| Wine is massively important for Italy. The | | | | everyday drinking wines through to fuller bodied |
| country is said to be the second largest wine | | | | wines. These are made from a blend of grapes |
| producer in the world and boasts a myriad of | | | | but principally Corvina. Also from Veneto comes |
| winemaking regions, each producing a diverse | | | | Prosecco. This dry sparkling Italian wine is often |
| array of wines. With reports of 900,000 | | | | goes down well with drinkers looking for an |
| registered vineyards (enough for one vineyard for | | | | alternative to Champagne. Neighbouring Soave, |
| every seven people) and more native grapes | | | | also situated in the North East, produces a nice |
| than any other wine country, any newcomer to | | | | Italian white wine made from the Garganega and |
| the wine-world would be forgiven for getting a | | | | Trebbiano grapes. |
| little overwhelmed when choosing Italian wine. | | | | Central Italy |
| But don’t let that turn you off. In this article | | | | The largest and most significant Italian wine |
| we examine the key Italian wine making regions, | | | | producing area is central Italy is Tuscany. Chianti |
| to help you get started. | | | | is the main export from this region and produces |
| Northern Italy | | | | a medium bodied red blend, made predominantly |
| The North West of Italy is made up of four key | | | | from the Sangiovese grape. Outside of this area |
| regions, Piemonte, Valle d’Aosta, Lombardy | | | | but still in Tuscany are Montalcino and |
| and Liguria. Piemonte is arguably the most | | | | Montepulciano, which also produce Italian red wines |
| important region when it comes to Italian wine | | | | from the Sangiovese grape. |
| production. The best-known wines come from | | | | Staying in central Italy, you will come across the |
| Barolo and Barbaresco. These are full-bodied, | | | | well-known Lambrusco from Emilia Romagna, |
| Italian red wines, both of which are made from | | | | Frascati from Latium and the Verdicchio grape, a |
| the Nebbiolo grape. Barolo, in particular, is a wine | | | | medium bodied dry Italian white wine, from the |
| that takes well to ageing. Still in Piemonte, you | | | | region with the same name. |
| will come across cheaper red wines made from | | | | Southern Italy |
| the Barbera and Dolcetto grapes. If you prefer | | | | The quantity, and arguably the quality, of Italian |
| white wine, look out for the Cortese grape from | | | | wines produced in the south have increased in |
| Gavi, or Asti, an off-dry sparkling Italian wine | | | | recent years. Typically the region produces red |
| made from Muscat. From Valle d’Aosta you | | | | wines which are deep, rich, intense and offer good |
| will come across a number of indigenous grapes, | | | | value for money. Puglia, in particular, offers |
| including Petit Rouge and Picotendro, a local | | | | some wines of interest. Sicily also produces |
| version of the Nebbiolo grape. | | | | some high quality wines from international grape |
| In the North East, the key Italian wine making | | | | varieties, as well as the fortified wine Marsala. |
| region is Veneto. Here you will come across | | | | This is just a brief introduction to the wines from |
| Valpolicella, which is home to range of red wines | | | | this country. |
| that vary quite considerably in style from light, | | | | |