Rarely a tourist trip to the Apennine Peninsula is complete without tasting the wines that are produced here. How to navigate their diversity, what wine to choose and buy in Italy – these questions concern every traveler.
Italian wine categories
Grapes have been grown in Italy since ancient times, and the history of winemaking goes back about three thousand years. In terms of production volume, the country is consistently among the top three world leaders, every now and then taking the palm from its main competitor, France . By the way, taking the French classification system as a basis, Italian producers divided wines into four categories.
DOCG is the highest category, which guarantees the geographical origin and method of production. Products from this elite group are marked with excise stamps with a unique number. Today, 74 types of expensive Italian wines fall into this category.
DOC is the next category, which is classified by region of production. The group consists of 334 titles. During their production, the requirements regarding grape varieties, territory of origin, alcohol content standards are observed, and strict quality checks are carried out.
IGT is a relatively new category, created in 1992. It determines the geography of origin of alcohol, the method of its production and the grape variety. This group includes 118 wines – slightly more than 20% of the total production volume.
Vino da tavola – this category includes table wines, the origin of which is not strictly controlled. Under this label, products obtained by blending wines produced in different Italian regions can be sold. However, even in this group there are amazing drinks.
Wine regions of Italy
According to the International Organization of Vine and Wine, Italy ranks third in the world in terms of vineyard area. The high quality of local products is ensured by a favorable climate and the “correct farming” system practiced by farmers. Italians do not chase large yields at the expense of the quality of the berries, they take care of the soil and get excellent results. Grapes ripened on sun-drenched hills are sweet and retain a lot of beneficial substances.
Today Italy is divided into 20 wine regions. Each of them has its own territories, unique traditions and produces excellent alcoholic drinks that have won recognition from experts and amateurs. The most famous regions include Piedmont, Tuscany, Friuli, Lombardy and Veneto.
Piedmont is one of the large regions in northern Italy. It is located at the foot of the Alps and is famous for its red wines. Barbera and Nebbiolo are popular grape varieties grown here. Famous wines are made from them, including Barolo and Barbaresco, which belong to the highest category. Barolo costs from 25 to 50 € per bottle, depending on the manufacturer and aging time. The most famous wineries are Colla di Alba, Silvio Grasso di La Morra, Figli Luigi Oddero di La Morra, Vite Colte di Barolo, Cascina Amalia in Langhe di Monforte d’Alba.
Tuscany is another northern region of the country. It is dominated by private wineries, where over the centuries family dynasties have created their elite varieties. Among them, Chianti, a representative of the most famous red Italian wines, stands out. The alcohol is made from Sangiovese grapes, belongs to the highest category, and its best examples cost from 15 to 50 € per bottle. Famous wineries are Pomona di Castellina, Castello di Monsanto, Barberino Val d’elsa, Badia a Coltibuono di Gaiole.
Veneto is a region in northeastern Italy. More than 80 grape varieties are cultivated on these lands. The province occupies a leading position in the production of fine wines. The pride of Veneto is dry white wines Soave, which can be still or sparkling . Their cost in stores is on average 10 € per 0.5 liter, but there are also more expensive samples. Wineries – Cantina del Castello, Rocca Sveva, Coffele Viticoltori, Cantina Tessari.
Friuli is an Italian region where the popular Pinot Grigio grape variety grows. It is used to produce elegant and light white wines, which have brought fame to the region. They are ideal for the summer season and go well with fresh salads. The cost (0.75 ml) in stores ranges from 4-7 €, although the price of individual wines can reach 80 €. Well-known manufacturers – Di Lenardo, Damijan Podversic, Perusini, Borgo Conventi, Borgo del Tiglio, Dorigo.
Lombardy is a region that produces excellent red, white and rosé Italian wines. The most famous are the sparkling ones. This province produces Lambrusco – it gets its name from the grape variety of the same name and is the leader in sales in Italy. Its minimum price is 4-10 €. Wineries – Bellavista, Ca’ del Bosco, Cantine dei Marchesi di Barolo, Quadra Franciacorta, Nino Negri.
Among the famous wines of Italy is the author’s series of unique blends, Astrale. It is created from grapes grown in different regions of the country: Veneto, Apulia, Abruzzo and Sicily. For production, strictly defined proportions of Merlot (10%), Montepulciano (30%), Nero D’Avolo (20%) and Primitivo (40%) varieties are used.
What to drink Italian wines with
Any Italian wine should be in harmony with dishes, and treats should emphasize the aroma and taste of alcohol. Products that “clog” its taste, for example, salads with vinegar dressing, should not be combined with wine. Also, Italians do not recommend serving nuts as a snack: they can “muffle” even the brightest wine bouquet.
When choosing appetizers, you should adhere to the following rule: dishes with a complex taste are perfectly complemented by simple wine, and simple treats are best suited to gourmet drinks. Italian cheeses and fruits are universal snacks for almost any wine.
Another relevant rule: red meat is served with red wines, and white meat with white wines. But if you ask a sommelier for advice in a restaurant, you will be surprised: with almost every dish you will be offered a different type of wine! For example, it is believed that the classic Chianti goes best with a Florentine steak, Lambrusco perfectly emphasizes the taste of prosciutto , and Falanghina goes perfectly with seafood.
5 facts about Italian wine you might not know
Fact one . Today, Italian wines occupy leading positions in world rankings and a worthy place on the tables of connoisseurs of good alcohol. However, 100 years ago there was no respect for this drink in the country. It was not even bottled, but brought in barrels and drunk without any special ceremony or adherence to the rules of etiquette. The situation began to change only in the 1960s, when the government adopted a strict classification.
Fact two . In the ancient Italian city of Marino, located south of Rome , the Grape Festival is held annually on the first Sunday of October – one of the oldest in Italy. During this holiday, which attracts thousands of tourists from different countries, local white wine is served instead of water in the large fountain on the main square.
Residents of the city love to remember a funny story that happened several years ago during the festival. Due to a malfunction of the plumbing equipment, the wine was directed not to the fountain, but to residential buildings located around the square. The townspeople, who discovered delicious wine in their taps, took it as a holiday gift from the local administration.
Fact three . A drinking fountain was recently opened in the Italian town of Ortona in the Abruzzo region. Anyone here can quench their thirst at any time of the day and absolutely free. This event could be considered ordinary, if not for one detail: instead of water, red wine from local producers flows from the fountain.
Fact four . According to the World Health Organization, Italy ranks third in the world both in terms of total wine consumed and per capita consumption. There is a common belief that Italians drink wine every day. This is partly true – many residents of the country drink a traditional glass of light wine with dinner.
Fact five . For more than half a century, in the north-east of Italy, in the city of Verona, Vinitaly has been held – an exhibition and competition of wines. The event called “Days of Italian Wine”, organized for the first time in 1967, has over time become a status event on a global scale. Every April, Verona brings together wine professionals and lovers from all over the world.
Here you can get acquainted with brands of Italian and foreign wines, get information about producers, attend lectures and take part in tastings. The largest wine show is becoming more and more global every year. About 60 thousand guests attended the events within Vinitaly-2018.
Where to taste and buy wines in Italy
In addition to annual holidays, exhibitions and festivals, you can taste and buy Italian wines on numerous excursions. Wine tourism is one of the popular destinations in Italy. This is an opportunity to get acquainted with the traditions of wine-growing regions, taste the best samples and observe the production process.
Tourists can find out how much wine costs in Italy, what secrets are kept by many generations of winemakers, and what Italian snacks go best with certain types of wine. For example, a private one-day excursion around the outskirts of Florence with visits to wineries and tasting of the famous Chianti will cost tourists $327 per person. But, of course, there are much more affordable options.
For most visitors to the country, a bottle of Italian alcohol is one of the best souvenirs. In every city there are wine shops where you can find out what wine is worth bringing from Italy, try different brands of drinks, choose and buy the variety you like. In Rome, the excellent wine shop Enoteca Giampiccolo (Via Dei Cappuccini, 29) offers a huge selection of wines to suit every taste and budget.