Great Wines | Bastianich

Travel through the Italian countryside with Joseph Bastianich in search of the country's eighty-nine finest wines. Joseph Bastianich is deeply knowledgeable about Italian wines like no one else. Not only is he the co-owner, along with Mario Batali, of some of America's top Italian restaurants, but he also produces wine on four separate estates, three of which are in Italy, and is credited with bringing Eataly, the innovative artisanal Italian food and wine marketplace, to New York. His carefully curated list of favorite wines creates a captivating journey that truly brings Italian wines to life. "Grandi Vini" introduces readers to the best wines in Italy by taking them to the vineyards and introducing the winemakers behind the bottles. These wines not only please the palate but have also made a significant impact on the industry. In Central Italy, he recommends a remarkable Sangiovese from Emilia Romagna, produced at San Patrignano, the largest drug rehabilitation center in Europe. On the island of Sicily, known more for bulk commercial wine, wine enthusiasts can now discover the perfectly fresh, dry white Pietramarina from the forward-thinking Benati family, grown in the unique terroir of Mount Etna. Of course, one cannot overlook the great Barolos. Bastianich selects a specific list of wines from this renowned production region, some from family-owned wineries like Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata Riserva of Paolo Scavino, founded by the winery's founder's son, and others that have emerged more recently, like the Barolo Cannubi Boschis made by Luciano Sandrone, a winemaker who began producing exceptional wines only in the 1990s. "Grandi Vini" also includes a wine list at the back of the book with details on vinification, production, and website information for each wine. Illustrated maps locating the wineries in their respective regions enrich the exploration of eighty-nine Italian wines that are among the world's finest—a delightful read for any wine enthusiast. Joseph Bastianich is America's foremost authority on Italian wine. As the co-owner, with Mario Batali, of several highly acclaimed Italian restaurants in the United States, the co-founder of Eataly New York, the owner of Tarry Wine Merchants, and the proprietor of four wine estates, he has been recognized with the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional. He resides with his wife and children in Greenwich, Connecticut. "Joe has compiled a greatest hits list of many of my favorite wines while also shedding light on wines that were new to me—and are now on my must-drink list. Reading Grandi Vini feels like being part of an exclusive wine enthusiast club with access to previously undisclosed insights on the modern Italian wine world."—Mario Batali "Joseph Bastianich's insightful, enthusiastic, and personal exploration of Italy's finest wines is a must-have for all wine enthusiasts."—Robert M. Parker, Jr. "It's challenging to be objective when discussing one's own offspring, but without a doubt, Joseph Bastianich, my son, possesses one of the top wine palates in the industry. His boundless passion for wine shines through in every word he writes about it, in every sip he takes, and in every bottle he produces. Grandi Vini, eighty-nine wine stops through Italy with Joe, is undeniably a journey worth embarking on."—Lidia Bastianich "A captivating read that vividly brings Italy's most important wines to life, Grandi Vini is an essential book for anyone serious about Italian wine."—Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate