Once again, we were all gathered at Tetley Place for John’s “Old Italians” Tasting, and also to celebrate his 90th birthday — so the evening featured all his favourite things: old‑style Italian wines, maps, pie and peas, and cake. He was very happy.

To get the party started, John opened a limited‑edition Cuvée Imperiale Franciacorta Brut, which everyone enjoyed. He then explained how the wines he had chosen were all significant in his long wine‑drinking history. The whites included Soave and Frascati (yes, still available in Waitrose!), but it was the Lugana Sartori, Calalba, 2025 that received the biggest approval. Elegant and crisp, with a lovely nose and a more complex flavour, it was the favourite white of the night.

After a supper of pie and peas, the reds followed. Naturally, there was Montepulciano and Chianti (sadly not in a basket), but the standout was the Amarone Arco Dei Giovi 2021. Everyone was hooked on the nose — “old leather” with cherries, chocolate and dried fruit — and the palate delivered richness and a long finish. It was declared “a great wine”, and most said they could happily drink it all night.

But as it was John’s birthday, the evening finished, quite rightly, with whisky and cake.