I'm the first to admit that Italy's wines are as delicious as they are confusing. One of my favorite, food-friendly, easy-drinking examples is Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is a well-rounded, plum scented Italian red wine. It is produced from Montepulciano grapes grown in the Abruzzo region on Italy's Adriatic Coast. It is often confused with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano which is an entirely different wine produced around the Tuscan town of Montepulciano and primarily from Sangiovese grapes. Follow me?

Montepulciano from Abruzzo is one of Italy's most popular red wines and with good reason. Most good examples are bursting with tart cherry and earth flavors, accompanied by herbal and floral aromas. The other thing savvy wine buyers love about Montepulciano is it is almost always a superb value.

Il Monile Montepulciano d'Abruzzo has been part of the ABC Italian portfolio for four years now. Gregory Perrucci, one of Italy's most innovative wine makers introduced this wine to us in March of 2010. From day one I was always a fan of the wine, but I must be honest, I never cared much for the packaging.

Last year we began speaking to Gregory's significant other Marianna Greco about sprucing up the label. Marianna is a graphic artist who has designed a number of wine labels that adorn our shelves. Marianna agreed and created the new label pictured on the left.

The last thing we want to do is to create any further confusion about Montepulciano, but after speaking to a few guests I think we may have done so. If you have been enjoying the Il Monille Montepulciano pictured on the right over the past four years, I assure you these are the exact same wine. Delicious, easy drinking, great value wine with a new label.

Paul Quaglini, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits wine supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @abcwinepaulq