Italy

From right down in the South of Italy this is a dense, rustic and earthy wine, similar to this producer's Primitivo. An alternative to your usual BBQ wines.

Spicy, strong and bitter-sweet, this is the epitome of the Amarone style. Big and chewy tannins, integrated oak and an intense, chocolate finish. Refined; sublime.

'Mini Amarone', this is made in the same way as the legendary Amarone, using dried grapes, but with a higher proportion of Corvina in the blend. Full and firm with the classic bitter chocolate flavours. The 2007 sees a funky new label which I haven't quite got around to photographing yet!

Perfect for Bolognese, this is intensely fruity with keen acidity - I would even chill it down for five minutes on a hot day. Allegrini is so keen to keep the freshness in this by bottling with a screwcap that he has eschewed the 'Classico' badge for this wine - despite the fact that it's better than most wines which bear that word on the label!

A blend of indigenous Sicilian grapes Nero d'Avola and Nerello Mascalese this is bright and fresh with cherries, liquorice and pepper. Very good value.

A nice, lightish red from Sicily with juicy cherry fruits - great for a rowdy social gathering.

Huge, powerful wine from the Alto Adige, this has fantastic ageing potential.

Merlot and Cabernet may seem a bit foreign to the far north of Italy, but in fact the French introduced them over 150 years ago when occupying the area. Pivier is grown on clay soils by Lake Garda and has soft fruits, good structure and the refreshing acidity that can be rare, but is so important to good Merlot.

There's no sexier Italian wine than Brunello, and this is sexy Brunello. Savoury and polished with violets and cherries on the nose and grippy tannins, this is super stuff.

Every now and again you taste something that makes you go 'Wow!' Fontodi's wines are wonderful, elegant and unmistakably Italian. This Sangiovese has all the hallmarks of superb Chianti.

This is Fontodi's Super-Tuscan, a 100% Sangiovese from the best of the winery's naturally 'organic' vineyards. The juice is fermented in stainless steel tanks and then aged in new French oak for at least 18 months before bottling. Very perfumed, round and warm, this is a big, powerful wine, meaty and herbal, but nevertheless is elegant, balanced and polished. You could drink this now (I have, quite a bit), but it will develop nicely with age over the next 10 years.

Pinot Nero (or Noir) is not widely grown in Italy, but it does like the cool, mountainous northern region of Alto Adige. The 2008 is charming and juicy, almost bubblegum-like with prominent acidity.

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A Tuscan IGT from the Selvapiana stable, this is a blend of Sangiovese, with some Cabernet and Merlot to fill out the palate. Rounded and silky, great with red meat pizza!

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Poggio al Tesoro is Sylvia Allegrini's project on the Bolgheri coast in Tuscany and the Sondraia vineyard is bang next door to the legendary Sassacaia. Now generally I'm not convinced by Tuscan Cabernets (Sangiovese is now so good there I wonder why you'd bother), but this is another story entirely. The 65% Cabernet is blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc to make a ripe, concentrated wine with meaty, stocky muscularity and an array of tobacco, herb and spice notes.

A full, fruity and simple Chianti, this is a real bargain as its rare to find Chianti this good under a tenner!

Silky smooth Montepulciano from a tiny ten hectare estate, with wild berry fruits and rosemary herbs - great with a homemade burger.

There is no better producer in Rufina than these guys. This is light and rustic with hints of herbs and bitter cherries. One of my faves!
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Volcanic soils give this wild red a great minerality to back up its earthy, dark fruit flavours.

A sexy Sicilian stunner, this is brilliantly fruity with hints of sweet vanilla and plenty of spice. Great with roast meats and juicy sauces.