In honor of the announcement of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games being held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in northern Italy, the March 22, 2025 episode of Tony Mart Presents features wines from northern Italy as well as a preview of some of our favorite spring wines.
Northern Italy includes the wine regions Valle d’Aosta, Piedmont, Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, and Fruili-Venezia Giulia. These regions extend from the Alpine foothills from Italy’s northwestern borders with France and Switzerland to its northeastern borders with Austria, Slovenia, and the Adriatic Sea. The climate in these regions varies between an alpine continental climate in the north and a Mediterranean climate in the south.
Pinot Grigio and Prosecco
In the far northeastern corner of Italy, the Friuli-Venezia Giulia, (a.k.a. Friuli) DOC produces 77% white wines. Although Pinot Gris/Grigio is not a native Italian but a French grape, Pinot Grigio is the most produced single varietal wine in the region. Because Friuli borders Slovenia and Austria to the north and the Adriatic Sea to the south, the climate varies from alpine continental to Mediterranean.
Livio Felluga Pinot Grigio Colli Orientali Del Friuli expresses cool alpine influence with delicate pear on the nose and juicy apple and citrus on the palate with a long spicy finish. Livio Felluga makes the best known Friulian wines in the world.
Zanotelli Pinot Grigio is from Trentino, the southern part of the Trentino-Alto Adige region. The wine is fruity with aromas and flavors of pears, nuts, minerals, and spice. Trentino-Alto Adige is known for Pinot Grigio as well as being strongly influenced by Austria across the border with wines such as Riesling and Gewurztraminer.
Prosecco is a sparkling wine made from the Glera grape grown in Veneto and Friuli regions. We have several go-to Proseccos that make a terrific host/hostess gift when we’re invited for dinner, such as Bele Casel and Ruffino (makers of superb Chianti). Ca’ Furlan Beatrice is reasonably priced and perfect for making an Aperol Spritz.
- Aperol Spritz is made with equal parts Aperol and Prosecco with a splash of soda water. (Use less Aperol if you find this ratio too bitter.)
Barolo, Barbaresco, and Barbera from Piedmont
Barolo from Piedmont, made from the Nebbiolo grape, is one of the “kings” of Italian wine.
Barolo is typically priced over $40 or $50 with the most renowned labels reaching over $100. Produttori del Barolo Barolo DOCG (translated as Producers of Barolo Barolo) is an over-performer in the under $30 range. It exhibits flavors and aromas of cherry, ripe berries, spice, licorice, and tobacco. As it ages it will add notes of rose, truffle, and dried fruit to its complex profile.
While Barolo is the “king”, Barbaresco is considered its queen. Although both made from the Nebbiolo grape, the grapes used to make Barbaresco are generally from slightly lower elevations with warmer conditions that produce wines with lighter tannins that are rich in red fruit notes.
Villadoria Barbaresco is a traditional example with aromas and flavors of rose, red fruit jam, vanilla, white pepper, and anise. Full-bodied with silky tannins.
Barbera is also from Piedmont but made from the Barbera grape. Barbera d’Asti from La Spinetta is fruit forward with aromas and flavors of blackberry and black cherry. Aged in oak for 12 months.
Wines for Spring (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rose)
Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are two of the most popular white wines for spring and summer. Chardonnay in France may come from Burgundy or Bourgogne (bor-gone) in French, so don’t be afraid of a bottle that doesn’t specifically say “Chardonnay” on the label.
Damien Martin St. Veran is a Montrachet declassified wine, which means it did not adhere to the standards to be labeled Montrachet. You may have heard the word “Montrachet” associated with the highest quality. It is an AOC within a sub-region of Burgundy that generally produces the best and most expensive wines of France. Damien Martin St. Veran is partially oaked for a creamier texture, but not so much to lose the characteristic mineral notes.
Sauvignon Blanc, such as Oyster Bay and Kim Crawford from New Zealand, is another wildly popular varietal wine right now. But Sauvignon Blanc is grown all over the world. It’s great to compare some of the new world wines with a classic like Sancerre which comes from the Loire Valley, not too far from the Burgundy region.
Antoine de la Farge Sancerre is made in a modern style with aromas of flowers and herbs and flavors of peach, pear, and apricot. It stands in contrast to the grapefruit qualities of typical New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wines.
Domaine Cailbordin (kale bor din) Pouilly Fume Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley is an excellent pairing with seafood. It is fruity when young, with more minerality after one to two years. This wine is made from grapes grown on the best limestone slopes in the appellation. It had aromas of minerals with light citrus and melon and the crisp flavor of grapefruit. On the palate, it has light to medium body with bright acidity and leaves a little saltiness on the finish. The limestone terroir is presented in a definitive way via the wine’s minerality.
Rosé is a quintessential spring and summer wine. One of our favorites is from our hometown of Long Island NY. “Summer in a Bottle” from Wolffer Estate is a Rosé blend of four different grapes. The winery has partnered with a renowned Cotes de Provence winery to create a Rosé that is classically Provencal, fragrant and lively with flavors and aromas of tangerine, citrus, and peach.
Wrapping up with a return to Italian wine is Gianni Il Rosé Piemonte from the Piedmont region. It is made from 100% Freisa grapes which are a close relative to Nebbiolo. Strawberries, sweet basil, and white pepper emerge on the nose. Dry on the palate with ample red berry fruit flavors and a clean mineral finish.
For more information listen to the Tony Mart Presents radio show streaming anytime on the WPG website. Carmen and I talk about these wines on the 3/22/2025 episode.
Boozy Lifestyle© 