Italy is a country that is steeped in food traditions; even Italian wine is steeped in longstanding tradition. Unlike much of the "New World," Italy has been making wine for millennia. From the foothills of the Alps in Alto Adige, to the Piedmont or Emilia-Romagna, the country is full of delicious flavors. The native grape varieties and winemaking techniques they employ are found almost nowhere else on Earth. All you have to do is try a glass of Chianti Classico, Barolo or Barbaresco, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano or Brunello di Montalcino from Tuscany, or Amarone from the Veneto to taste the quality of fine, traditional Italian wine.
What are the most popular wine regions in Italy?
Young winemakers in regions around Mount Etna in Sicily, Venice, and Alto Adige (in the far north of the country) are converting their wine production to organic and biodynamic practices with ancient and underrepresented grape varieties. It's not just Barbera, Sangiovese, and Nebbiolo anymore. The amount of native varietal wines and wine regions belies belief. The winemakers are exploring an incredibly long list of native grape varieties, including Nero d'Avola, Dolcetto, Negroamaro, Primitivo (Zinfandel), Aglianico, Fiano, Rondinella, Trebbiano and Verdicchio, to name a few of the more common grapes. The wines are vibrant and feel fresh, despite an ancient heritage and farming practices. There are also Italian iconoclasts. You might have heard of "Super Tuscans;" these wines rocked the Italian winemaking community in the 1970s and 80s by including international (French) grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon in their blends.
What are the best Italian wines?
Many Italian wines are marked by a beautiful acidity. Whether you are searching for a red wine (Rosso in Italian) or a white wine, it's almost guaranteed you can find some delicious and new. You can find all the usual suspects (Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah, etc.), but the real gems are hidden away in small DOCG's (Italy's acronym for appellations). Try the Italian sparkling wine answer to Champagne and Cremant in Prosecco, Moscato d'Asti, Lambrusco, or Franciacorta. You can have a vibrant Pinot Grigio straight from the source. If you like tannins in your wine, head to Umbria in Central Italy to try Sagrantino, a red grape variety that will change the way you think about tannins. No matter your tastes, there's an Italian wine for you.
Want to learn more about wines from Italy?
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