Oh, to be in Italy right now. I wiled away an hour or so this weekend surfing websites dedicated to the people, food and places of that mythic peninsula for no other reason than to imagine myself soaking up that warmth. This weekend was pretty gloomy – overcast, rainy and damp enough to chill you clean through to your bones.

On Saturday, I dropped in to Green Cup Roastery in Brampton for a pound of just roasted fair-trade and organic coffee beans. Moonless Night is probably one of my favourites, and is one of Jon’s very, very dark roasts. So, with a cup of hot joe in my hand, I gazed longingly at the eye candy that is Abruzzi and Le Marche – two of the lesser known regions bordering the Adriatic.

Don’t ever let anyone tell you that surfing the net is a waste of time. If anyone does, tell them your searching for inspiration, and you’ll know it when you see it. I finally did get up out of the chair. I followed my muse to the LCBO where I found a bottle of some very good Pecorino from Le Marche. Just the thing, I think, to make me feel like I’m in Italy.

2010 Velenosi Villa Angela Pecorino ($13.95)

Appearance – very pale yellow
Bouquet – Bosc pear and white peach with a mineral edge
Flavour – pleasantly dry with an excellent acid balance; crisp green apple with a layer of tropical fruit to add balance; nice herbal finish
Pairings – perfect on its own; would go nicely with a fine selection of cheese or grilled fish with lemon