This afternoon, we have a cracking set of wines to taste and a special guest to present them. Michael Palij MW is one of the world's foremost experts on Italian wines and an all-around swell guy. He'll be pouring a wide array of styles, some of which he helped make, at lunchtime and again this evening.

Terredora are blazing a trail in Campania, a region known too long for making uninteresting, mass-produced wines; Terredora make wines that sing with their volcanic terroir. Giuseppe Mascarello is a name renowned by fans of traditional Piedmontese wines the world over and his Langhe Nebbiolo is a great introduction to their lacy, Burgundian style, before beginning a life-long love affair with the man's Baroli. The Peccheninos have run their family estate for over a hundred years and have continuously been a reference point for powerful Dolcetto from Dogliani. Paolo Scavino makes some of the best modern-styled Barolo out there, this is a great opportunity to see how well the 2005s are drinking now - and the importance of "restaurant vintages". It's no secret that Tuscany can work wonders with Merlot and Castello di Bossi's Girolamo is one of our favourite examples - at a fraction of the price of some of its competitors. And finally, a new wine for us - Adalia's great value Recioto that Michael had a hand in making - pressure's on! /CC