Bottega Collio Doc Sauvignon 75cl

Bright, dry Sauvignon Blanc from Italy’s Collio DOC, the Friuli region that quietly makes some of the country’s most exciting white wines. This is the bottle for people who like their whites crisp and aromatic, but with a savoury little twist that keeps every sip interesting.

If Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is your usual move, this sits one shelf over. You still get that citrusy lift and fresh green energy, but Collio brings a more restrained, stony, food-loving edge. Less shouting. More wink.

• Appearance: Pale straw yellow, clear and bright in the glass.
• Nose: Grapefruit, elderflower and lime peel up front, with hints of sage, green pepper and freshly cut herbs behind it.
• Palate: Dry and crisp, with zippy citrus fruit, a clean herbal bite and enough texture to feel like a proper wine, not just a cold glass of “white”.
• Body: Light to medium-bodied, fresh without feeling thin.
• Finish: Clean and lively, with lemon zest, green herbs and a lightly stony finish that makes you want another sip.
• Food pairings: Grilled prawns with lemon, goat cheese salad, asparagus risotto or linguine with clams.

Pour this when dinner has fresh herbs, seafood, citrus or green vegetables involved. It’s also a very solid “fridge door rescue” wine for roasted chicken, salty snacks or a Tuesday night pasta that turned out better than expected.

What makes Collio worth caring about? The region sits in Friuli-Venezia Giulia near the Slovenian border, where cool breezes and hillside vineyards help Sauvignon keep its bright acidity while building layered flavour. Translation: fresh, but not boring.

Fun Fact: Bottega is better known around the world for sparkling wine and grappa, but the family’s wine roots go back to the 1920s, when Domenico Bottega worked as a wine trader in Veneto.