×
Red
750ml
Bottle: $19.20
12 bottles: $17.10
A new wine for 'A Vita (although it was made once before, in the 2012 vintage), the 'il Rosso' is Gaglioppo (from the...
Red
750ml
Bottle: $18.08
12 bottles: $17.72
COLOR: Wine of very elegant red color. BOUQUET: Intense aroma, with fruity hints of ripe plums, cherry jam and notes...
Instore only
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $10.99
A newcomer to the marketplace, this velvety, blended Irish whiskey offers sweet, malty flavors that incorporate baked...
WE
94
Case only
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $23.66
Lovely and fresh with aromas of crunchy red berries, red plum, tomato, and leather. The palate has a touch of spice,...
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $32.89 $35.20
In the glass, the wine shows colors of red garnet accompanied by a bouquet of cherries, menthol and a hint of...
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $16.15 $17.08
12 bottles: $15.44
In the glass, the wine is deep ruby with purple hues. On the nose, the wine is delicate with notes of cherry,...
Red
750ml
Bottle: $22.80
12 bottles: $18.24
This blend of 70% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella and 5% Sangiovese is a smooth, full-bodied cru made in an...
Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $14.99
A fresh nose of blueberries, plums, cassis and violets. It’s medium-bodied with velvety tannins. It’s easygoing...
12 FREE
JS
89
Red
750ml
Bottle: $25.20
12 bottles: $22.80
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $16.20 $18.00
100% Verdicchio. The fruit is from 10 hectares of various vineyards on the Felici farm, from 10- to 40-year-old...
White
750ml
Bottle: $40.93
12 bottles: $40.11
A pungently floral and mineral-laced bouquet of musky peach and pear, spice, yellow flowers and crushed stone lifts...
12 FREE
VM
92
Case only
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $69.90
Expressive aromas of ripe black cherry, vanilla bean and toasted nuts are prominent on the nose. At first taste, the...
12 FREE
Sale
Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $16.83 $17.50
Taut and linear in profile, this red delivers black currant, black cherry, vanilla and peppery spices. Tightens up on...
WS
91
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $69.90 $75.60
Fascinating aromas of blackcurrants, orange peel, stone, minerals and blanched walnuts follow through to a medium to...
12 FREE
JS
95
Red
750ml
Bottle: $17.41
12 bottles: $17.06
COLOR: Dark ruby red color with purple highlights. NOSE: On the nose it shows a broad and complex bouquet with notes...
Sale
Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $15.49 $16.66
A juicy but umami nose on this wine begins with black cherries, blackberries and plums. Aromas then turn to soy sauce...
WE
89
Red
750ml
Bottle: $40.79
6 bottles: $40.00
I love the aromas of blackberries, graphite and walnut with cedar. Full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that run the...
JS
94
VM
93
Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $68.55
A beautifully curated and polished young red with black berry, violet, and bark. Full and velvety with creamy...
12 FREE
JS
94
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $14.94 $15.59
12 bottles: $14.64
Balanced and fresh, this white offers a creamy mix of melon, Meyer lemon peel, pineapple and lime blossom aromas and...
WS
89
Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $21.94
On the nose, the leading coppery, sanguine aromas are emphasized by astringent undertones of cranberry, white pepper...
12 FREE
WE
93

Irish Whiskey Italian Red Blends Primitivo Verdicchio 750ml

The Irish are hailed as being the original producers of whiskey in the British Isles, and their innovations and techniques were so successful, that neighbouring Scotland were quickly influenced by them in the 15th century. Centuries later, it was the Irish who brought whiskey to America, and their style of whiskey has since become popular all over the world.

However, it wasn’t always plain sailing for the Irish whiskey industry - from being a dominant force in the 19th century, whose produce was considered far superior to that of Scotland, political upheaval and war saw the Irish whiskey almost disappear forever in the early 20th century. Today, the Irish whiskey manufacturers are back on their feet, and they are once again proving that the original is often the best. With new distilleries opening every year, it is safe to say that Irish whiskey is very much back.

Irish whiskey differs from Scotch whisky in a number of ways, and not least the spelling - the extra ‘e’ was said to be added in the 19th century as a way of distancing the Irish drink from what they saw as an inferior Scottish product. Irish whiskey was traditionally made in enormous stills, as a way of ensuring consistency from bottle to bottle, and maintaining the quality and complexity their reputation was founded on. The typical tasting notes of fine Irish whiskey include apple and vanilla, alongside spicy and sweet touches of nutmeg and fresh hay, making this a highly pleasant and smooth drink, made for relaxation and stimulating conversation about times past.

As with many European grape varietals, there is some debate regarding the precise origins of the Primitivo grape. Most people now agree that it probably came from Croatia, where it is still used widely in the production of red wine, and it known as Tribidrag. However, today it is a grape most commonly associated with the powerful red wines of Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot, where the intense sunshine and brisk Mediterranean breezes produce grapes of remarkable character and balance. Primitivo is a dark grape, known for producing intense, inky, highly tannic wines, most notably the naturally sweet Dolce Naturale and the heavy and complex Primitivo di Manduria wines. Primitivo tends to be naturally very high in both tannin and alcohol, making it ideal for both barrel and cellar ageing, which brings out its more rounded and interesting features.


Primitivo is not the easiest grape to grow or manage, and it has had something of a difficult century. Indeed, by the 1990s, there was little interest in Puglian wines in general, and winemakers were neglecting their Primitivo vineyards and looking to other, more commercially viable varietals. However, the last decade has seen this grape come well and truly back into fashion, with new techniques and a heightened interest in native Italian grape varietals bringing Primitivo back into the spotlight. It is now widely loved for its intensity and ability to be paired with strongly flavored foods.