Grape Varietals
A plain-language guide to Pinot Grigio: its character, flavor, and food pairings. Italy's most popular white, crisp and food-friendly, with a recommended bottle.
Primitivo is Puglia's fruit-rich, dry red grape. Its shared DNA with Zinfandel and Tribidrag, the double-harvest Doppio Passo, pairings from yakiniku to teriyaki, and the bottle Swirl imports to Japan first and exclusively.
Sangiovese is the red grape behind Chianti, Morellino and other iconic Italian wines. Balanced acidity and cherry fruit make it superbly food-friendly. We explain its taste, pairings and recommended bottles.
Cabernet Franc is a red grape with herb and violet aromas and a supple, lighter style. We explain how it differs from Cabernet Sauvignon, its regional styles, food pairings and how to choose.
Syrah (called Shiraz in Australia) is the black grape behind spicy, full-bodied reds with notes of black pepper and dark fruit. We explain the Syrah vs Shiraz difference, regional styles, food pairings and how to choose.
Sauvignon Blanc is an aromatic, dry white with herb and citrus aromas. We explain the difference between Loire, New Zealand and Italy, what to pair it with, and how to choose, from an importer's point of view.