Coastal & Crisp: Vermentino & Pigato

There's a magic to wines born by the sea—a saline freshness that seems to carry the coastal breeze in every glass. With this selection I want to dive into some of my favorite whites for summer. From the sun-drenched shores of Sardinia to the rolling hills of Tuscany and the dramatic cliffs of Liguria, Vermentino and its close cousin, Pigato, reign supreme. Vermentino is my guilty pleasure, I can’t stop drinking it. These are wines defined by their crisp acidity and vibrant aromatics of green apple, lime, and bitter almond, all underscored by a distinctive stony minerality. Pigato is his closest relative, and it shows a more pronounced body and viscosity in the glass. They are both excellent wine by themselves and paired with seafood. Try Vermentino with shrimp pasta or basil pesto pasta and try Pigato with an oven-roasted branzino. There is no better pairing than this.

2024 Argiolas "Costamolino" Vermentino di Sardegna $14.99
2023 Fattoria Fibbiano Vermentino Toscana $19.99 90VN
2023 Il Monticello "Groppolo" Vermentino $19.99
2021 Capichera "Santigaini" Vermentino Isola dei Nuraghi IGT Sardegna $159.99
2023 Terre Bianche Pigato $32.99
2023 Massaretti Pigato $27.99

Vibrant & Volcanic: The Reds of Sicily

Sicily is an island of dramatic contrasts, where ancient vines dig deep into the black, nutrient-rich volcanic soils of Mount Etna and where you find Frappato vineyards in the sandy shores of Vittoria. Sicilian reds are alive with an energy that is impossible to ignore. Here, indigenous grapes like the elegant Nerello Mascalese and the joyful, berry-scented Frappato tell the story of their unique terroir. Expect wines that are brilliantly fresh and aromatic, offering notes of wild cherry, pomegranate, and Mediterranean herbs, all framed by fine-grained tannins and a distinctive flinty minerality. Forget about the heavy wines that Sicily used to be known for, this new generation of winemakers are showing the world how fresh wines from this island can be.

2023 Arianna Occhipinti SP68 Nero D'Avola Frappato Rosso Sicilia $29.99 91DC 91VN
2023 COS Frappato Sicilian $27.99
2023 Paolo Caciorgna "Ciauria" Etna Rosso $29.99
2022 Tascante “Ghiaia Nera” Etna Rosso $26.99 95JS 92KO
2022 I Vigneri Di Salvo Foti "Vinupetra" Etna Rosso $64.99 93JS 93VN
2022 Alberelli di Giodo Nerello Mascalese Sicilia $54.99 96VN

- Orazio Campoli, K&L Italian Wine Buyer