Piedmont

Cocchi Americano Bianco is a historic aromatized aperitif wine produced in Asti since 1891. Made from a Moscato base wine infused with herbs, spices, and cinchona bark (which provides quinine), it's known for its bittersweet complexity.

This Barbera d'Asti showcases why the variety is beloved by Piedmontese locals – it's the ultimate weeknight red wine that delivers serious flavor without being too demanding. While tourists chase after Barolo and Barbaresco, Italians quietly enjoy Barbera with their everyday meals. Cascina Valle Asinari is a small, family-run estate focused on traditional winemaking and sustainable vineyard practices. Their Barbera comes from the classic growing area of Asti, where the variety thrives in the region's clay-rich soils. The wine's naturally high acidity makes it exceptionally food-friendly – it can cut through rich dishes while complementing tomato-based sauces beautifully. This bottle offers an authentic taste of everyday Piedmont at a price that allows for regular enjoyment.

The 'Truffle Hunter' Barbera d'Asti is aptly named – like those clever dogs sniffing out buried treasures in the Piedmont forests, this wine unearths the true character of the Barbera grape with impressive precision. From the prestigious DOCG of Asti, this bottle showcases why Barbera is the everyday wine of choice in Italy's northwest. What makes this Barbera special is its perfect balance between fruit-forward accessibility and traditional Italian structure. The bright acidity cuts through rich foods like a laser beam, making it one of the most versatile reds for the dinner table. While Piedmont's Nebbiolo-based wines often steal the spotlight (and demand aging), this Barbera is ready to perform right now – no waiting required. It's the kind of wine that Italian families keep stocked for daily drinking, and once you try it, you'll understand exactly why.

Ricossa's Barbera d'Asti DOCG comes from Piedmont's renowned Asti region, where Barbera has been the everyday drinking wine of choice for generations of locals – which should tell you something, as these are people who know a thing or two about good living. This wine showcases Barbera's signature high acidity and moderate tannins, making it one of the most food-friendly red wines on the planet. While its prestigious neighbor Barolo gets all the glory (and the astronomical prices), Barbera quietly delivers incredible value and versatility without demanding decades in your cellar. The DOCG classification guarantees adherence to strict quality standards, so you're getting the real deal – not some corner-cutting imitation. It's the perfect bottle for those Wednesday night pasta dinners when you want something that punches well above its weight class without the guilt of opening a special occasion bottle. Consider it your secret weapon for impressing dinner guests who think they know Italian wine.

Dolcetto translates as "little sweet one," though the wines are actually dry – the name refers to the grape's naturally low acidity compared to Piedmont's other red varieties. G.D. Vajra's version is the perfect introduction to this underappreciated grape, offering immediate pleasure without sacrificing authenticity. The Vajra family is known for their meticulous attention to detail in both the vineyard and winery, and this care shows in their Dolcetto. While many Piedmont producers treat Dolcetto as an afterthought to their Barolo and Barbaresco, Vajra gives it the respect it deserves. The result is a wine that perfectly captures the variety's charming fruit character and food-friendly nature. It's the bottle locals reach for on Tuesday night while their Barolo ages – and there's no higher compliment than that.

This Langhe Nebbiolo offers a perfect introduction to Piedmont's noble grape without requiring the patience (or budget) demanded by Barolo and Barbaresco. The "Clare JC" designation is a tribute to winemaker Giuseppe Vajra's children, Claudio and Francesca. The Vajra family brings the same meticulous attention to their Langhe Nebbiolo as they do to their acclaimed Barolo, sourcing from younger vines and giving the wine less oak aging for earlier approachability. The result captures Nebbiolo's ethereal aromatics and structure in a more immediate package. It's the perfect bottle for those nights when you want something special but don't want to raid the cellar for your precious Barolo – or for anyone curious about why wine professionals are so obsessed with this challenging but rewarding grape.

Walter Massa is essentially the savior of the Timorasso grape – a variety that was nearly extinct until he championed its revival in the 1980s. His 'Terra' bottling showcases why this was a variety worth saving, delivering a white wine with the complexity and aging potential usually reserved for serious reds. From the hills of southeastern Piedmont, this is a white wine with gravitas – structured, mineral-driven, and built for the dinner table rather than casual sipping. Timorasso has been called 'the Barolo of white wines,' which might sound like hyperbole until you taste it. With its combination of richness and acidity, it manages to be both immediately impressive and increasingly intriguing with each sip. If you're tired of predictable whites, this bottle offers a fascinating detour into Italian wine history that happens to taste amazing.

Walter Massa is something of a legend in Italian wine circles – he single-handedly rescued the Timorasso grape from extinction and has been championing native varieties of the Colli Tortonesi area for decades. His Terra Rosso blend showcases the traditional red grapes of southeastern Piedmont in a wine that's authentically Italian to its core. This isn't one of those internationally-styled Italian reds designed to impress critics – it's a genuine expression of place that prioritizes drinkability and food-friendliness over power and flash. The blend of Barbera, Croatina, and Freisa creates a wine with bright acidity, moderate tannins, and that distinctively Italian combination of fruit and savory elements. It's the kind of honest, unpretentious wine that Italians keep for themselves rather than export – which makes finding it outside Italy all the more special.

Ercole (Italian for 'Hercules') might come in a one-liter bottle, but there's nothing mythological about the quality – it's legitimately delicious Piedmontese wine at an everyday price. This Barbera comes from a cooperative of small growers in Monferrato who pool their resources to create wines that truly represent their region. What makes this bottle special is its combination of authenticity and value. While Piedmont is famous for its expensive Barolos and Barbarescos, Barbera is the grape that locals actually drink daily. This version showcases the variety's characteristic bright acidity and juicy fruit without any pretension. The extra volume (1L instead of 750ml) is just a bonus – it's like getting a glass and a third free with every bottle. Perfect for pizza nights, Tuesday dinners, or anytime you want a genuine taste of Northern Italy without the typical price tag. It's the vinous equivalent of finding designer jeans at a thrift store price – a legitimate steal.

Ercole's Bianco comes in a generous one-liter bottle – because when a wine is this refreshing and versatile, 750ml just isn't enough. Produced by a cooperative of small family farmers in Piedmont's Monferrato region, this blend combines the crispness of Cortese (the grape in Gavi) with the body and texture of Chardonnay. What makes this bottle special is its honest, unpretentious character and remarkable value. While many Italian whites try to impress with oak treatment or extended aging, this Bianco focuses on pure, fresh fruit flavors that make it incredibly food-friendly and approachable. The cooperative approach allows these small growers to pool their resources and create a wine that truly represents their region at a price that defies logic. It's the vinous equivalent of finding that perfect white t-shirt – it goes with everything, never disappoints, and doesn't cost a fortune. The extra volume is just a bonus – because no one has ever complained about having more good wine.

Ercole's Rosato comes in a generous one-liter format – because when summer arrives, 750ml of great rosé is never quite enough. This pink delight is crafted by a cooperative of small family farmers in Piedmont who combine their resources to create wines of remarkable value and authentic regional character. What makes this bottle special is how it brings together the best aspects of Piedmont's noble red grapes in a refreshing, approachable format. The blend of Barbera and Nebbiolo creates a rosé with more complexity and structure than most, while maintaining the crispness and easy drinkability that makes pink wines so appealing. It's a serious wine that doesn't take itself too seriously. Perfect for picnics, pool parties, or anytime you want to channel Italian summer vibes regardless of the actual season. The extra volume just means the good times can last a little longer – and at this price, you can afford to be generous with your pours.

Nebbiolo – the grape behind legendary Barolo and Barbaresco – can often command eye-watering prices, which is what makes this approachable version from Villa Giada such a welcome find. 'Treponti' (meaning 'three bridges') delivers the essence of this noble grape without requiring a decade of patience or a second mortgage. While it doesn't have the weight and aging potential of its more famous cousins, it compensates with immediate charm and drinkability. Villa Giada has crafted a Nebbiolo that maintains the grape's distinctive character – those gorgeous aromatics, the tension between delicate fruit and firm structure – but in a more accessible package. It's like getting to know a famous person's friendly younger sibling – all the family resemblance without the attitude or entourage.

Cocchi Vermouth di Torino Extra Dry is a premium Italian vermouth made in Piedmont following traditional methods. It's crafted from a base of white wines infused with a proprietary blend of herbs, spices, and botanicals including wormwood, creating a sophisticated aperitif with balanced dryness and subtle sweetness.

Cocchi Vermouth di Torino 'Storico' is an authentic sweet vermouth produced in Turin, Piedmont following a historical recipe from 1891. This aromatized fortified wine is crafted with a Moscato base and infused with a variety of botanicals including cinchona bark, rhubarb, and citrus, resulting in a perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness.

The Dragon has landed – and it's bringing serious white wine game to a region better known for its reds. Luigi Baudana's Langhe Bianco Dragon is what happens when traditional Piedmontese winemaking meets an innovative white blend, creating something truly distinctive and downright delicious. This unique blend brings together the best qualities of each grape: Chardonnay's structure, Sauvignon Blanc's aromatic lift, and Riesling's precision. The result is a wine that's both intellectually interesting and simply enjoyable to drink – a rare combination indeed. Produced in limited quantities from high-altitude vineyards, it offers the kind of complexity that makes you keep coming back for another sip, trying to unravel its delicious mystery. Definitely not your average Italian white – this Dragon has serious bite.

Tiamo (which means 'I love you' in Italian – already a good start) creates organic wines that deliver authentic Italian character at prices that won't break the heart or bank account. Their Barbera is a perfect everyday red that reminds us why this variety is beloved at dinner tables throughout northern Italy. Barbera is sometimes overshadowed by Piedmont's more famous Nebbiolo-based wines, but locals know it as the perfect weeknight wine – juicy, versatile, and refreshing enough to pair with a wide range of foods. Tiamo's version captures this everyday appeal while adding the benefits of organic farming and careful winemaking. It's the kind of honest, unpretentious wine that doesn't demand contemplation but rewards it nonetheless – much like the best kinds of relationships.