In the middle of January, I put together a wine tasting at a title company for realtors and lenders. We tasted six wines throughout the night, from sparkling to dessert, pairing them with olives, cheeses, salumi, meatballs, and grandmother’s pizza. Here were the top three favorites of the night.

Bruno Giacosa – Roero Arneis 2022 (Piedmont, Italy). Bruno Giacosa (d. 2018), made fabulous Piedmontese wines from the Lange region: Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, Dolcetto, Arneis, and sparkling wine. Along with producer Vietti, he helped bring the Arneis grape back from near-extinction in the 1970s. And thank goodness he did. This Arneis is white wine for people who prefer red wines. Apricot and peach on the nose, with white floral notes, it is full-bodied on the palate, with some salinity. This paired well with a creamy brie. His daughter, Bruna Giacosa, now runs the winery. 14% ABV, $28 at Wineworks. 

Loxarel – 999 Brut Rose NV 2020 (Penedes, Catalonia, Spain). The 999 cava is a blend of Pinot Noir and Xarel-lo Vermell (a rare, red-skinned mutation of the Xarel-lo grape). With aromas of raspberries, cranberries, spun sugar, and a hint of cinnamon, this was pure candy that somehow doesn’t have any sugar (dosage) added. Very dry, delicious and interesting. The wine is also biodynamic, and fermented in clay amphora, providing the finished product a more creamy, mineral taste. 12.5% ABV; $18 at Wineworks.

Tenute Sella & Mosca – Cannonau Di Sardegna Reserva (Sardinia). Cannonau is the Sardinian word for Grenache. This wine has been one of my go-to’s for BYOB dinners in Italian restaurants for years; I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before in this column. It’s elegant yet medium- to full-bodied enough to stand up to most Italian dishes. The wine has notes of cherries, blackberry, and herbal aromas and flavors, with silky tannins and chocolate undertones on the finish. 14% ABV; $20 at Wineworks. Salut!