WINES OF ITALY:
- Italy produces more wine and more varieties of wine than does any other country in the world.
- It is estimated that Italy produces a many as 4000 different wines.
- However Italy is more noted for quantity rather than quality of wine.
- Italy’s red wines are better known, probably because of their mature taste – Due to their long aging in the cask before bottling.
- Italian wines do not travel well.
- In general Italy produces bigger and fuller red wines than those produced in France.
Wine Laws:
Italian wine laws specify geographical limits,
Grape varieties,
Maximum yield per hectare,
Minimum alcoholic content of wine,
Minimum amount of aging.
According to Italian Law Wines can be classified into 4 groups:
Denominazione Di Origine Controllate E Garantita (DOGC):
Meaning “Controlled and Guaranteed denomination”, this category is reserved for outstanding wines whose quality is guaranteed by a committee of experts. These wines, Italy’s most prestigious are the following:
White - Albana Di Romango
Red - barbaresco
Barolo
Brunello Di Montalcino
Chianti
Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano
Denominazione Di Origine Controllatta (DOC):
Meaning “Controlled Denomination”. This designation certifies that wine is made from grapes grown in a defined production zone and complies with the specific quality levels. Grapes grown in a special zone within the region is allowed to be named as classsico, e.g., Chianti Classico. A wine can also be labeled superiore if it has been aged longer and has a slightly higher alcoholic content.
Vino Tipico:
Meaning “Typical Wine”. These are table wines made from an established grape variety. But are not upto Doc quality standards.
Vino Da Tavola:
Meaning “Table Wine”. Made from any grape variety i.e., Unapproved grape variety.
Some of the important wine producing regions of Italy are – Lombardy, Tuscany, Veneto, Piedmont, Sicily.
Lombardy:
Lombardy is a major wine growing district in the North of Italy, a famous grape which is grown in the mountains of Lombardy is Nebbiolo which produces a wine named Valtillina. Other grapes grown in Lombardy are Pinor & Riesling. These grapes produce wines like Franciacorta Pinot & Franciocorta Rosso, from the Lombardy Bank of Lake Garda comes a very pale red wine labeled Rivera Del Garda Rosso.
Lombardy is a major wine growing district in the North of Italy, a famous grape which is grown in the mountains of Lombardy is Nebbiolo which produces a wine named Valtillina. Other grapes grown in Lombardy are Pinor & Riesling. These grapes produce wines like Franciacorta Pinot & Franciocorta Rosso, from the Lombardy Bank of Lake Garda comes a very pale red wine labeled Rivera Del Garda Rosso.
Tuscany:
This region is in Central Italy where Florence & Siena are located. Tuscany is best known for Chianty, a wine that is best drunk when young, as it does not age well. This wine is generally made from Sang Io – verse grapes. Initially Chianty was made with a blend of white and red grapes. Today it is made only with red grapes. Also gradually being stimulate secondary fermentation, so as to increase wines alcoholic content and character. Italian Chianty has become one of the best known Italian Red wines simply because so much of it has been produced and because it was exported in wicker covered fiasco.
This region is in Central Italy where Florence & Siena are located. Tuscany is best known for Chianty, a wine that is best drunk when young, as it does not age well. This wine is generally made from Sang Io – verse grapes. Initially Chianty was made with a blend of white and red grapes. Today it is made only with red grapes. Also gradually being stimulate secondary fermentation, so as to increase wines alcoholic content and character. Italian Chianty has become one of the best known Italian Red wines simply because so much of it has been produced and because it was exported in wicker covered fiasco.
Other wines from this region are
Red - Brunello Di Montalcino
Tignanello
Solaia
White - Vin Santo
Galestro
Pomino
Veneto - This region is in the North Eastern part of Italy. Venice is its main city. This region is best known for its two great Red wines, Valpolicella and Bardoling, Soave produced in Veneto is perhaps Italy’s most famous white wine. Some wines of this region are named after grapes. They are – Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot & Tocai.
Piedmont - The capital of Piedmont region is Turin. Most varied wines are produced in this region. Two best known are the Robust Red : Barolo & Barbaresco. Barbaresco is considered to be somewhat superior to Barolo. The two grapes common in this region are Barbera & Nebbiolo from Moscato (Muscat) comes the famous delicate and somewhat sweet sparkling white wine Asti Spumnate.
Sicily - Sicily is the huge Island off the toe of Italy. It is most famous for its fortified dessert wine Marsala. Other famous wines from this region are Alcamo, Farc & Faustus.
Italian Wine Terms:
Casa Vinicola - Winery
Cantina Sociale - Cooperative Cellar
Secco - Dry
Rosso - Red
Rosato - Rose
Spumante - Sparkling
Frizzante - Lightly sparkling
Dolce - Sweet
Annata - Vintage year
Amabile - Semisweet
Abbocoato - Semisweet
Bianco - White
Vecchio - Old
