Ciavolich, Passerina, Colline Pescaresi, 2023

Est. delivery in late summer, 2026 Passerina is one of those grapes that gets talked about less than it deserves. Native to central-eastern Italy and long overshadowed by Trebbiano and Pecorino, it makes wines of real personality when handled well — and Ciavolich, one of Abruzzo's most serious and respected estates, handles it very well indeed. This 2023, from the Colline Pescaresi IGT, is fragrant and focused: white flowers, green apple skin, a whiff of fennel frond, and a saline, almost chalky edge that gives it lift without sharpness. This is exactly the kind of wine you open on a warm evening without overthinking it — and then find yourself reaching for a second glass before dinner's even on the table. Drink it now and over the next year or two while that freshness is still singing.