There’s a certain sense of pride we feel when our favorite new band or hole-in-the-wall restaurant gets the critical reception we feel it deserves. As painful as it can be to watch something you love explode into the mainstream, no longer an insider secret for just you and a handful of admirers, there’s a validation that comes from wider recognition—a stamp of approval that you have good taste! While I dread the price increases that come from greater competition in the market for my favorite wines, I’m simultaneously thrilled for their success.
Let’s use the latest Vinous exposé on Italy’s Alto Adige as an example. As a longtime lover of fresh and food-friendly Italian wines, I’ve been turning to Italy’s alpine vineyards for more than a decade, crushing sub-$20 bottles of deliciousness with everything from pizza to pasta to charcuterie platters for most of my career. So when one of the best wine publications around hints that the Alto Adige’s time to shine may well be nigh, it gives me goosebumps and gets me all fired up. Nothing brings me more pleasure than shining a spotlight on under-appreciated bottles, and if I have the boys from Vinous as backup, it makes that conversation all the more compelling.
I’ll be beefing up our selection just a bit today as I want to take advantage of the additional press, and I’ll be posting some special highlights throughout the week. Check back daily for an in-depth profile into some of the can’t-miss selections.
-David Driscoll