While Italian reds like Barolo and Barbaresco are well-known to many aficionados, even the experts find some of the more obscure Italian fine wines confusing and hard to master, according to the Wine Spectator's Matt Kramer.

In fact, the writer admitted in his article that until recently he had never heard of the Pecorino grape variety, the producer Casa d'Ambra or the Coline Pescaresi district.

However, wine lovers would do well to seek out these unknowns, Mr Kramer said - Tiberio's Pecorino Colline Pescaresi 2008 is "dazzling stuff, zingy with minerality and scents of herbs such as rosemary and sage delivered with an impressively dense texture."

He advised drinkers not to be afraid of Italian wines, chaotic and unfamiliar as they may be - a little research and practice could open up a whole new world.

In a recent blog on the Drinks Business, Jochen Erler praised the Italian approach to en primeur events, at which he sampled Barolo and Barbaresco wines.