Icons and Trailblazers

At Cellar Trading, we pride ourselves on sourcing both the icons – the classic producers and benchmark names that define Italy’s premier regions – as well as the trailblazers: the up-and-coming growers whose wines have deeply impressed us. Often, there’s a family story behind a new venture, such as the Penna-Currado project, whose bottlings punch well above their appellation. We like to think of them not just as “baby Barolos,” but as wines that rival Italy’s best and transcend their current classifications. It’s no surprise – having established Vietti in the 19th century and guided it to global acclaim, the family’s wealth of knowledge and experience has laid the foundation for another remarkable success.

Speaking of Vietti, their recent vintages continue to reach new heights, especially the 2019 Monvigliero. It’s supple, precise, and built to age gracefully for at least another two decades. Giacomo Conterno’s lineup features the iconic 99-point Cascina Francia: elegant, expressive, and a worthy flagship in Conterno’s stellar collection.

Value-seekers should stock up on the entire Penna-Currado range, along with Busso’s Barbarescos, Colla’s Dardi Le Rose Barbaresco, and magnums of the 2017 Ognostro, just $125. These would shine on any holiday table and are absolutely at peak drinking.

And lest we forget Tuscany, Fico and Riecine’s IGTs embody the exceptional value we continue to see from the region. Producing wines of this quality at such fair prices is no small feat, and we’re thrilled to share them with you. These are bottles we open at home with friends and family, and we hope you love them as much as we do. The “decidedly sophisticated” (VM) 2022 Tignanello is still in its youth; we recommend adding a few cases to your cellar. It’s approachable now but will truly sing after another two to three years, hitting its stride around 2027 and beyond.