2009 Venica & Venica Collio Sauvignon Blanc ‘Ronco delle Mele’

A single sip of this stunning Sauvignon Blanc from northeastern Italy immediately gets your attention. The 2009 Venica & Venica “Ronco delle Mele” is one intense mouthful, ripe yet fresh, with an overlay of citrus and flowers and a lingering finish.

At the holiday table, it makes a great alternative to Chardonnay, and it’s a wonderful foil for chilled shellfish, lobster or spicy Thai or Szechuan dishes.

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Quick swirl

Region: Friuli, Italy

Price: $28 to $35

Style: Rich and spicy

What it goes with: Shellfish, lobster, seafood risotto, Asian food

Where to find it: Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa, (949) 650-8463, www.hitimewine.net; Wally’s Wine & Spirits in West Los Angeles, (310) 475-0606, www.wallywine.com; Wine Exchange in Orange, (714) 974-1454, www.winex.com; and the Wine House in West Los Angeles, (310) 479-3731, www.winehouse.com

-- S. Irene Virbila