Santa Barbara Stefano Antonucci Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore 2022 750ml

Stefano Antonucci left banking around 1994 and came home to Barbara, in the Marche, where he turned the family's former cooperative cellar into the Santa Barbara winery.

It's 100% Verdicchio from 25- to 40-year-old vines at 250 metres, on clay soils facing south and southeast, with about 4,000 cases made a year. It's fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel and then aged in French oak barriques, for 12 months according to the importer, Skurnik, though one retailer says only 30% of the wine goes into oak. It's 13.5% alcohol.

The winery describes intense yellow with golden highlights, ripe fruit running to exotic fruit, and a savory, full-bodied palate with a citrus finish. James Suckling calls it fresh and elegant, with cedar, lavender, oranges and lemon bush.

Against Tornatore Etna Bianco 2024, the Antonucci is barrel-aged and fuller; for a white with the body for richer dishes, choose the Antonucci.

James Suckling says it can be drunk now or held. Serve it lightly chilled with roast chicken, seafood risotto or fish in butter sauce.

Browse more Italian wine and our more white wines. Pick it up at our Brooklyn store or get same-day delivery across NYC.