Cantina della Volta La Prima de Volta 2015
Origin: Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Retail: $39.95 | Sale: $35.96
The history of the Bellei family and Lambrusco goes back decades, all the way back to the 1920s. Christian Bellei is 4th generation, and he and his father “Beppe” before him were pioneers in a recent revolution in quality in this part of Emilia Romagna. Along with his father, Christian spent much time studying and mastering the great sparkling wines in Epernay, France. Thanks to the help of a few devoted friends and supporters, Christian was able to lead his family winery in a new direction, one focused on classic method wines and a new level of quality. Rich red wine characteristics meet the light effervescence of a champagne-style sparkler. Made entirely with Lambrusco di Sorbara grapes, this lightly tinted wine has an extremely shy nose. The bone-dry palate is also subdued but refreshing, suggesting hints of sour cherry and bread crust, alongside crisp acidity. 100% Lambrusco di Sorbara
Montenidoli Canaiuolo Rosato Toscana 2022
Origin: Tuscany, Italy
Retail: $29.95 | Sale: $26.96
Montenidoli is a mountain above the appellation of San Gimignano. It is a large estate of roughly 200 hectares, though just 24 hectares are under vine, on a mountainside overlooking the picturesque town of San Gimignano with Chianti Classico in the distance. Elisabetta Fagiuoli is a pivotal figure when talking about the last 50 years of Tuscan winemaking. In fact, 2020 marked her 50th vintage. Many people think of Vernaccia di San Gimignano as a simple white wine meant to be consumed fresh and young, but the whites of Montenidoli prove that does not have to be the case. While the wines show well on release, they greatly improve both with extended aeration in the glass or decanter as well as with bottle age. A light salmon-pink in the glass. Aromas of strawberries, watermelon and ripe cherry. On the palate, crisp and refreshing with an elegant minerality leading to a lively finish. 100 % Canaiuolo
Boniperti Carlin Nebbiolo 2020
Origin: Colline Novaresi, Italy
Retail: $23.95 | Sale: $21.56
The Boniperti family goes back several generations in Alto Piemonte, witnessing the "long fable" of evolution in the wine region. After two world wars and an Italian industrial revolution in the 1950’s, many young locals left for Milan, leaving the vineyards abandoned by the late 1960s. Gilberto Boniperti, now stewarding the family farm, drew inspiration from his grandfather Barton to revive the land. This movement, embraced by Gilberto's peers, has revitalized Alto Piemonte. Gilberto, studying agriculture and oenology in Milan in 2003, reclaimed his grandfather's vineyards, replanting Nebbiolo. Today the property includes 4 hectares of vines in the area around Barengo, is planted not only with Nebbiolo, but also the typical Alto Piemonte varietal Vespolina as well as a little Barbera. The general area, known as Colline Novaresi (the hills of Novara), was granted DOC status in 1994 and shares terroir with DOCs Fara and Boca, as well as the Ghemme DOCG. All benefit from a subalpine climate, a southern exposure and fast-draining glacial soil that is notably more acidic than the soils of Langhe, which results in less tannic wines. Mid-weight everyday Nebbiolo; beautiful mid-ruby color, rose-petals, red fruit, very fresh, some mineral notes, aged entirely in stainless steel. 100% Nebbiolo
L’Erta di Radda Chianti Classico 2020
Origin: Tuscany, Italy
Retail: $24.95 | Sale: $22.46
Winemaker Diego Finocchi lives on the northern side of Radda in Chianti, in the heartland of the Tuscan wine-making region. Indeed, the name Erta translates to a steep slope which describes the landscape of Diego's home and his vineyard. At the age of 24, Diego took a punt and bought 5 hectares of a small vineyard next door to the famous Montevertine winery and took a great step towards his dream of becoming a winemaker. In 2009, Diego achieved this dream and began producing his own Chianti Classico and he has been producing quality wines ever since. Following Diego's great respect for the land and environment which supports him and his family, the vintage at L'Erta di Radda is done completely manually and the winemaking process is totally organic “Lustrous mid ruby with orange tinges. Sweet intense raspberry fruit nose with a clear earthy, minerally note and just a touch of oak. Plush cherry fruit with a layer of fine chewy tannins that last. An overachiever of a wine." 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo