The Bidente valley is in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. A tiny hamlet all but hidden there is called Dogheria, and part of that is a wine estate, owned by Poderi dal Nespoli. They make a truly delightful white wine there, called, yes, Dogheria. It is 90 per cent pinot bianco, 10 per cent sauvignon blanc, and, at $14, it delivers remarkable lusciousness, a big mouthfeel, with subtle citrus notes and some minerality, making it a simply delicious drink. Better to buy half a case or so, and keep two in the fridge at all times, in case the pre-dinner conversation dawdles on pleasantly while you wait for the lamb shanks to finish.
The Black Sage Vineyard in the Okanagan Valley is really hitting stride. The 2013 reds are now available, and they all show great potential to age a bit, while being delicious right now. The merlot ($20) features dark red fruits, ripe plums, and some surprising apparent spiciness. The cabernet franc ($21) yields up more blueberry notes, with some mint, and even sage. Grilled branzino, roast beef? Your choice.
