INSIDER'S PICK: 2023 SANTA VENERE CIRO BIANCO $16.99

The Greco grape has a foothold throughout most of southern Italy, from Naples down being one of the primary varieties used in their white wines. The grape is probably most famous when coming from the high volcanic mountain vineyards above Naples where Greco di Tufo is made, but it makes durable and reliably tasty wines pretty much everywhere it grows. Calabria is more known to Americans for the historical connections to the Italian mafia than for wine (we've been told, we've heard they're there, we know nothing, snitches get stiches), but quality exists in pockets especially along the coastline and mountains along the Ionian Sea. Coastal breezes and mountain temperature changes help bring much needed cooling freshness to the otherwise warm environment, giving whites like this a distinctive pop. Warm peach and Meyer lemon aromas that catch a bit of flowery prettiness as it gets warmer, but are otherwise fairly zesty at ice-bucket temperatures. The palate is juicy and also loaded with the same fruit on the nose, but finishes with an impressive zing of almost salty citrus skin that really makes the wine distinctive. Fun for chilled down sipping, and can handle a lot of lighter to midweight seafood or vegetable dishes, so it's perfect for backyard activities this Summer.

---