Beth and Bill are huge fans of Italian Food and nothing is better than fabulous homemade New York Italian comfort food paired with fruity flavorful Italian Wines! This week we’ll enjoy food & wine with Larry Hughes, owner of That Italian Place located in Ahwatukee, with incredible homemade Italian food. Mark Palmisano, Italian Wine Specialist from Southern Wine & Spirits will share perfect wine pairings with these delicious homemade dishes…
 2005 Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico – paired with Mary Anne’s World Famous Lasagna, need we say more?
Grapes: 90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot and Syrah
The first vintage of Pèppoli (1985) was released in 1988. It is complex and well-structured yet fruity and aromatic, a style made possible by the unique microclimate. The vineyards are planted in a particularly well-aspected valley on soil rich in minerals, ideal for the cultivation of vigorous, fruity Sangiovese grapes. 55 of the 100-hectare Pèppoli estate in the heart of Chianti Classico are planted with vineyards.
Intense red fruit aromas, especially redcurrants and raspberries, are amplified by light hints of vanilla and coffee sensations. This full-bodied wine is pleasantly lingering with soft, sweet tannins. It should be drunk while still young for full expression of the fruit.
Alcohol : 13.0% Vol.
 2006 Antinori Vermentino – paired with Rice Balls, a Sicilian treat you won’t soon forget!
Grapes: 100% Vermentino from the Tenuta Guado al Tasso vineyards near Bolgheri, on the Tuscan coast south of Livorno.
The first vintage of Vermentino Tenuta Guado al Tasso was 1996. The estate is about 80 Km. south-west of Florence near the medieval town of Bolgheri, in Maremma. The 900-hectare estate extends down the Tyrrhenian coast to the hills and apart from vineyards, other crops grown here include wheat, corn, sunflowers, and olives.
A wine with strong personality. Straw-yellow color with greenish hues, very intense fruity aromas typical of the grape. The palate is tangy, harmonious very lingering and pleasantly minerally.
 NV Candoni Moscato D’Italia – paired with Larry’s Homemade NY Style Cheesecake – YUM!
Low in alcohol, semi-sparkling, but remarkably fruity and fragrant, it has an excellent balance of sweetness and acidity. Made from 100% Moscato Bianco grapes from the central Italy.
Candoni Moscato d’Italia shouldn’t be aged and is best drunk fresh. The bottle should be laid horizontally in a cool, dark, damp wine cellar and served at 42.5 degrees F.
It makes an exceptional dessert wine but is also versatile enough to enjoy as an aperitif or during summer picnics or patio meals. Excellent with pastries, cakes, desserts, fruit.
 2006 Tormaresca Neprica
Blend: 40% Negroamaro 30% Primitivo 30% Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol: 13.0 % by volume
Tormaresca was founded in 1998 with the investment and vision of the Antinori family in Italy’s Puglia region. A long, cool spring with a warm, balmy summer without any heat peaks made for a great year with good fruit and average yields resulting in a “classic vintage.”
A vibrant ruby color with a dark fruit nose and a palate of fruit with balanced tannins makes this wine perfect to pair with Italian vegetables or pastas with light sauces.
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