So Italian whites are one of the wine areas that feel like a total blank in my wine knowledge, I really don’t have the first clue. But I’ll be dining at Marea soon and they seem to have an extensive list in that area. (Also in other areas, but I know how to manage those – as usual in NYC it seems to feature plenty of options for setting your money on fire).
Can anyone offer advice on the Italian whites on pp. 7-11 of this list? I tend to like wines that marry crispness and depth, good acidity and good fruit (I guess like most people):
https://hub.binwise.com/print/Marea_BOTTLE_PDF.aspx?ListId=150
If you notice anything else in other areas that seems like a great deal feel free to mention it too, but I didn’t see many.
I had the Soave Classico Tenda Corte Mainente last month there and it was fabulous. On par with my favorite from the area, Pieropan’s Calvarino.
Crisp, acidic, little or no oak.
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There are some decent BTG options if you wanted to try a few out.
On the bottle list:
- I find Timorasso very flexible with food, most especially where you might normally debating between a red or white wine for the food.
- I can’t comment on the Cantina LUNAE vermentino, but I do have a bottle of their grey label to try out sometime
- Although the villa Bucci is a super wine, I’d want a few more years on it, and the price hurts it as well
- Two others I’ve not tried, but would be tempted to do so: the Fiano by Maffini (from near Paestum), and the Costa d’amalfi from Tramonti (best known for where the wind comes from)
if you want a significant discount on your total bill at Marea (which won’t be cheap), use Inkind;
Here’s an extra free $25 towards the bill: Friend of Yaacov
you will also likely receive an extra 15% back after you dine there.
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I thought the discount was only when paying by credit card. I haven’t gotten the discount when using my In Kind balance.
The Soave I had was also available BTG.
Maffini Fiano coming in at $85 is quite nice.
Pacherhof Kerner $80.
Tenuta Anfosso (spelled incorrectly as AnfossA) Antea is pretty good although not a spectacular value. Will go great with seafood. (*disclosure, I used to import this.) Edited to add that I just noticed the Anfosso is a 2017. I haven’t had one with that much age. Should be fine as it is pretty high acid and has nice tension on release but I never really saw this is a long ager.
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Then how can he use your $25 referral and still get 15%, like you said he would.
all the relevant language is in the app / offers. there are at least 3 value props here:
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redeem my referral code for “$25 off a bill of $50 or more”
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a current promotion within inKind to get back up to 15% back at Marea (“back” here is back in inkind credit in your wallet to be used for future purchases).
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whatever embedded discount he chooses when he loads his wallet with inkind credits for cash; example currently it’s pay $6k for $8k of value
We enjoyed a 2018 Lunae Vermentino Etichetta Nera a couple of years back. Also, Fiano di Avellino is a wine I almost always enjoy and I have had several different producers, though I haven’t had those on the list.
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2022 Tiberio Trebbiano d’Abruzzo. Just don’t look at the retail price. It is a very good wine and punches above its retail price point.
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Not Italy, but I’d drink LdH Tondonia 2012 Blanco for $175.
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Was going to say Tiberio is looking pretty nice.
Curious about the Benanti. I am more familiar with the reds and think when they are on they are really good although I have had some bottle variation so I am hesitant to recommend.
Also curious about the Abraham Pinot Bianchi. I have not had them but really like PB out of Alto Adige. Just don’t love the idea of $100+ PB but they could be worth it.
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yeah that one was already on my list – I know my non-Italian wines 
. But one isn’t always in the mood for oxidized whites.
The only thing that I saw that isn’t a huge multiple of retail, but that’s only a small percentage of the list because I am not familiar with many of the wines. I do not remember Marea’s corkage fee. but if they allow it, I would bring my own and gladly pay the fee and know provenance and storage regime and save the amount of my meal cost in wine mark up.
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I read your post to mean the discounts stack. Some of the In Kind promos do, like get 10% back when using in kind a second time in a month, but not my 15% back, which is generic and not specific to Marea, and is applicable to credit card charges.
.
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Personally, and among the Italian section I’d go for any of the following:
-Tiberio’s white is a great option (quality is great despite the mark up)
- Fon - a Malvazija with age - I would go for this as a white. It says Slovenia but to this part of Slovenia and Italy is very intertwined so I hope you give it a pass to also work among the Italian whites
- a red, but the Ronchi di Cialla Refosco with age (2007) is a great red wine option!
Have fun and look forward hearing what you went for in the end.
Benanti is worth considering. I’ve never had Tecce’s rose, but that could be interesting.
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Pretty much goes for the whole list.
The Massa Timorasso wines also are great.
Having recently returned from buying wines off of lists in Venice, Rome and Garda, the prices on this list are like a criminal activity 
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