Wine of the Week: 2009 La Spinetta Toscana Vermentino

Giorgio Rivetti of La Spinetta in Piedmont started out as a Moscato d’Asti producer but dreamed of making a serious red wine. First he got into Barbera with his extraordinary Cà di Pian. Next he took on Barbaresco and Barolo and became a powerhouse in the region. And now at La Spinetta’s estate in Tuscany, he’s producing this stunning Vermentino.

Crisp and golden, it tastes of grapefruit rind and ripe pears. It has a wonderful freshness and minerality coupled with a lush texture and a long finish. And it’s less than $20.

Drink it with a classic bruschetta (garlic and newly pressed olive oil on toast), with pastas such as cacia pepe or pesto. It’s great with a salumi spread too, and with roast chicken and seafood. Just released, it’s at only a few places right now but should be showing up on the shelves of better wine shops and retailers soon.

Region: Tuscany, Italy

Price: From $15 to $18.

Style: Crisp and minerally

What it goes with: bruschetta, salumi, pasta, roast chicken.

Where to find it: Wally’s Wine & Spirits in West Los Angeles (310) 475-0606, https://www.wallywine.com; Wine House in West Los Angeles, (310) 479-3731, https://www.winehouse.com; and Wine Exchange in Orange (714) 974-1454, https://www.winex.com.

— S. Irene Virbila