Italian White Wines In The Spotlight

9th OF October 2011

By Alexx Stuart
Luxury Tastings Drinks Expert

As Australians who are miles away from most places, we are always interested and enthusiastic about beautiful things from faraway lands. This piece brings you closer to some stunning white wines from Italy. It's time to expand our minds a little and move on from Sauvignon Blanc, and what better way to discover what delicious grape varietals await us this summer, than by talking to the people that pour them about town.

Stuart Knox, owner and operator of Fix St James & winner of this year's prestigious 'Sommelier of the Year' at the SMH Good Food Guide awards is where we start, of course! "Our best selling Italian white varietal is still Pinot Grigio, but we encourage experimentation at Fix St James (in wine!), so we suggest and grow our guests' awareness of other, less talked about drops all the time.
Greco di Tufo is sensational. A fantastic northern Italian varietal often bursting with citrus zest, and a dry crisp finish & a fabulous food accompaniment wine for things like sashimi, ceviche & light seafood dishes we love to eat over the summer," says Knox.

Fiano is another one, a southern Italian varietal I see climbing up the popularity ladder and grape proven to be successfully grown here too" he says. Stuart's tips for growing your appreciation for different varietals and breaking the mould? "If you're in a restaurant, don't feel intimidated. Pick our brains. Even if there isn't a sommelier, there's always someone on the floor who's passionate about wine and we're so happy to answer questions and talk about our passion. If you're buying for home, support a good independent bottle shop and get a relationship going. People are afraid to ask questions and shouldn't be. It's the only way we learn!"
It's so true, as most people will wander around a big bottle shop aimlessly, eventually picking a nice looking label in their price range.

Another venue passionate about introducing you to Italian wine is Spiedo Restaurant & Bar, Alessandro Pavoni of Ormeggio at The Spit's second offering. It can be found in the new dining precinct on Level 6, Westfield Sydney. It celebrates all things Lombardian, the chef's homeland, and Nathan Thompson is the resident man of the vines. He suggested a sublime Lombardian white by the glass to go with a their specialty Pizzoccheri buckwheat pasta when I went on my research trip, and lovely it was.
Nathan is proud in saying that “we get in many wines specifically for us alone. it's our way of showing off a very specific region and it's food & wine offering.”

As far as offerings go, Lucio's in Paddington is a bucket list Sydney restaurant.
Lucio Galletto has one of those auras that you can feel before you see him on the floor, and my goodness the food is good.
Here we are reminded that just because so many people like Pinot Grigio, it's not necessarily boring. As a style it ticks a lot of warm weather boxes, with its lightly perfumed, fruity freshness and is fabulous with seafood pastas such as the gorgeous black handkerchief pasta at Lucio's - heaven!
Heavenly also is a Verdicchio matched with spatchcock at Fratelli Paradiso Potts Point, an eternal dining hot spot that makes long lunch feel like a full-blown holiday.
At this point you should be a little inspired to try a few Italian white varietals, si?

Try these 4, gorgeous ones from these venues about town in Sydney. All very reasonable, all beautiful with or without food and all easily able to find online for home too, with the exception of the white from Spiedo - just drag yourself in there & enjoy.
It's been fantastic moving on from my personal lunch time favourite of cool climate chardonnay, and getting my Sophia Loren on with these crisp yet voluptuous beauties!

Fox Gordon Princess Fiano, Barossa SA @ Fix St James CBD
Pinot Grigio, Tiefenbrunner, Alto Adige, Italia @Lucio's in Paddington
Provenza ‘Tenuta Maiolo’ DOC, Lugana @ Spiedo Restaurante Bar, Westfield Sydney
Terre Silvate Verdicchio Classico Superio @ Fratelli Paradiso, Potts Point

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