Italy has hundreds of appellations and thousands of producers, many of whom, just to confuse us even further, decide to forego their regional appellation and make fancily named “table wines”. These wines can be overpriced but often they are the star buys. Unlike many Italian specialists, we are continually comparing our Italian wines with the best that France and Australia can produce. This ensures that when you buy from our Italian wine range, you will receive a world class wine.

Italians think of Piemonte and Tuscany as their two great red wine producing areas: Piemonte for its Barolo and Barbaresco from the Nebbiolo grape; and Tuscany for its Sangiovese-based Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino. Valpolicella must, for the British at least, qualify as the third most important area. Sources for other good reds are dotted around the South, or Mezzogiorno, where some of the most individual wines are made.