Help me plan a wine list!

Calling all the aficionados from the wine thread... especially the Italian-lovers:

In a few weeks, I will be attending a dinner at Mercato, a top-notch Philadelphia Italian(-American) BYOB. I am in charge of planning the wines. My constraints are as follows:

- 10-13 people; unsure how many are big wine drinkers, and it's doubtful that many are connoisseurs
- Menu available here: http://www.mercatobyob.com/menu.cfm
- Budget between $30-40/person (for wine; food already accounted for)
- BIGGEST CONTRAINT: I am in Pennsylvania, and thus must face its archaic liquor laws. The state has a monopoly on wine sales, and selection can be very limited. Everything available in the entire state can be looked up here.

To make the calculations easy, I figured I'd pick up a mixed case of white, red and maybe some dessert wines, thusly giving a budget of $30-40/bottle. I'd like to focus on Italian wines, both as a national counterpart to the food and as a way of expanding my own knowledge.

As for white, I'm looking at the 2008 Guado al Tasso Vermentino that came fairly well recommended by Eric Asimov in this piece. I've also seen it favorably mentioned in the wine thread. 4 bottles are available in Philly at present. Obviously, though, I'm quite open to suggestion.

As for Italian reds, I don't know where to begin. I'd love to be able to try a Brunello di Montalcino, or something Piedmontese like a Barolo, but I don't know if they'd fit my budget, and besides, given the aging that seems to be appropriate I have my doubts about availability.

I'm just starting out in my exploration of the wine world, and I need all the help I can get. Please, fire away.

I don't believe direct shipments are a practical option. The PLCB is a horrendous entity and there is a very limited number of vineyards that are licensed Direct Shippers, and I don't believe any internet retailers are allowed to. It is possible (though illegal) to go to NJ, but there is also the practical problem of my lack of a car. Not insurmountable, however, if there really is nothing satisfactory to be had in Philly.

Thanks for the tip on the vermentino, also.

Agreed. The prevalence of BYOBs is one of the distinguishing features of the Philly restaurant scene, and might be the only silver lining to the regulatory regime. Gome, thanks for taking the time to think about this.

(side note: there's some hope for reform lately because a few weeks ago the PLCB raided three local bars for serving unregistered beers based on an "anonymous civilian's tip." Only problems: all three are owned by the same couple, casting some doubt on the motives of the tipper, and also, many of the beers seized were in fact registered. PLCB is taking a lot of flak and is definitely on the defensive).

Unsure exactly, but there will be many more men than women. Probably about 75/25.

Hah. In fact, the last time this group was together (as part of a much larger group), we were in the Poconos for a ski weekend with, you guessed it, kegs of Keystone. I was not in charge of beverages for that one.