2005 Teruzzi & Puthod Terre di Tufi, Italy

Teruzzi & Puthod (Enrico Teruzzi and his wife, Carmen Puthod) have been on the scene since the mid-’70s when they moved from Milan to southern Tuscany. Just outside San Gimignano and its many towers, the couple pioneered a unique style of white super Tuscan fermented and aged in French barriques.

Today, Terre di Tufi is made up of 80% local Vernaccia blended with a little Chardonnay, Malvasia and Vermentino. For summer, it’s well worth rediscovering this excellent Italian white. With its crisp minerality and ripe fruit flavors, the 2005 makes a perfect wine to serve with antipasti and light pasta dishes. Juicy and delicious, it’s exactly what’s needed in a summer white -- and at a price that doesn’t demand a special occasion to pop the cork.

S. Irene Virbila

Quick swirl

Region: Tuscany.

Price: About $18.

Style: Fragrant and full-bodied.

Food it goes with: Antipasti, light pasta dishes, grilled fish.

Where you find it: All Corked Up, Santa Clarita, (661) 799-7979, www.allcorkedup.com; K&L; Wine Merchants, Hollywood, (323) 464-9463, www.klwines.com; Party House Wine & Spirits, Tarzana, (818) 342-0355, www.partyhouseliquor.com; Wally’s Wine & Spirits, West L.A., (310) 475- 0606, www.wallywine.com; Wine House, West L.A., (310) 479- 3731, www.winehouse.com; other fine wine retailers.