According to Eighties pop sensations Bananarama, "Robert De Niro's waiting, talking Italian". My advice is that his wait might seem shorter if he was drinking Italian.

Majestic has 15 per cent off Italian wines, when you buy two, throughout the summer.

During the week of June 10-16 there will be free tastings from the Italian range.

Just in case you are not aware and I know a few people who have been caught out by this, there is a minimum sale of 12 bottles at Majestic. Perhaps it's best to visit when you need to restock your wine rack.

I've dipped into Majestic's Italian range and tried two whites and two reds. There isn't a chianti or frascati in my selection, nor disappointingly for Mrs Tipping is there a Robert De Niro.

Organically produced Roero Arneis 2003 Terre da Vino, is crisp, dry and refreshing. This creamy-textured example has the trademark apple and pear flavours and aromas of the arneis grape. It would make a good partner for fish dishes.

I preferred the wonderfully spicy and fiery Riff Pinot Grigio delle Venezie 2003 which oozes white pepper.

There is plenty of flavour in this example, a grape variety that I sometimes find lacking. It is sweetly fragrant with mineral notes, nuts, limes and apple flavours.

Made from grapes grown in vineyards at the foothills of the Dolomites, pinot grigio fans will love this.

Check out an estate bottled negroamoro from the Southern tip of Italy's Puglia region. Copertino 2000 Masseria Monaci is fantastic with burgers, sausages and other barbecue fair.

You get change from a fiver too. This is a powerful, spicy, rich and warming, rustic red. Cider aromas give way to prickly bramble fruit and round tannins.

Grapes from 40-year-old vines have been used to produce Barbera D'Alba Sucule 2001 Villa Lanata. There's a good weight of glass used in the bottle as well, which is rather like lifting up a shell from the magazine of a battleship.

The deeply coloured 100 per cent barbera grape contents have spent 12 months in oak barrels, so woody notes abound. It is smooth stuff and worthy of being allowed a few hours to breathe. It opens out nicely with cherry fruit, lingering pepper flavours and some subtle tannic activity.

Roero Arneis 2003 Terre da Vino, £5.99 or two for £5.09 each at Majestic. 15/20

Riff Pinot Grigio delle Venezie 2003, £6.99 or two for £5.94 each at Majestic. 17/20

Copertino 2000 Masseria Monaci, £4.99 or two for £4.24 each at Majestic. 16/20

Barbera D'Alba Sucule 2001 Villa Lanata, £7.99 or two for £6.79 each at Majestic. 16/20

Updated: 08:51 Saturday, June 04, 2005