INSIDER'S PICK: 2018 KELLEREI CANTINA TERLANO SAUVIGNON BLANC ALTO ADIGE 'WINKL' (Wine Advocate 92points) $31.99

At a time like this, it's pretty much impossible to be 'normal'. But it is important to try and keep what you can as close to normal as you can while you can. Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount on Thursday and Friday. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.

Most people don't think of Sauvignon Blanc as a 'traditional' grape variety for Italy (and in comparison to the hundreds if not thousands of years in history many of their grapes have, you're probably right), but the Alto Adige isn't your usual Italian region. The history and population still has strong ties to Teutonic influences, as witnessed by the common Germanic sounding names of places and people, and it's proximity to the Alps provides a very different climate.When Sauvignon Blanc started appearing here in the late 19th century, it wasn't because of fads or marketing decisions, but because it made sense to plant it here. The climate brings the same sort of distinct vibrancy that it does with all the other successful varietals that have made a name in  Alto Adige, and at their best can deliver world class examples that deserve mention with the best wines of the Loire. Probably most analogous to a Pouilly-Fume, there is a fresh underlying minerality to the white fruits rather than a piercing or tingling acidity, with round peach tones on the palate and less overt grassiness throughout. There is also that underlying savory food-friendly character so many Italian wines have that licks in on the finish, maintaining the distinct sense of place the other great Sauvignon Blancs of the world have. Enjoyable on its own, but a real stunner with local goat cheeses, white fish or rich seafood dishes.

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