Located in northwest Italy, east of Monaco and in from the sea, Piedmont is known for Barolo and Barbaresco, but this under-$15 perfumed red also hails from the region.  It comes in the heaviest 750ml wine bottle you've ever lifted, while inside is a trendy Italian-style red with lots of fruit and character. Dardano Zara Langhe Rosso 2004 is half Dolcetto and half Barbera.  Dardano...

Italian white wine, Vino Bianco, is my favorite. There are so many varieties. Many  people are only familiar with the ubiquitous Pinot Grigio, this is unfortunate because there are so many other Italian white wines to enjoy. In all fairness, years ago Santa Margarita Pinot Grigio brought attention back to Italian white wines, which were previously shunned because of terrible wines like Bolla...

Here is a bottle of bubbly that's perfect for substituting for an everyday white wine - anytime.  Like on a weeknight, you might pop one when you're getting dinner ready.  It's mouthwatering, stimulates good conversation and spirits, and won't go to your head (well not as fast). Zefiro* Prosecco Brut ...

... not be as well known as Cab and Merlot, but Spanish reds are gaining in popularity. In order ... reds has been building due to the efforts of modern importers Jorge Ordoñez and Eric Solomon.  For years they have individually specialized in bringing new fruit-forward high-alcohol Spanish reds...

The second vintage of Pillar Box Red tastes like another hit.  Like the first vintage (2004), there is a plethora of fruit, but the 2005 seems to be a bit more "built". Pillar Box Red is a collaboration between Henry's Drive winery of Padthaway, importer Dan Philips of Grateful Palate ...

The back label says "bitch" 77 times, followed by "some more".  It is left up to you to decide what that means, because the sentiment would be appropriate for many contemporary situations.  Whatever inspired it, thank goodness it arrived, because it is better than a box of chocolates. Dan Philips ...

Captured in an everyday-priced red wine is this contemporary masterwork that plays on the bold traditions and attitudes of Catalonia. 2004 is the introductory vintage for Laely Heron 's new Sexto red blend from Terra Alta Spain. Terra Alta is in northeastern Spain, in the driest area of Catalonia.  This ...

Spain is still churning out some of the best red wine buys, like the new vintage of Jorge Ordoñez ' real Spanish value, Viña Borgia.  Sporting a new modern label, the wine is framed like a Cote du Rhone, but comes across as more casual and abstract. The 2005 vintage ...

A blend of 3 vineyards. 70% Romirasco, 15% Cicala and 15% Colonnello. Poderi Aldo Conterno consists of about 25 hectares of vineyard. Most of the vineyards are at an altitude of about 400 m. above sea level,with a South South-West exposure and the soils consist of compact sand layers of ...

In Nashville you don't get a lot of choices in Australian Pinot Noir.  Here's a good one from a very modern Seattle-based negociant, Andrew Browne (Precept Brands *), who's very much on top on things. When it comes to Salmon and Salmon wine, two beloved staples in my diet, I'm ...