1.   And herb- or tomato-laden stews go down well with simple Italian reds.

2.   A bargain reserve that smacks of more pricey Italian reds.

3.   Italian reds are often troves of strange smells.

4.   Italian reds from Tuscany and Piedmont are also great for aging, including Brunello di Montalcino, Barolo and Barbaresco.

5.   Most of the mass-market Italian whites are refreshing but without character, while Italian reds from Veneto to Sicily are almost endlessly intriguing.

6.   Repeat the exercise with a Washington red, a Spanish red, an Italian red, a South Africa red.