First published 2010
Joseph Bastianich curates Italy's finest wines through direct vineyard visits and winemaker interviews. The co-owner of premier Italian restaurants with Mario Batali and producer across four wine estates brings unique expertise to this selection. Bastianich showcases eighty-nine wines that have shaped the industry, from a Sangiovese produced at San Patrignano drug rehabilitation center in Emilia Romagna to Sicily's fresh Pietramarina white from Mount Etna's distinctive terroir. His Barolo selections span family operations like Paolo Scavino's Rocche dell'Annunziata Riserva and newer producers like Luciano Sandrone, who began crafting exceptional wines only in the 1990s. Hand-illustrated regional maps locate each winery, while detailed appendices provide vinification methods, production notes, and contact information. Wine enthusiasts gain access to Italy's most impactful bottles through the lens of an industry insider.
Genres: non-fiction, food-and-drink, food-writing
Vibes: informative, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: expert-guide, insider-perspective
Setting: Italy, Emilia Romagna, Sicily, Mount Etna
Period: 20th Century, 21st Century
304 pages · Hardcover · Clarkson Potter