Northern Italian Pinot Grigio tends to be a stony fresh, subtle fruit white. That's true of Il Pino, but the wine has just a little bit more, too. Riper orchard fruit, with citrus freshness and it’s always good value. It comes from the high-altitude Adige Valley, just inland from Venice and home to some of the best quality Pinot Grigio in Italy. Plentiful sunshine and cooling mountain breezes together ensure healthy, ripe grapes with excellent aromatics.

Deliciously fresh and thirst quenching, this wine displays crisp lemon and grapefruit flavours, white stone fruit and a minerally edge. It’s a ‘drink anytime’ wine, but perhaps best enjoyed as an aperitivo or with grilled white fish, prawn or spring vegetable risotto or leafy summer salads.

Instead of being a deep, velvety red (like weighty Amarone), Il Sognatore is a delicious, deep pink, ripe fruit rosato. A gentle pressing of the grapes ensures the colour, while cool fermentation brings out the gorgeous pomegranate and red berry aromas and flavours of fresh plum and cherry. Chill it down and love it with fish, prawns, a crisp salad or solo.

It’s a terrific glassful on its own, anytime of the day, perfect with a slice of cake (Madeira or lemon and almond perhaps) or fruity pudding. Moscato is of course the same as France’s Muscat, one of the most aromatic varieties in the world, only challenged to that title by Gewurztraminer! Asti is the finest area of Italy’s Piedmont for the style and we think this is the best we’ve tasted. It’ll bring thoughts of spring to mind whatever the time of year. Embrace the sweetness and freshness – this fizz is a delight. Chill well.

Top Soave is a revelation – it offers delicately nuanced fruit, creamy body and stony freshness that enable the wines to age gracefully. You find all this and more in this sensational white from local star winemaker Antonio Fattori. Wine Advocate says “his white Soave expressions are the true standouts”. He searches out Garganega grapes from the slopes of Monte Calvarina, the volcanic soils of which lend a bright minerality to the wine. Hand picking is as essential on these steep slopes as it is for quality, while lees stirring in old oak vats lends a creamy roundness and texture to this terrific wine. Delicate apricot with wild herb notes of sage make this an exciting white. Gently chill and serve with fine white meat or fish dishes.

The Pignoletto grape is considered the “king of the Colli Bolognese wine zone”, but few have heard of it outside of the Emilia region of northern central Italy. Our buyer, Leo, had to use his persuasive prowess to secure cases of this hidden gem from winemaker Daniele Artioli. And it’s proved to be a huge hit with our customers. It’s an easy to drink, dry frizzante, made using mainly Pignoletto (named after ‘pigna’ – the Italian for ‘cone’ – due to the shape of its bunches).

Its lively green apple notes are enhanced by citrusy Trebbiano and Muscat, which lends a grapey aroma. A gentle fizz makes it a delightful apéritif, perfect for leisurely sipping in the garden on a sunny afternoon. Serve chilled and pair with salad or seafood.