This week’s cruise is actually the side trip before we get on a trip around the boot.

Umbria is not a very cruisable area and so it’s over land before next week’s cruise. Why include it? Because this is where the wonderful Orvieto wine is produced. Orvieto is a grape, actually, and I’ve been known to go to a restaurant in DC only because of their wine menu with a lovely Orvieto. Then one day they replaced it with a Sauvignon Blanc. Haven’t been back since.

The town of Orvieto in Southwest Umbria is where this grape is grown — 80% of the vineyards are this grape. It should be a consideration for your holiday table, this white wine with such a distinctive style. And so it is we will have Orvieto for you, as well as a few other Italian whites and reds, because coming up to the holidays and Wine & Fine Things, we have Italy on our mind.

Cartoon credit Gary Larson.

—Maggie O’Brien