Led by third-generation Damiano Federici, Cantine Federici was one of the first producers to claim its place in Italy’s Roma DOC. Their Antonio Federici Bianco Roma—named after Damiano’s grandfather, who founded the estate—is a luscious stone-fruited white that celebrates the region’s history and its delicious potential.

Established in 2011 as the official wine region of Rome’s vineyards, Roma is a baby compared to the rest of the country’s wine producing areas. But wine has been made there for millenia without a designation.

Throughout the years, area reds have primarily been blends of indigenous and international grapes. Whites, meanwhile, have consistently showcased a mere handful of native varieties: Bellone, Bombino, Greco, Trebbiano and (most importantly) Malvasia Puntinata.

Also known as Malvasia di Lazio, Malvasia Puntinata is just one of many sub-varieties in the ancient Malvasia grape family that's been cultivated around the Mediterranean for more than 2000 years. Because of its distinctive speckles, it’s easily recognized in the vineyard (“puntinata” loosely translates to dotted). It’s almost as easily recognized in the glass, thanks to its vibrant stone fruit character.

When Antonio first began cultivating vines in the 1960s, planting some was an obvious choice. And today, Damiano and family consider it to be one of their most important cultivars.

Sourced from their estate vines on the hills just outside Rome—the same ones that supplied stone for the Colosseum—this bottling is an excellent example of both the grape and the winery’s handiwork. Light- to medium-bodied, it overflows with ripe peach, apricot, citrus and delicate honey characters.

Most of Cantine Federici’s wines are sold directly to local restaurants (where they’re served with creamy white-sauced pastas, hearty seafood and more). It’s rare to see them stateside, so act quickly for your share.