When I think of fine Italian wines, the three names that are music to my ears are Barolo (and Barbaresco), Brunello and Super Tuscan. So when I was approached by the budding wine importers, Divine & Co, to help them taste some of the wines from these areas, being brought by their Principal, Tony Sasa of Sasa Wine Research, Florence, I asked them to show me the list of wines available. I was really excited after looking at some of the wines. They were from obscure and small vineyards from producers who would normally never reach us.

After meeting Tony and gauging his enthusiasm for the Indian market and his passion to try and spot unfamiliar names producing good quality wines in Piedmont, Tuscany and Veneto, I figured the best way to enjoy these wines would be to taste them with dinner at Diva, the fine Italian Restaurant in town.

We invited 18 members to come for the programme at a day's notice. A total of 28 persons attended this special Event There were 9 labels but unfortunately no more than 2 bottles of each. Nevertheless, it turned out to be an exciting evening of a serious wine tasting with members scrambling to try out as many varieties as they could. Soave from Tamellini using only garganega grapes was an instant hit as the white wine. Normally Soaves other than the Classico are rather insipid, the insipidity somewhat reduced with the use of up to 30 %Chardonnay . But this single grape varietal was concentrated, medium body and quite aromatic.( piofrancesco.tamellini@tin.it )

Following the whites was a daily drinking simple Chianti from Il Lago info@fattoriaillago.com and a Montepulciano d'Abruzzi from Farnese Vini in Abruzzo. Although they were pretty ordinary wines but when I was told the price, I felt they were great value for the Indian market saddled with incredulously high duties Testamatta, from a very small vineyard in my favourite Fiezole, a pretty and hilly suburb of Fiorenze and Vitto Arturo ( fattoria.lefonti@libero.com ) from Le Fonti, located about 30 kms from Florence , two super Tuscan Sangiovese from different producers were outstanding. They were fully extracted with round tannins and a great mouthfeel and complex after taste. Former was a bit too tight and would do better in the next couple of years. I Giusti e Zanza are known for their super tuscans and both their star performers -Belcore and Dulcamara produced in a village near Livorno made with Sangiovese and Cabernet and Merlot were full bodied, muscular, spicy and well balanced wines . ( info@igiustiezanza.it )