Italy

The Tanners Italian range just keeps on growing as we continue to taste more and more lovely wine, especially from small estates with wines that are pure expressions of their ‘terra’. It’s a complex country wine-wise so here is a whistle stop tour. As far as great reds go, the star players in Piedmont are Barolo and Barbaresco made from Nebbiolo grapes. Tuscany fields players such as Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano – all made from Sangiovese – to add to its line-up of Supertuscans from French varieties. Primitivo, Negroamaro, Nero d’Avola and Nerello Mascalese feature in the South. Exploring the whites, there is so much more to discover than budget Pinot Grigio! Gavi, Friuli and Soave should be remembered in the North, but the South is an equally good source of richer, silkier wines made from grapes such as Fiano and Greco. From the middle are the old favourites, but much-improved Vernaccia di San Gimignano and Verdicchio.