Ask around Aspen which country is the king of wine, and most people will answer, “Italia.” Not that France won’t have its fair number of fans. And, of course, California (which we designated last week as its own wine nation in this column), and Australia will get thumbs up, as well.

But as a look at the lists at Aspen’s elite Italian establishments like Casa Tua, Campo di Fiori, Ellina, and Acquolina will demonstrate, there is an outstanding collection of the best wines from up and down “The Boot” to be found here in town. Yes, in all of these restaurants, there will be solid selections of the revered wines of Barolo, “The Wine of Kings,” made from the Nebbiolo grape.