Visionario 2016

When you want a glass of something fresh, chilled and crowd-pleasing, you can’t beat northern Italy’s intensely aromatic whites. Elegant examples like this exclusive from maestro Alessandro Gallici are rarely found for less than $30 a bottle – and rarely outside Italy.

Alessandro's Visionario is not only based on Luigi Felluga’s legendary Terre Alte (which sells for $60-plus a bottle) – but he also sources his grapes from the same hallowed hill (and has to be buzzed in through the massive gates by the team at Felluga Estate).

Top Italian wine critic Luca Maroni rates this 2016 an impressive 93 points. (He's not the only critic to love it either – past vintages have earned kudos from Master of Wine Julia Harding, who wrote that it was “totally Italian and Venetian. Juicy, fresh, and complex” – she also called it a top value.)

To craft this hugely popular white – a white wine play on the famed (red) Super Tuscans – Alessandro marries local and international grapes from Friuli and Venezie. The Tocai Friuliano grape gives it body; Sauvignon Blanc imparts green-fruited notes; Chardonnay adds ripe citrus flavors; and late-harvested Gewürztraminer lends an ever-so-subtle kiss of sweetness.

Look forward to elegant aromas of stone fruit, with hints of almond and spice. On the palate, there's soft peach and green pear flavors, with a refreshing minerality and pleasing lemon zest notes. Enjoy it as a mouthwatering aperitif, or with fresh seafood dishes like mussels fra diavolo, grilled calamari or herb-roasted branzino.

Race for a taste of this unique, northern Italian white … before it’s gone.

Country	Italy
Varietal	White Blend
Region	Veneto
Alcohol	12.5%
Volume	750ml
Vintage	2016