| Wine connoisseurs regularly boast about their fine | | | | You can order wines from Italy in any color, style, |
| Italian wine collections and rightly so. Even if | | | | or flavor; but if you want to be sure you are |
| you?re not a connoisseur, by the end of this | | | | choosing a good Italian wine look for the DOCG |
| article you?ll be able to put your best Italian wine | | | | classification. This doesn?t guarantee a better |
| forward. | | | | tasting wine, it just indicates level of quality that?s |
| Italy is best known for its Moscato, Barolo, | | | | been maintained for at least 5 years which puts |
| Chianti, and Soave; but there are numerous | | | | the odds in your favor. |
| varieties just waiting to be enjoyed. Italy | | | | Remember this easy rule of thumb. Reds go with |
| produces more wine than any other country and | | | | red meats and whites go with white meats. It?s a |
| it produces the largest selection of wines. When | | | | simple rule that goes a long way in helping choose |
| you choose an Italian wine, even if you have no | | | | a wine for your meal. |
| wine buying skills, the odds of finding a poor one | | | | Italians strictly regulate their wines within four |
| are very slim so relax! | | | | classification from tightly regulated superior wines |
| Wine from the Piedmont region provides red | | | | to lenient regulations and creative innovation. The |
| wines that are light bodied and refreshing. This is | | | | are as follows: |
| where the famous Barolo and Barbaresco wines | | | | 1. DOCG is the strictest of the regulation levels. |
| come from. | | | | Output yield is regulated; the wine?s composition |
| The Barbera grape appears in full body reds. The | | | | is analyzed; there is a minimum alcohol content; |
| Dolcetto grape is light bodied and distinctly dry. | | | | and there are minimum aging periods. |
| The Nebbiolo grape is responsible for the dry, full | | | | 2. DOC is the qualification of all quality wines. |
| body wines of the area. The Moscato Bianco is | | | | Output yield is regulated; origin is regulated; there |
| the grape responsible for the sparkling white | | | | is a minimum alcohol content; there are minimum |
| wines from the area. | | | | aging periods; and grape variety is regulated. |
| And then there is the indulgence of Chianti from | | | | 3. IGT is classified as excellent value for the cost. |
| the Tuscany region. Chances are you?ve indulged | | | | There are less quality restrictions, as well as wider |
| in this lovely wine if you?ve ever dined in an Italian | | | | territories; and grape ratios are not regulated. |
| restaurant. The popular region wines include | | | | 4. Table Wine is the wine that is consumed on a |
| Chianti, Brunello, Vino Nobile di Monepulciano, and | | | | daily basis in Italy. It includes some of the most |
| Vernaccia de San Giminagno. | | | | expensive wines and some of the least expensive |
| The Sangiovese grape with its robust flavor is | | | | wines. The level of alcohol is regulated and so are |
| used in medium and full bodied red wines. | | | | the wine making techniques. |
| Vernaccia is the grape of choice for a variety of | | | | That?s it. Now wasn?t that simple? You are on |
| sweet and dry white wines. | | | | your way to being a connoisseur of Italian wine! |