For the last 10-15 years I have been primarily a big, bold cabernet drinker. In the last few years I have been continuing to try wines outside of my comfort zone. And when you try new things, sometimes you are pleasantly surprised, and yes, sometimes you're disappointed.  Trying to maintain a sense of adventure, Al and I joined a few wine clubs, one of which (Laithwaites) sends us a variety of wine a few times a year. It's always fun to receive one of these cases as we never know quite what to expect. (If you don't know much about wine, this can be a great way to experiment and find ones you like). I have recently found several Italian wines that I am really liking.  Now I've always been a big fan of a Barolo (“The king of wines, the wine of kings”) and undisputedly the best Italian produced wine. It's produced in the Piedmont region and uses the Nebbiolo grape, which is notoriously difficult to grow. Maybe this explains why it's such a pricey wine. Barbaresco is another wine from Piedmont, and then there's the third "B" from this region - the Barbera. This one deserves paying attention to. Renowned critic, Antonio Galloni, says “The best Barberas are simply stunning." This Il Poeta is a lovely medium-bodied wine, has a minimal nose, a touch of fruit, and a lingering smoky taste. I recently served this with pork and found it to be a perfect complement. Around $20 per bottle, this one is an excellent find. I encourage you to try it!  Salute! Click here to buy this wine.