Italian wine is diverse. Its cultures, food, landscapes and weather are too. You can observe this diversity in the twenty unique wine regions of Italy. Big and complicated, yes, but here is your intro to Italian wine made simple.
Stefano Petrini’s grandparents were farmers in a small mountain community rich with history in Italy’s Abruzzo region. Paleolithic cave paintings and Roman ruins were fuel for young, energetic boys to explore. And explore he and his brother did. But it was the contact with nature and vineyards that set their current stage: producing organic wine in Abruzzo’s Pescara and Chieti… Read more »
The last time you enjoyed a bottle of Italian wine was it organic, or produced by natural methods? Biodynamic? Perhaps you don’t know or don’t care. Does making wine without chemicals really make a difference? Organic agriculture is a hot topic these days owing to growing consumer concern about where their food comes from, how it’s processed, and what’s in… Read more »
Sagrantino, a thick-skinned grape with off-the-scale color and body is where you find the red prize of Umbria. Montefalco is perched high up in Umbria, in the foothills of the Central Italian Apennines. These lush, green hills are the historic home of Sagrantino yet it’s not well known outside of Umbria. Say Italy and wine in a sentence and many… Read more »
Italy has upwards of 590 officially recognized wine grape varieties to date. Here’s one you might not know that you know- Cannonau.
Northern Italy is full of (wine) surprises. It’s not just about Milan and the Cinque Terre, and Venice or Tuscany. Lots of people don’t explore outside of these destinations. So for those folks wanting fewer than a zillion tourists and interesting wines made with grapes native to Italy, head to Bardolino on Lake Garda. This area is making some of… Read more »
Soave is one of the most important white wine appellations in Italy. Although it’s name was tarnished for years, they now produce single varietal, distinctive “cru” wines from the Garganega grape. The Veneto region in northern Italy where the Soave hails is worth the visit, great food too!
Vin Santo, the classic Italian dessert wine made in the appassimento method is a beautiful amber color. Inviting aromas of deep caramel- similar to a sweet Madeira- and also hazelnuts and dried stone fruits. It’s great on it’s own but we especially like it with cantucci, a type of Italian biscotti. Dunking is acceptable!
Located in Chianti Storico (old Chianti), you find Chianti Classico wines. Montefioralle is an organic producer located near Greve- an easy trip from Florence for tasting wine and olive oil.
The wine world can be confusing, Italy is no exception. Many say Italy is one of the hardest to navigate. I found that true unraveling Chianti and Chianti Classico. So is one a sub-zone of another?