On vinegar, always look for the words Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale. Modena helps.

Trentino's Pinto Grigio giant Mezza Corona makes a light and simple wine.

Is it true wine gets better with age? Does bottle-shape and color really matter? Read on.

Zinfandels and Primitivos are almost always robust and intensely fruity.

To taste a wine and discuss the state of the industry with someone from Italy’s Piedmont is just too tempting to pass up.

The reason I prefer Barbaresco is consistency. Its standard is higher.

The general rule of thumb is that red wines should be drunk at room temperature.

The easiest way to make a bad risotto is to start with the wrong rice.

The best Vin Santo can weigh in at more than €100. But it's divine.

Nobody, it seems, is supposed to order a cappuccino after mid-morning.

Does Italy’s capacity to coax exceptional wine from indigenous grapes warrant envy from a merchant in Bordeaux, the Promised Land of the wine world? Yes.

Is the wine clear? Breathe deeply through your nose: Can you smell the fruit?