Wine of the Week

Vintage Tunina was the first real luxury cuvee to come out of the Friuli region of northeast Italy. Created by Silvio Jermann, whose estate was founded by his grandfather Antonio in 1881, it celebrates its 15th anniversary with this vintage. It's quite a wine, opulent and full-bodied, scented with ripe melon and pears, and a whiff of vanilla. The blend--Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc with some Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia and a little of Friuli's indigenous Picolit grape--has character and finesse and is decidedly food-friendly. It's a particularly good match with Chinese dishes.

About $42. Available at Wally's, (310) 475-0606, and The Wine House, (310) 479-3731, in West Los Angeles; Woodland Hills Wine Co. in Woodland Hills, (818) 222-1111; Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa, (949) 650-8463; Wine Exchange in Orange, (714) 974-1454; Lazy Acres Market in Santa Barbara, (805) 564-4410; and Wine Bank in San Diego, (619) 234-7487. If you can't find this wine, have your local wine shop contact the distributor, Wine Warehouse, (800) 331-2829.