The 2024 Casa D Ambra Frassitelli Ischia Biancolella is bright, saline, and unmistakably Mediterranean. The nose opens with yellow flowers and notes of Mediterranean scrub, immediately evoking the sea air and island vibes. On the palate, a striking mineral backbone and pronounced salinity drive the wine, giving it energy and precision while staying beautifully refreshing. It’s vibrant, coastal, and expressive. This is my favorite Italian white of 2024 so far!

Biancolella! The first time I tasted it, I couldn’t get the ’80s song “Barbarella” by The Bongos out of my head—only it morphed into “Biancolellaa-ah.” What variety is that? Never heard of it. Who cares. It's amazing. Oooh-oh-oh, Biancolellaa-ah. Think if Pinot Grigio, Grüner Veltliner, and Riesling had a baby; Biancolella would inherit all the best traits, plus high cheekbones and wavy blond hair. The 2024 Casa d’Ambra “Frassitelli” Ischia Biancolella is dry and racy yet generous, bursting with juicy white peach, a pinch of white pepper, sun-dried straw, white blossoms, makrut lime zest, and briny sea mist. It impressed me so much I marched it straight over to our wine buyer’s desk just to say, dude—wow. Bring this to a dinner or gathering and you’ll be the hero: it pairs with everything and everyone, and best of all, no one will argue about it—because no one will know what it is.