"Masseria Cuturi’s wines are produced in a magical location. Salento, which makes up the “heel” of Italy, is filled with organically grown grapes, woodlands, olive trees, wild herbs, and ancient archaeological structures and relics. The winery was founded in 1881 by Don Tommaso and Countess Bianca Sabini; the “Segreto di Bianca” is named after and dedicated to her. Here, the Fiano grape is born under the warmth of the Mediterranean sun, hand harvested at the end of August, and fermented and aged in stainless steel vats for about 3 months. On the nose, aromas of citrus fruit, fresh herbs like anise and mint, and honeycomb sweetness are balanced by wet stone and salinity notes. The palate is rich and fruity with flavors of lemon/lime citrus, green apple, and pear and finishes clean with crisp acidity and mineral notes. Delicious on its own as an aperitif, however, two classic food pairings from Salento come to mind: Taieddhra (a savory, oven-baked dish with rice, potatoes, and mussels) and Puccia (a soft, thick bread roll filled with olives, tuna, and capers), with many of these ingredients being found in Surdyk’s Cheese Shop." -Consultant, Zach Rouillard