RI Monthly Magazine "Best Of" Contest. As we mentioned before, RI Monthly is holding its "Best of RI" contest, and we hope to obtain your vote for "The Best Wine Shop in West Bay." From April 1-May 15, you can place your vote either online at www.rimonthly.com or through a ballot in the April issue of the magazine, which is available free to our customers at our store. Last year, we won the "Best New Wine Shop" award. So tell one, tell all and please consider The Savory Grape when you vote!

We continue with Europe from last week. The ancient Greeks referred to Italy as Enotria...the Land of Grapes. With more than 1,000 varietals and 343 government sanctioned growing areas, one can see that Italian wine is a lifelong study. Therefore, this week's focus is on a trio of Italian whites and one red.

The first is Orvieto Classico from Umbria which is the only landlocked wine area in Italy. Produced from Trebbiano grapes grown in the hills surrounding the quaint town of Orvieto, hence its name, this white wine is light-bodied with green apple and pear flavors. Its wonderful for a gathering because of its lightness yet it pairs well with fish and salad courses. A sheer delight and great for Easter!

From the Marches area comes Verdicchio, which we actually tasted a few weekends ago at the shop. (Ask us if you need help finding this one.) Formerly well known for its amphorous-shaped bottles, which are being phased out to upgrade its image, Verdicchio is grown in and around the coastal towns of the Adriatic Sea. Keeping the axiom of "if it grows together it goes together" one can deduct that this wine would be a perfect accomplice to a seafood-based meal.

Moving on to Tuscany, a land well known for fabulous Chiantis and Brunellos, comes Vernaccia di San Gimignano. The Vernaccia grape is only allowed to grow in areas surrounding the beautiful walled city of San Gimignano that's about an hour south of Florence. This light-to-medium bodied white wine as said to “kiss, lick, bite, and sting," also was potentially Michelangelo’s inspiration while sculpting “Bacchus,” images of the god of wine. We too are inspired about this wine.

So that we don’t shut out red wine lovers, we mention Primitivo, the grape and also the wine. From Puglia (Apulia) which is the area that forms the spur and heel of Italy’s boot, this grape makes an inexpensive yet very enjoyable wine for all types of pizzas and pastas. Genetically linked to Zinfandel this is probably the grape brought to California by Italian immigrants. Bright juicy and sometimes jammy, its wonderful supple tannins pair nicely with red sauces. Give it a try at our tasting this weekend!

2005 Casa Alle Vacche Vernaccia di San Gimignano. (Coming Thursday) If you have never been to the hills of San Gimignano it is a must during your lifetime. The beauty of the landscape and town is romantic - of true Italian style. The wine's nose sings of green apples, citrus aromas, and slight nuances of lemon/lime, while the palate is gloriously uncompromising - tangy, slightly salinic, peachy and mouthwatering. The finish is lengthy, smooth and dry. Quite a classy wine. ($13.99)

2004 Conti Zecca Cantalupi Primitivo, Puglia. This Primitivo, as we mentioned is linked to Zinfandel, has a rich, dark red color as most red Zins do. Rich and vibrant, its nose exudes ripe berry flavors that are also paralleled on the palate with accompanying allspice and cocoa flavors. Its mouth feel is velvety and lingers nicely. ($13.49)

2005 Amon Ra Godolphin Shiraz/Cabernet, Australia. The 2005 Godolphin, a blend of 80% Shiraz (from 85-year-old vines) and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon (from 60-year-old vines), represents a beautiful marriage of power and elegance, displaying an inky/blue/purple color as well as notions of black raspberries, blueberries, and graphite. Ripe, pure, and medium to full-bodied with sweet but noticeable tannins, it can be drunk now or cellared for 12-15 years. A fine, fine gift. ($63.99)

2005 Domaine de Pouy, Gascogne, France. This will be one of our new spring and summer wines! Located in southwestern France, Gascogne is most well-known as the origin of Armagnac and the Three Musketeers. It's produced from the varietal Ugni Blanc, which is the main component in Armagnac and Cognac but has been used in wines for local consumption for years, and Colombard. The wine has a penetrating floral green apple fragrance, and is loaded with refreshing and flavorful fruit. Simply delicious above all. ($11.99)

2003 Chateau de Serame Corbieres, France. From the France's Corbieres region, this is a lovely toasty red of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Mourvedre. Intense and fruit forward, it has rich concentrated flavors of blackberry and mocha that lead into a long and bold finish. The mouth feel is extremely smooth. Perfect for spring and summer! ($13.99)

2001 Fossati Barolo, Piedmont. (Coming Thursday) We are pleased to have in our possession this extremely limited Barolo that won't be around long and has a fantastic price. Those who love the Barolo style will enjoy its aromas of tea, leather and dried fruits that follow through to a full-bodied palate with firm, silky tannins. The finish is never ending. Due to the limited quantity, please let us know if you are interested in this selection. ($38.99)

Friday, April 6 (5 pm to 8 pm)

• 2005 Casa Alle Vacche Vernaccia. Please see tasting notes above. ($13.99)

• 2004 Conti Zecca Cantalupi Primitivo. Please see tasting notes above.($13.99)

• 2005 La Colombaia Valpolicella Ripasso. This is an excellent wine with Amarone characteristics that can be enjoyed within five years of the vintage. This Ripasso has a deep and intense ruby red color. On the nose, it displays very particular and enjoyable candied fruit with elegant scents of spices and cinnamon. The taste is warm, smooth and velvety, enveloping pleasant flavors of ripe cherry. ($15.99)

Saturday, April 7 (3 pm to 7 pm)

• 2005 Domaine de Pouy, Gascogne, France. Please see tasting notes above. ($11.99)

• 2005 Domaine des Corbillieres Sauvignon Blanc, France. Domaine des Corbillieres is located approximately 20 miles to the east of the city of Tours, in the Loire Valley's Touraine appellation. This Sauvignon Blanc is crisp with a mix of bright fruit forward flavors of apple, grapefruit, peach and citrus. The key here is that the producers harvest only by hand, and not by machine, thus giving great care to the vines and ending wines. ($12.99)

• 2003 Chateau de Serame Corbieres, France. Please see tasting notes above. ($13.99)

• 2003 Chateau Mezain, Bordeaux France. What a fantastic Bordeaux for the price. We think this is worth much more and want to scoop much up for ourselves. Comprised of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, it is soft, yet rich, well-balanced and persistent in the mouth with black currant, strawberry jam and cocoa flavors. Another nice partner for Easter. ($12.49)