I also am fascinated with the corner of the wine world which is often overlooked in the mainstream but those in the know are fully aware of the exciting and food friendly wines from this region.

“Recently I discovered (thanks to my Head Sommelier Imre) great reds particularly Pinot Noir and dry style of white Furmint and Harslevelu from Hungary. Hungary is not only sweet Tokaji so be brave and explore. From my own region (Piemonte, Italy) I would say give grape like Dolcetto, Freisa and Grignolino a go, still very affordable and they can deliver great pleasure.” –Davide Renna Deputy Head Sommelier at Imperial Treasure Restaurant Group

Master Sommelier, Katherine Larsen, concurs, “Northern Piemonte Lessona DOC for easy-drinking and fragrant Nebbiolo – offers very good value for money for Nebbiolo lovers. Alto Piemonte offers some incredible gems and Lessona DOC is one of them.”

Barolo is indeed one of my favourite wine regions of all time, though it is one of the more expensive wines of Italy, there are certainly excellent quality wines in and around Piedmont that offers beautiful, complex, and silky reds that are comparable at much lower prices than top Barolos or Barbarescos.

Interested to try the sommeliers’ recommendation? You can pick up the Sommelier’s Discovery Case from the bottle shop. Six individual bottles in the mix as recommended above including: a dry Furmint from Tokaj, a Langhe Nebbiolo, a Dolcetto, the Slovenian white from Stajerska, a Grignolino from Asti, and a superb Muscadet! Cheers to new discoveries!