You have not really lived until you have tasted Barolo at 9 AM, had six espressos before noon, rushed through Vinitaly meetings as if speed-dating while forging new friendships at every stop. That was my last week. And yes, it was worth it.

This was not a vacation. A complete ground-to-ground initiative led me to inspect new vintage wines while reconnecting with established suppliers to obtain exciting products for our store shelves. I spent my days between Verona tasting booths and Barolo vineyard walks and ended nights in Tortona—yet managed to actually feel more energized when I returned.

VINITALY 2024

Verona delivered its usual chaos and charm. Hundreds of booths, thousands of wines, and just enough espresso to keep going. The meetings ran consecutively but I used the time between sessions to meet with our producers and evaluate their new releases and make several exceptional wine discoveries that immediately caught my attention. Those are the bottles we chase.

Direct Imports You Know and Love—Fresh Vintages Incoming

These are the producers that form the backbone of our Italian selection—wineries we have built real relationships with, and whose new releases are tasting better than ever. These are white wines with backbone and longevity, and it’s for good reason that their bottles have become customer favorites. They are authentic, they overdeliver, and they always bring something special to the glass.

Battistelle (Soave Classico)

From steep, volcanic slopes in Brognoligo, Battistelle’s wines are laser-focused and mineral, offering a textbook taste of Soave’s volcanic terroir. These are white wines with backbone and longevity.

2023 Le Battistelle "Battistelle" Soave Classico $19.99
2023 Le Battistelle "Roccolo del Durlo" Soave Classico $24.99

Roveglia (Lugana)
Grown just south of Lake Garda on clay-limestone soils, Roveglia’s Turbiana-based wines offer citrusy lift, soft texture, and a signature salty snap. Always one of the best values in our white wine section.

2023 Tenuta Roveglia "Limne" Lugana $13.99
2021 Tenuta Roveglia "Vigne di Catullo" Lugana Riserva $19.99

Casa D’Ambra (Ischia) (Coming Soon)
On the windswept island of Ischia, Casa D’Ambra works native grapes like Biancolella and Forastera from terraced volcanic vineyards with sea views. This historic winery captures the Mediterranean breeze in every bottle—briny, fresh, and completely transportive.

La Fortuna (Brunello di Montalcino): A perennial K&L favorite for traditional yet accessible Brunello. The wines are deeply expressive of Montalcino’s southern warmth while maintaining purity and grace. Their Rosso is also a standout vintage after vintage.

2016 La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva $89.99 95WA
2019 La Fortuna "Giobi" Brunello di Montalcino $65.99 95WA

Ferrero (Brunello di Montalcino)
A small estate near Sant’Angelo in Colle crafting plush, modern-leaning Brunello with ripe fruit, clean lines, and serious drinkability. Consistently one of our top-selling Brunellos for a reason.

2019 Ferrero Brunello di Montalcino $39.99 94JS
2019 Ferrero Brunello di Montalcino 1.5L $84.99 94JS
2018 Ferrero Brunello di Montalcino $34.99
2018 Ferrero Brunello di Montalcino (1.5L) $79.99

San Polino (Brunello di Montalcino)
One of the most expressive biodynamic producers in the region. San Polino’s Brunellos are intense, lifted, and nuanced—proof that low-intervention farming can produce wines of serious depth.

2019 San Polino Brunello di Montalcino $49.99 96JS 95KO

Poggiarellino (Brunello di Montalcino)

A humble family estate focused on classic, no-frills Brunello that ages beautifully. Their wines are built with structure and tradition in mind—lean, savory, and truly cellar-worthy.

2016 Poggiarellino Brunello di Montalcino $39.99
2018 Poggiarellino Brunello di Montalcino $34.99

F.lli Barale (Barolo)
Operating in the heart of Barolo since 1870, Barale crafts wines that are elegant, aromatic, and timeless. They show Nebbiolo’s floral side with grace and restraint, perfect for fans of old-school Barolo.

2020 Fratelli Barale Barolo $39.99 94KO
2020 Barale Fratelli "Bussia" Barolo $59.99 95KO
2020 Barale Fratelli "Castellero" Barolo $59.99 94WA
2023 Fratelli Barale Langhe Nebbiolo $22.99

Jorche (Puglia)
Based in Manduria, Jorche produces rich, sunny southern reds from Primitivo and Negroamaro. The estate is run by two dynamic sisters bringing fresh energy to the region’s historic wines. Expect lush fruit, wild herbs, and salty finesse.

2021 Jorche 'Soltema' Primitivo Salento IGP $12.99
2022 Jorche 'Caleido' Negroamaro Salento IGP $12.99

Foss Marai (Valdobbiadene)
More often found in top Italian restaurants than in stores, Foss Marai’s Prosecco is about as polished and refined as it gets. Their Cartizze and Guia bottlings show why Valdobbiadene remains the pinnacle of Prosecco production.

Foss Marai "Guia" Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Millesimato Brut $21.99
Foss Marai "Cartizze" Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Dry $29.99
Foss Marai "Cartizze" Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Dry (1.5L) $49.99
Foss Marai "Cartizze" Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Dry (3L) $99.99
Foss Marai "Strada di Guia" Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Extra Dry $18.99

San Venanzio (Valdobbiadene)
Located in the high hills of Guia, this small estate makes sparkling wines with real personality. Clean, floral, and citrus-zipped, these are perfect expressions of cool-climate Glera and steep-slope farming.

San Venanzio Fortunato Brut Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore $15.99

These wines are not just dependable, they are defining. Each bottle tells a story of place, family, and style. As new vintages arrive in the coming weeks, keep your eyes out, these are wines we are proud to have on our shelves.

Our Newest Direct Imports – Wines We Cannot Wait to Share

Major breakthroughs occurred this year during the trip because we finally found wines from producers we had been searching for many years or learned about through table conversations and vineyard explorations and exceptional glasses. Our Direct Imports introduce the vast range of Italian wines while each bottle delivers fundamental value to our program.

Giovinco (Sicily – Etna & Beyond)
We finally secured a Direct Import from Sicily. The winery Giovinco produces outstanding Catarratto, Nero d’Avola, and Etna Rosso wines from volcanic vineyards across Sicily including the Etna region. The wines display volcanic sun-kissed characteristics which derive their freshness from volcanic soil rather than grape ripeness. This producer stands out from typical southern Italian wineries because their winemaking is straightforward and terroir-oriented while maintaining energetic qualities. Giovinco brings us the essential Sicilian wine presence we have long wanted to have on our shelves.

Morgassi Superiore (Gavi di Gavi)
The estate established a new standard for Gavi that changed all expectations about this wine. The high-altitude Tassarolo vineyards of Morgassi yield white wines with crisp mineral features and lime and sea spray and crushed stone flavors. The winery produces only two wine labels, and we successfully obtained their most structured vintage for aging. This Gavi wine combines power with sophistication while addressing a significant void in our selection of Italian whites. The price point of this wine matches the quality of Chablis but originates from Piedmont.

Vigneti Repetto (Timorasso – Colli Tortonesi)
The discovery of this estate during the trip proved to be extremely exciting. The president of Timorasso Consorzio directs Vigneti Repetto while devoting himself to structure enhancement and longevity alongside native yeast fermentation. The limestone hills of Tortona support his vineyards while Timorasso reveals its distinctive power and saltiness in the produced wines. Our selection will include both general releases and limited vintage bottles from this collection. The exceptional wine quality stands out while obtaining this estate before Kermit Lynch demonstrates our strong position.

Raineri (Barolo)
Raineri stands as our ideal Barolo producer because it combines traditional winemaking techniques with modern sophistication at budget-friendly prices. The wine labels display intelligence while the farming practices are focused and the wine reflects the characteristics of the vineyard. The best part is that we will offer their entire range of wines at K&L including exclusive selections. Barolo fans should pay attention because these wines deliver serious quality without demanding collector prices.

Bortolusso (Friuli)
Bortolusso produces white wines with fresh and aromatic qualities which carry subtle sea salt scents near the Friuli coastal lagoon. The wines present a refreshing character with salty notes and genuine varietal characteristics. The winemaking approach at this estate produces elegant and tasty wines which are difficult to discover today at prices below $20 per bottle.

Produttori di Carema (Alto Piemonte)
The historic cooperative stands as a symbol of Italy's most outstanding viticultural achievements. The Alpine slopes of Carema feature stone terraces where Nebbiolo grapes grow near the absolute limit of cultivation. The wines present alpine characteristics together with floral notes and remarkable aging potential while displaying the classic combination of red fruit and iron minerality. We feel privileged to establish a direct partnership with the consortium because this project creates an improvement for the entire portfolio.

Our Direct Import program gains distinctive value through the addition of these new partners who bring essential freshness to our selection. The Italian selection at K&L remains active and develops through wines which include volcanic reds from Etna and mountain Nebbiolo from Carema and limestone whites from Tortona. The upcoming months will bring these new additions to our collection so we cannot wait to introduce them to our customers.

Wines You will Only Find at K&L Will Arrive to Our Stores Soon

Our close collaborations with Italian winemakers have produced an innovative collection of exclusive wines that we will launch as a result of this trip. These wines are neither mass-market labels nor generic blends, but genuine vineyard-driven wines produced exclusively for K&L through collaborative efforts based on mutual dedication to quality.

Each bottle features distinct terroir characteristics along with its individual vintage and complete transparency. These exclusive small-batch wines exist only for our customers to enjoy and deliver exceptional value and distinct character at their best.

Keep your eyes on our store shelves because these limited releases are about to arrive while we eagerly await sharing them with you.

And we’re thrilled to invite you to join us for our first ever Italian Tent Event in Culver City!
Sunday June 8: Discover Italy – K&L’s 1st Annual Italian Wine Tent Event!

12 – 2:30 PM OR 3 – 5:30 PM
$50

PURCHASE TICKETS IN ADVANCE / MORE DETAILS

Join us for K&L’s inaugural Italian Wine Tent Event—an immersive tasting that captures the spirit of Italy’s wine culture in one unforgettable afternoon.

With an expansive lineup from north to south, this is a rare chance to explore Italy’s regional diversity through the lens of some of its most compelling producers. From PieroPan’s elegant Veneto whites, the legendary Sassicaia from Tenuta San Guido, Avignonesi’s vibrant Tuscan reds, and Argiolas’s soulful Sardinian bottlings we are thrilled to present what we’ve deemed the best of the best. This event not only showcases world‑class wines but offers a true introduction to the winemakers, their families, and the philosophies behind each bottle. From centuries‑old vineyards to bold reimaginings of tradition, every pour tells a story.

Your ticket includes the opportunity to taste over 60 selections from 20 producers, with local artisanal cheeses and charcuterie to pair— because Italian wine without food is like pasta without sauce—still good, but why would you?

Taste, learn, and celebrate the incredible depth and diversity of Italian wine! Tickets are limited, so reserve yours today.

Please note: Two tasting windows are available—12:00–2:30 p.m. and 3:00–5:30 p.m. Be sure to choose your preferred time when purchasing.