Grape Varietals
What is Prosecco? A light, lively sparkling from Veneto's Glera grape. Side-by-side comparison with Champagne, DOCG vs DOC differences, Venice's "ombra" wine culture, and sommelier recommendations.
A plain-language guide to Vermentino: its character, flavor, and food pairings. A fresh, mineral white grown by the sea, the ideal partner for seafood, with a recommended bottle.
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.