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