Our good friend, the winemaker Alessandro Gallici, was the one who insisted our Buyer Leo dropped by to see the Anselmi family in 2019. They have a winery in Friuli, NE Italy, an area renowned for its crisp, aromatic whites. The family have been making wines there since 1928 and now have extensive vineyards, running almost to the shore, naturally cooled by breezes from the Adriatic.
The clay soils are ideal for the many native varieties – Refosco, Friulano, Verduzza, Pignolo, Ribolla Gialla and, of course, Pinot Grigio, as well as international stars Cabernet and Merlot. Above all, their wines are terrific value. Named after the originally called Romeo and Juliet, Luigi e Lucina is a refreshing white. Ideal solo or with light dishes.
Since their wines first appeared in 2004, Château Vartely has established itself as one of Moldova’s top wineries. The team controls 300 hectares of vines grown in ideal conditions and soils, very similar to the best of Bordeaux. Most are naturally organic too – winds blow hard and chase away any disease. Glowing online reviews every vintage prove that UK wine lovers have given this estate their backing. From grape harvesting to bottling, each step takes place under the watchful eye of Arcadie Fosnea, ‘Moldovan Winemaker of the Year 2014' and his deputy, Valentin Vrancean. Pristine, handpicked Pinot Grigio, cool fermented, the wine bursts forth with bright orchard fruit and zesty lemon notes. Ideal with lighter dishes or solo.
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