A thirst for discovery has always been one of our driving forces along the wine trail. Back in 1977, for example, Kermit made his first foray into the Loire Valley, seeking reprieve from overpriced Burgundy and Bordeaux neither affordable nor mature enough to enjoy. His trip turned up a handful of well-priced reds and whites from then-novel appellations including Chinon, Bourgueil, and Vouvray. He wrote of one such discovery, “The price was painless, the color a promising bluish-purple, the aroma ripe and fruity, the flavors original and delicious.” Now who would refuse this, especially at under four bucks a bottle?
     Many of these appellations are household names today, but we continue to search the depths of France and Italy’s wine regions for “original and delicious” wines to import. We’ve compiled a dozen such selections in this sampler celebrating the esoteric, the off-the-beaten-path, even the downright unusual. Not only are these wines from lesser-known vineyards a welcome cure to jaded palates seeking new thrills, but they often represent great value relative to their more renowned brethren.
     Some of these selections highlight uncommon expressions of well-known grapes, such as a juicy Pinot Noir from a remote corner of northern Burgundy, a luscious Loire Sauvignon quite distinct from neighboring Sancerre, or a delicate, low-alcohol Provençal red blend from the region’s mountainous fringes. A few highlight rare grape varieties, such as sparkling Molette from Savoie, floral and peppery Cornalin from Valle d’Aosta, or inky Muristellu from Sardinia. Others yet are the result of specific winemaking techniques, like Éric Chevalier’s skin-fermented Fié Gris and Château Moulin’s unsulfured Merlot that is the antithesis of the Bordeaux most people know. Discovery awaits in this eclectic pack of wines sure to satisfy your curiosity and quench your thirst with novel flavors.