Italian wine can be baffling! Most people have heard of Chianti. Lots of you probably enjoy a glass of Pinot Grigio or two, maybe the odd Frascati or Soave every now and then. But when you find wines like Verdicchio, Primitivo and Dolcetto on the wine list, you may be left feeling that a simple Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon is a friendlier option!

But don’t give in – you’ll be missing out on some of the most diverse and exciting wines in the world! Tony Laithwaite – Chairman of Laithwaites, the UK’s leading independent wine merchant – has just got back from a buying trip to Italy, where he and Laithwaites buyer Thomas Woolrych decided they could happily drink nothing but Italian wine for the rest of their days!

"I’ve since calmed down a bit (but only a bit)", says Tony, "but what struck me was the quality of the 2006 vintage – and the dazzling diversity on offer." And Tony’s not alone in heaping praise on the harvest. The Giorno del Vino (Italy’s leading wine journal states that "2006 is unquestionably the best vintage of the last 5 years – in almost all areas of Italy. The best white wines are spectacular – and on a level with their red wine."

From Alpine north to sun-drenched south you can find totally unique wines that are bursting with flavour. Classic grapes like Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot are grown in Italy, but there’s nothing like fresh, limey Cortese of classic Italian white Gavi di Gavi anywhere else in the world – makes a nice change from Chablis!

So if you and your taste buds are prepared to go on a wine discovery voyage, Italy is the country to head to! To see what’s got the people at Laithwaites so excited, have a little look at their current Italian range by visiting our web site.