Many people, I suspect, don’t take their wine-explorations outside Tuscany and the Veneto. Chianti and Valpolicella are both fine wines, when they’re good, but there’s much more to Italy than these choices.

Italy abounds in both big and delicate wines, red or white, which beautifully match the cuisine of their own region. Visit the website of a good Italian specialist such as Cento Por Cento or Valvona & Crolla for an informative tour of the country and its vinous riches.

One of the most exciting regions is Sicily, long known mainly for Marsala and fairly cheap wines, formerly consumed mostly at home. A number of fine producers are now raising the quality levels, with wonderful results. Their signature grape is Nero d’Avola, and some really great examples can be found here. Valvona & Crolla sells a terrific Nero d’Avola 2004, made by MandraRossa. I’m even more in love with Nero d’Avola, Gulfi Nerojbleo 2001 - a truly sublime wine.

Supplier stockists
Cento Por Cento

Nero d’Avola 2004
MandraRossa
£6.99, Valvona & Crolla

Nero d’Avola, Gulfi Nerojbleo 2001
£10.69, Oddbins