Italian Wine Week got off to a rousing, if somewhat obscure, start last night with this 2007 Cantine Sant’ Agata “‘Na Vota” Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato.

I like to tell people that wine isn’t as complicated as it’s made out to be. And that’s usually the case … except, of course, when it’s not. Take, for example, Bonarda.

This one’s a request from a good friend, advisor and loyal reader who wishes to remain anonymous: could I recommend a few good gift wines for Mother’s Day? Well, as with so much in life, it all depends on one’s mother.