What do Santa Maria La Palma Vermentino, Tenuta Pepe Taurasi, Petra Potenti Cabernet and Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta Rose all have in common? Yes, of course, they are all terrific recent additions to our Italian wine portfolio. But more specifically, all of these wines were first discovered by our wine team at Vinitaly.Vinitaly, for those not in the trade, is one of the most eagerly anticipated wine shows of the year. April 7th cannot come fast enough for me.

Over 150,000 visitors from 110 different countries will descend  upon the beautiful Renaissance city of Verona. More than 4,000 exhibiting wineries will be showing off their most recent vintages and new projects. If it sounds a bit overwhelming, it is. Making your way around the fair and keeping on schedule is not what most people would consider an enjoyable day. Our buyer Brad Lewis took his lovely wife Joy along for the experience last year, and I believe she came away with a new appreciation for Brad's job.

At the conclusion of Vinitaly I will be heading south to pick up a group of ABC wine consultants. As a group we will be visiting estates in Tuscany, Campania and Puila before returning home. Stay tuned for a detailed report on our travels throughout Italy in the coming weeks. Until then, arrivederci!

Roman arena in the Piazza Bra, Verona.

Paul Quaglini, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Wine Supervisor

Follow him on Twitter @abcwinepaulq