As we approach the day that honors Italian-born Christopher Columbus, it's easy to toast him with his country's own stuff. Italian wine is America's favorite foreign tipple; trade surveys say it makes up 30 percent of our total wine imports.

It makes sense. Americans also like Italian food – even better than our own American cuisine, by 30 percent to 27 percent, according to the San Pellegrino Fine Dining Survey. Pizza over hot dogs? Makes sense to me.

And what's the best pizza wine? Chianti.

I think Americans love Italian wines because they're user-friendly, even hedonistic – an ongoing liquid Dolce Vita.

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Source: http://www.buffalonews.com