While winemakers Gino Magnabosco and his daughter Marta are especially known for their white wines, they also have property in the Valpolicella DOC where Corvina is the predominant grape. This wine is 55% Corvina, 30% Rondinella, and 15% Molinara and is much richer and concentrated than their regular Corvina since the grapes are dried for about a month before pressing and the wine is aged five months in oak. While technically not a Ripasso it has a similar profile, with violet aromas and dark cherry flavors from the Corvina, and the other grapes adding savory spice. Great with grilled or braised meats.

2022 Groupe Uval, Umanu Red — This wine comes from Corsica, the Mediterranean island north of Sardinia, just off the Tuscan coast. Politically it belongs to France, but culturally it is very much a part of Italy. Groupe Uval is a cooperative created in 1975 in the Île de Beauté IGP, an official French wine region that accounts for the majority of Corsica’s wine production. The predominant red grape on the island is Nielluccio (the Corsican clone of Sangiovese) but the IGP allows French and Spanish grapes as well, hence this unlikely blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Niellucciu. The local clay and limestone soil tends to produce wines with clean, fresh character. As importer Small Vineyards notes, this bright, brambly red, with its fresh berry flavors, is “driven by wind-blown, sun-filled personality.” Perfect for barbeque, grilled vegetables, or sheep cheeses.

2009 Bodegas Manzanos, Siglo Gran Reserva Rioja — The Fernández de Manzano family began making wine in Azagra, Spain, in 1890. Today the fifth generation of the family runs the estate, and they have properties in Navarra (Azagra) and Rioja—both Rioja Alta, the highest part of the region, and Rioja Orientale, the lower vineyards in the eastern part of the appellation. This wine was a huge hit at our most recent Spanish tasting. It is a traditional Rioja — 85% Termpranillo and 15% Garnacha, sourced from 50-year-old vines. As a Gran Reserva, it is aged for three years in mostly neutral barrels, plus a further four to six years in bottle. Now 15 years from vintage, it is a savory mix of red and dried fruit, baking spice, grilled herbs, and black olive flavors. A classic match for rustic dishes like game sausage or roast pork.

2019 Bodega Vistalba, Corte C — This winery was founded in 2003 by veteran winemaker Carlos Pulenta in the Vistalba Valley on the western edge of the Luján de Cuyo region of Mendoza, Argentina. The winery sits at about 1,200 meters above sea level in the Andes Mountains and some of their vineyards are now over 70 years old. They produce a number of wines, including three red corte (or blends), always with Malbec as the predominant grape. The Corte C, blended with about 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, is created to be their most immediately accessible. About 20% of the wine is aged in oak barrels for eight months. It has inviting flavors of red fruit and soft, silky tannins and would be perfect with steak or grilled meat with chimichurri sauce.

2022 Domaine Jouclary, Sauvignon Blanc — This wine comes from Cabardès, an appellation in the Languedoc region of southwest France. It is a small appellation on the slopes of the Montagne Noir, just north of the medieval walled city of Carcassonne. The region is influenced by both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, both in climate and in grape varieties grown. This wine is 100% Sauv Blanc, sourced from fruit grown on lower elevation sites and harvested in the cool, early morning to preserve freshness. It is fermented with some skin contact, then aged on the lees for several months, adding nice aromatics and texture to the crisp, fresh acidity typical of the grape. Try it with grilled fish with lemon and capers, crispy roast chicken, or Japanese cuisine.

2021 Jean-Baptiste Duperray, Côteaux Bourguignons, Chardonnay sur Calcaire — This estate was founded in 1840 in the commune of Saint-Julien, in southern Beaujolias. This wine carries the “Côteaux Bourguignons” designation (formerly Bourgogne Ordinaire), a generic appellation covering many styles of wine from throughout Burgundy. The fruit is grown in the calcareous limestone soils of southern Beaujolais, known as pierres dorées (or golden stones). Jean-Baptiste Duperray, who took over his family estate in 2014, farms with as sustainably as possible, using wild yeasts and no added sulfur. This Chardonnay is fresh and minerally, with intriguing notes from the local terroir and a nice inviting richness. Great with poultry, fish, seafood, white meats, and goat cheeses.