| Fine wine often brings to mind images of | | | | |
| French rolling hills and elegant dinners; | | | | The Northeast region is home to two of |
| however, Italy's twenty regions bring to the | | | | Italy's wine schools, and generates about a |
| pallet an array of fine wines for your dining | | | | third of the country's DOC wines. The three |
| pleasure. | | | | regions create about a fifth of Italy's total |
| | | | wine production. Veneto, one of the regions, |
| Italian wine making enjoys tradition rich in | | | | now produces the most wine of any region in |
| both modern and rustic methods, although much | | | | the country. |
| of the country's wineries now employ | | | | |
| scientific and technological tools to create | | | | Central Italy, comprised of six regions, |
| quality wines. The country's wines are made | | | | accounts for about twenty percent of both |
| primarily from two types of grapes, Nebbiolo | | | | wine production and DOC wines. The tradition |
| and Sangiovese. The Nebbiolo grapes are used | | | | of wine making in this region has often been |
| in the northwester part of the country, | | | | traditional, the region is moving toward more |
| creating the red wines Barolo and Barbaresco. | | | | contemporary wine making methods, and the |
| The Sangiovese grapes create one of the | | | | overall quality has improved. Some wine |
| better-known Italian wines, Chianti, and are | | | | experts believe that this region will |
| native to the central Tuscany and Umbria | | | | continue to make great strides in wine |
| regions. | | | | making, so for those who love red wine, this |
| | | | is an area worth watching. Tuscany creates |
| Italy's wines are divided into four | | | | the well-known Chianti wine, as well as a |
| categories based on origin, quality, and | | | | variety of other |
| purity. When shopping for a fine Italian | | | | |
| wine, look for those with the designation of | | | | Tuscan reds. |
| "Denominazione di Origine Controllata e | | | | |
| Garantita D.O.C.G.," which is awarded to | | | | The Southern region, which includes the |
| wines with a solid reputation. This | | | | islands, is comprised of six regions. These |
| designation considers region, production | | | | regions produce about forty percent of the |
| yields, and a DOC of at least five years. DOC | | | | total production, but only about fourteen |
| indicates the origins of a wine, the type of | | | | percent of DOC and DOCG wines. The region is |
| grapes used in making the wine, and the | | | | focusing on overall quality, and this, too, |
| methods of production. DOCG is a designation | | | | is a region worth watching. For those |
| following stricter guidelines than the DOC, | | | | interested in consistent quality wines, many |
| which includes a guarantee of origin. | | | | of the region's production offer just that. |
| | | | |
| The five regions of the Northwest produce | | | | For those new to Italian wine or wanting |
| over a quarter of the country's DOC wines, | | | | additional information, there is an abundance |
| but only about twenty percent of the | | | | of sources. An importer specializing in |
| country's total wine production. This, then, | | | | Italian wine is one of the best sources for |
| is a good place to begin when shopping for | | | | information on fine Italian wines, and can |
| Italian wine, as many wine sellers group | | | | provide suggestions based on your individual |
| Italian wine by the region, whether in | | | | preferences. You can also do your own |
| general terms, such as Northwest, or by | | | | research and wine tasting based on your style |
| specific region, such as Piedmont. The | | | | and preference. As with many things Italian, |
| Piedmont region creates a number of DOC and | | | | the wines are among the finer indulgences. |
| DOCG wines. | | | | |