Tommasi

Pale golden yellow with lustre. Pronounced aromas of tropical fruits, slightly lush melon and unripe banana. On the palate, nice acidity and drive on the mid-palate, then a slight bitterness on the generally well-balanced finish.

Le Fornaci, made by the Tommasi family, is a Lugana DOC from the southern tip of Lake Garda due east of Verona. Historically, Lugana has been the drink of tourists visiting Lake Garda every year. The DOC straddles two Italian regions: Lombardy, with 90% of the vines to the west; and Veneto to the east, where 60% of the winemaking occurs. Le Fornaci, or the Furnace, is named for a local Roman brick kiln, but the show's star is the turbiana grape. Originally thought to be a trebbiano variety (it was called Trebbiano di Lugana until 2008), DNA testing confirmed it is a relative of verdicchio, grown widely in the Marche. The grapes are night harvested by machine and shipped to the Tommasi winery in Pedemonte di Valpolicella. The fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks with no malolactic fermentation and no wood to keep it ultra fresh as it ages briefly (3 months) on its lees. You will love the intense white florals with additional citrus aromas. On the palate, the flavours are bold, mixing lime, green apple and honeysuckle with salty almonds. It is a fabulous seafood wine that is perfect for the West Coast.