find a wine to go with confit chicken wing with blue cheese mousse and...
Fiano Sannio 2015, Italy, 13.5% (£9.50, Marks & Spencer) This was my attempt to pay homage to the hog - a delightful Fiano to go with Jason Atherton's wood-fired pork collar and crackling with sage and pine nut crumb on BBC1's Saturday Kitchen. Pork can be equally at...
Triade Bianco di Campania 2015, Italy, 13.5% (£6.59, Waitrose or via Wine Searcher) There are few better endorsements of your work than when people enjoy the wine you're recommending. This was certainly the case on this weekend's Saturday Kitchen when former Madness frontman Suggs was clearly a big fan...
Taste the Difference Barbera d'Asti 2014, Italy, 13.5% (£7, Sainsbury's) This own-label Barbera from Sainsbury's is really good value - and very autumnal in feel, with a heart-warming touch of spice to an otherwise silky dark-fruited style. It made a fantastic Saturday Kitchen match for a very autumnal dish...
Villa Borghetti Valpolicella Ripasso 2013, 13.5% (£10.99 when you buy 6, Majestic or via Wine Searcher) So what to choose with a classic bolognese ragu with focaccia by the delightful Italian maestro Gennaro Contaldo? There are plenty of options, from Bardolino (in a lighter style) to Chianti (in a...