| Italian wine glowing reputation is due not only to | | | | but by no means exclusively in Tuscany (the |
| the fact that it produces and exports more than | | | | so-called Supertuscans). Many such wines are now |
| any other country but that it offers the greatest | | | | classified as IGT. |
| variety of types, ranging through nearly every | | | | Winegrowing Zones: |
| colour, flavour and style imaginable. | | | | Northwest - most famous for the Piedmont |
| Italian producers have moved rapidly to the | | | | region the Northwest also has the regions of Val |
| forefront of world Enology, improving techniques | | | | d'Aosta, Lombardy, Liguria and Emilia-Romagna to |
| to create wines of undeniable class in every | | | | its credit. Piedmont is famous for its Barolo and |
| region, North, Central and South. Their wines | | | | Barbaresco, both made from the Nebbiolo grape. |
| derive not only from native vines, which | | | | Its Dolcettos and Barbera, both lighter and less |
| represent an enormous array, but also from a | | | | expensive, should not be overlooked either. |
| complete range of International varieties. | | | | Emilia-Romagna is familiar to many Americans for |
| Italian Wine Guide | | | | its sparkling Lambrusco. |
| Ah, Italy - what a beautiful, hedonistic, | | | | Northeast - within this zone are the three regions: |
| disorganised, frustrating country! Italy can provide | | | | Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Friuli-Venezia |
| wine lovers with so many distinctive, unique | | | | Giulia, which are known collectively as the Tre |
| flavours and styles, bottles full of Italian verve | | | | Venezie. Veneto is Italy's largest producer of |
| and creativity. It also sluices forth rivers of | | | | D.O.C wines. All three regions are affected by the |
| disgracefully thin, characterless stuff to be sold | | | | Alps which shield the zone from the cool, damp |
| under its most commercially useful names: Pinot | | | | European weather. Winemaking here is |
| Grigio, Soave, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Frascati and | | | | characterized by modern efficiency relative to |
| the like. | | | | other Italian regions. This adherence to quality |
| Although the key to understanding Italy is to | | | | standards has paid off with a booming export |
| understand that it is a group of regions rather | | | | market for the Venezie. Like all of Italy a wide |
| than a single homogeneous country, from the | | | | variety of grapes are grown here with many |
| heady, often sweet, ferments of the deep south | | | | native as well as international varietals. Some of |
| to the delicate sub-alpine essences of the north, it | | | | the best known regions within this zone are |
| is possible to generalise about Italian wine styles | | | | Soave, Valpolicella, Bardolino and Prosecco. |
| to a certain extent. Reds have a certain | | | | Central - this winegrowing zone contains six |
| bitterness that is by no means unpleasant. In fact | | | | regions: Tuscany, Umbria, Marches, Abruzzo, |
| it is so addictive that I find Italy is the one | | | | Latium and Molise. The Sangiovese grape reigns |
| country I come home from positively determined | | | | supreme throughout this zone. Tuscany is without |
| to continue to drink its wines (rather than, as | | | | a doubt the most well known region within this |
| usual, desperate for a complete change). Italian | | | | zone with Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di |
| white wines, once distinguished by their lack of | | | | Montepulciano and the ubiquitous Chianti. Trebbiano |
| aroma and lack of obvious fruitiness (very | | | | and Orvieto are perhaps the most favored white |
| un-modern), are now generally very well made, | | | | grapes in this zone. Recently international varieties |
| offering an attractive combination of fruit and | | | | like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and |
| refreshment. | | | | Sauvignon Blanc as well as Pinot Noir have been |
| Making an Italian wine guide that covers the whole | | | | planted with favorable results. |
| of the country in just one web page is almost an | | | | South - this zone contains the regions of Sicily, |
| impossible task. There is hardly an inch of Italy | | | | Apulia, Sardinia, Calabria, Basillcata and Campania. |
| that couldn't ripen grapes suitable for wine, and | | | | Both Apulia and Sicily compete for the highest |
| consequently there are a myriad of classified | | | | volume producing region in Italy. Most of these |
| regions producing a diverse array of wines, some | | | | grapes are used for non-wine products such as |
| of which are rarely seen outside of Italy. | | | | industrial alcohol. Quality has been improving |
| Consequently, this guide to Italian wine focuses | | | | recently as yields are reduced, however. Given |
| just on the country's most prominent wines. I deal | | | | the South's previous reputation for poor quality |
| with each Italian wine region in turn, from the | | | | there are many good bargains currently on the |
| expensive and age-worthy wines of Barolo in the | | | | market as producers focus on a better product |
| north, to the bargain glugging wines of the south. | | | | for the Italian wine export market. |
| But first, a note on the Italian wine classifications. | | | | Italian Red Wines: |
| Understanding Italian labelsbianco white.cantina | | | | Bold, Full-bodied, and Delicious - From lush, deep |
| means literally 'cellar' or 'winery'. A Cantina Sociale | | | | red Chiantis to light, fruity Bardolinos, Italy |
| is a co-operative winery. | | | | produces some of the world's best red wine. |
| Classico, usually the original heartland of a wine | | | | Perfect to add extra luster to Italy's rich cuisine, |
| zone. Something to head for.cru is, especially in | | | | Italy offers variety, quality, and style. |
| Piedmont, a specially designated vineyard. | | | | As we already know, Italy has very diverse |
| DOC, Denominazione di Origine Controllata, Italy's | | | | wine-growing regions. The cool, mountainous |
| failed attempt at a system of distinguishing its | | | | northern region of Piedmont produces crisp, |
| superior wines fashioned in the image of France's | | | | austere wines, whereas the sunny, temperate |
| appellation contrôlée. Some argue it | | | | central region of Tuscany yields bold, lusty, |
| was imposed too early and too strictly, others | | | | full-bodied sensations. Italian wines have a |
| that it was too late and not strictly enough. The | | | | complexity and earthiness that reflects the soil, |
| truth is probably that the Italians do not willingly | | | | the unique Italian grape varietals, and Italian |
| submit to regulation. For the consumer, DOC | | | | winemaker craft. Over sixty percent of the wine |
| means precious little, for in many DOCs the | | | | grown in Italy is red wine. Chianti, Amarone, |
| allowed yields are often far too high to | | | | Barolo,B or arbaresco: Italy offers a myriad of |
| concentrate quality in the resulting wines. | | | | tasty choices. |
| DOCG, Denominazione di Origine Controllata e | | | | Amarone |
| Garantita, the super-DOC category introduced for | | | | Barolo |
| the 1982 vintage and to which some DOCs have | | | | Barbaresco |
| since been promoted. DOCG wines are reliably | | | | Bardolino |
| among Italy's better bottles though promotions | | | | Brunello di Montalcino |
| have sometimes been purely political.frizzante, | | | | Chianti |
| lightly sparkling. | | | | Vino Nobile di Montepulciano |
| IGT, Indicazione Geografica Tipica, a category of | | | | Italian White Wines |
| wines created in 1992 as an approximate | | | | Have a character all of their own. Crisp, soft, and |
| equivalent of the French Vin de Pays.liquoroso, | | | | highly acidic, they are made to accompany food, |
| strong, usually fortified.metodo classico or metodo | | | | not overpower it. Even Italian wines made from |
| tradizionale, bottle-fermented (sparkling | | | | grapes popular elsewhere, such as Chardonnay, |
| wine).passito, strong (and usually sweet) wine | | | | take on a slightly different, richer character when |
| made from dried grapes. | | | | grown in Italian soil. |
| Riserva generally denotes prolonged ageing under | | | | Italy's best white wines are grown, primarily, in |
| carefully prescribed conditions.rosso, red.secco, | | | | the three regions called collectively, "Tre Venezie" |
| dry.spumante, sparkling. | | | | (literally, three Venices:) Veneto, Trentino |
| Superiore, usually a little higher in alcohol (0.5 to | | | | Alto-Adige, and Fruili-Venezia Guilia, as well as in |
| 1%).tenuta, wine estate or | | | | Piedmont. The cooler northern climate of these |
| smallholding.vendemmia, vintage.vendemmia | | | | areas adds the crisp flavor to these wines. |
| tardiva, late harvest. | | | | These white wines offer variety and unique |
| Vino da Tavola, Italy's supposedly basic table wine | | | | flavors. The next time you visit your |
| category, designed to be on a par with France's | | | | neighborhood wine store, think Italian and try |
| Vin de Table. In the 1980s and 1990s it included a | | | | something different. Sample one of these |
| significant proportion of Italy's best wines, which | | | | outstanding wines. |
| didn't conform to any DOC regulations, especially | | | | |