Henry is most passionate about the wines of Italy, and he excels in making his guests feel comfortable and confident with Italy’s often intimidating wine regions. When asked what he likes to drink, Henry spoke highly of the Barbera varietal. Because of its versatility and high acidity, Barbera is similar to Pinot Noir in its food-friendliness.

The Luciano Sandrone Barbera d’Alba, from the Piemonte region, in particular represents a good value. Sandrone well known for making exceptional Barolos that command triple-digit prices, but there Barbera is widely available throughout the U.S. for less than $30 a bottle.