Readers of this site may recall how much I liked Savanna Samson's Sogno Uno (Italian) Red Wine.  In fact, I awarded it wine of the month on our main VinoCritic.com website for October 2006.  The actress and her winemaking partner Roberto Cipresso have done another comendable job with their first white wine, the 2005 Sogno Due.  What is remarkable here is that instead of just making another generic white wine from Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, or perhaps Pinot Grigio, this team has decided to make a wine from 100% Falanghina grapes from the region of Campania, in Southern Italy (near Naples).  This grape is virtually unknown in the U.S. market, although the respectable Italian Winery Feudi di San Gregorio started importing a few cases of a tasty Falanghina to the U.S. a few years ago, albeit to minimal fan fare from the critics.  For those interested in grape science, it is believed that Falanghina was originally a Greek grape, brought to Italy hundreds of years ago.  The vines used for Sogno Due are believed to be over 75 years old.

The 2005 Sogno Due Falanghina is a very light colored wine, and drinks best slightly chilled, like most white wines.  The bouquet hints of fresh cut pears and stones from a meandering fresh water river.  The mineral and fruity flavors compete on the palate, and the finish is light, vibrant, smooth, and regrettably quick.  This is not a deep brooding wine, but rather, a light fresh pleasing wine that is meant to be enjoyed young.

This is a great summer wine, and would go well with just about anything you might want to serve on a summer picnic.  The vibrancy will hold up well with cold shellfish as well.

I score this wine 3.5 stars, which is about as high of a score as I give most white wines, especially lighter bodied wines.  A very comendable effort from Ms. Samson and Mr. Cipresso who once again are helping to open the minds and palates of American wine drinkers to Italian grapes that many of us have never heard of.