ITALIAN WINE

Wine in itself is an excellent thing.
— Pope Pius XII

READING BETWEEN THE WINES:

Wine snobs everywhere have boasted about their cellar collections of fine Italian wines, but even if you’re still wet behind your wine lover ears, a little wine run through can help you get a handle on these vino buono.

While Italy is best known for its Chianti, Barolo, Soave, and Moscato, there are innumerable varieties to enjoy.

Italy produces and exports more wine than any other country and offers the greatest selection of types. When buying a wine from la terra di vino with even a little know-how, it is rare that you will find an unfavorable one.

MAJOR ITALIAN WINE REGIONS

There are several wine regions in Italy, each with their own flavor and style of wine. Just a few of the major regions are:

Piedmont Wine
Tuscany Wine
Other Italian Wines (Abruzzi, Fruili-Venezia Guilia, Umbria, Veneto)

THE POPULAR GRAPES

The top grapes of the Italian kind are as follows:

HOW TO ORDER/BUY

Wines from Italy come in virtually ever color, flavor, and style, but here are a few tips to consider when choosing a good Italian wine.

Just keep in mind:

• Choosing an Italian wine of DOCG classification does not guarantee you a wine better than those of lesser rankings; however, these DOCG wines have held consistent outstanding reputations for at least fives years.

• Many Italian table wines have been included in the most worthy wine lists over the years, so take a chance! These wines come from some of Italy’s most crafty and creative vintners.

• Choose bright whites to go with white meats and bold reds for red meats.

LEGAL QUALITY CODES

The Italians have strict controls on their wines, regulated by specific laws to ensure origin, intrinsic quality, and authenticity. The four classifications of Italian wine — from superior quality with tight regulations to the most innovative and leniently regulated — are:

1. Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG)

• Classified as superior DOCs.
• Held to strict standards in regard to:

o reduced output yields
o in-depth chemical analyses of wine’s composition
o specified sensory analyses
o minimum alcohol the wine must contain
o minimum periods of aging

2. Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC)

• Classified as quality wines.
• Held to strict standards in regard to:

o maximum yields
o specified sensory analyses
o originating zone
o minimum alcohol the wine must contain
o minimum periods of aging
o grape variety

3. Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT)

• Exceptional value for the money
• Less restrictions but high quality
• Less strictly controlled in regard to:

o wider territories
o single-grape variety or maximum blend ratios

4. Table Wine

• Everyday wine of Italy.
• Some of Italy’s best and priciest wines.
• Strictly controlled in regard to:

o level of alcohol

• Not regulated in regard to:

o single-grape and blended varieties
o winemaking techniques

References

www.italianmade.com