Grape Varietals
A complete guide to Barbera, Piedmont's great everyday red wine — its flavor profile, the difference between Barbera d'Alba and Barbera d'Asti, how it compares to Barolo, and why it pairs so naturally with the Japanese table.
What is Gewürztraminer? We explain this distinctive aromatic white wine known for its bold rose and lychee aromas — dry vs. sweet styles, Japanese food pairings, and our Italian-import recommendation.
Pignatello (aka Perricone) is one of Sicily's oldest indigenous red grapes, once the backbone of Marsala Rubino. Discover its history, dry-style character, and how it pairs with Japanese cuisine.
What is Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria)? From Pantelleria's UNESCO-listed alberello vineyards to pairing the dry style with Japanese cuisine — a complete guide to this ancient Sicilian grape.
A complete guide to Refosco, one of Italy's oldest grape varieties — from the osmizza farmhouse wine tradition of the Carso plateau to Bosco del Merlo's Roggio dei Roveri, available at Swirl.
What is frizzante? Learn the difference between lightly sparkling frizzante and fully sparkling spumante, discover Veneto's ancient col fondo tradition, and find out how to enjoy these wines with Japanese food.