Italian Wine

The moderate climate and ideal soil conditions of Italy make the country the largest and one of the best producers of wines in the world. The largest exporter of wine in the world, Italy produces great quantities of wine in nearly every color, flavor and style that aggressively compete on the quality wine market.

Italians have had thousands of years to perfect their winemaking craft. Dating back to Egyptian times, wine production in Italy is almost as old as civilization and has always been a crucial part of the country's farming landscape. Vines grew wild in forests and were discovered by primitive Man as an edible fruit produced by the plant. The story goes that someone left some grape juice in some sort of container and noticed it had begun to transform. Drinking this new liquid produced a pleasant effect. Once discovered, wine became an important part of religion and ritual and early on, wine was only permitted for men. In more modern times, peasants worked the land and planted the vines unknowingly establishing the country in preparation for current times as a winemaking leader.

Some areas of Italy are more known for their production of quality wines. Calabria is one such district and is considered the "land of wine." The ancient Greeks brought vines to the area that overlooks the Ionian Sea and those same species still grow today. An example is the Gaglioppo, an extremely ancient vine that is common in Calabria and produces unique aromatic characteristics. White wines of this region often have a delicate taste and complement fish dishes. Red wines from Calabria are dry and full-bodied and go well with classic Calabrian fare.

For the largest quantities of wine, one must look to the area of Veneto. A vast selection of reds and whites are due to the production of massive quantities of grapes in very high yields. In addition to single species wines and some rare matured wines, the Veneto also produces a successful sparkling wine gaining recognition in the sparkling wine market of Italy. The sparkling wine produces a light aromatic fragrance with a hint of almonds and is a nice accompaniment to any meal.

What is old is new again, as the industry seeks to revive the ancient grapevine species and the traditional practice of picking grapes by hand in combination with modern techniques and new winemaking practices. As dictated by law, Italian wines are classified according to their distinctive characteristics and superior quality produced by grape species and area of production. Table wines are at the bottom of the rating with no indication of year or any other pertinent details. Next are those wines with Typical Geographic Specifications and the best are labeled as DOC and DOCG wines (Controlled and Guaranteed Denomination of Origin).

For additional information about Italian Wine, please see these websites:

Wine Regions of Italy.com

Italia- Food & Wine

Italian Wine Guide