Guerrieri Rizzardi Munus Bardolino Superiore Classico DOCG 2010 (O’Briens, €14.99 )
Made with Corvina, Rondinella and Merlot grapes grown in the hills overlooking Lake Garda and, principally, the town of Bardolino in Italy’s Veneto, the first thing you notice is how incredibly light this wine looks in the glass.
On the nose, it has buckets of cherries and a splattering of herbs, while on the palate, the fruit is just as intense with cherry and strawberry flavours providing a long medium-bodied, smooth, lingering and satisfying finish. In essence, the perfect wine with a spicy pizza or to accompany a sizzling steak from the barbecue.
Balestri Valda Soave Classico Garganega, Trebbiano 2012
(Wines Direct, €13.65 )
From the Veneto region of northeast Italy, Soave can be a bit hit and miss. This particular one is definitely worth talking up.
Made from Garganega (80 per cent ) and Trebbiano di Soave (20 per cent ), it has a fine aroma of ripe pear fruit on the nose with a hint of almonds and stonier fruit. On the palate, the fruit is much more tropical and concentrated with melon and peach along with pear coming to the fore. With a fresh acidity and a decent length and finish, this is the perfect companion to the saltines of a luscious Greek cheese salad.
