Bastianich Facts

Joe Bastianich cuts a wide profile. He's a partner in a restaurant empire in New York City. He shows up frequently on his mother Lydia's PBS show on Italian food. He writes wine books. And he also makes very successful wines in his family's native Friuli. Founded in 1997, the Bastianich stomping grounds cover 28 hectares in Colli Orientali del Friuli.

Popular Bastianich Vintages

Over ten grape varieties are planted here, but the heavy hitters, which go into the flagship Vespa Bianco, are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Picolit. Vespa Bianco has been a structured, creamy, deep white wine from its inception, while the Tocai is consistently one of the best, with its typical aromas of hazelnut, almond and freshly cut grass. Also look out for the Calabrone, a bold red made from a blend of indigenous and international varieties.