Italian Wine - Il Mondo di Vino Italiano

You probably do too, you just don't know it yet.  20 regions, each with their own grapes, style of wine and cuisine.  I love French wine too, but for sheer variety, Italy cannot be beat.

Part of the reason Italian wines can be confusing is that the wines can be named for the grape, or for the town in which they are prduced or the style of the wine, or they can be given a made up proprietary name. 

With any wine from anywhere in the world I think it is important to know where it comes from and what kind of grapes it is composed of.

So here are a few of the important Italian wines, where they come from and what grapes they are made from.  This is not a comprehensive list, but just a few of the wines that make Italy a great wine producing country.  This only begins to scratch the surface of the grapes and wines of Italy.

Sparkling Wines 

Prosecco from the Veneto is a sparkling wine made from Prosecco grapes.  Prosecco with peach puree makes the famous Bellini cocktail.

Franciacorta from Lombardia is a champagne style sparkling wine, made from different combinations of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, the same grapes and the same method used in France to make Champagne.

Pinot Grigio is grown in many regions but the best come from Trentino and Friuli regions. 

Sauvignon Blanc, usually just called Sauvignon.  Like Pinot Grigio, the best come from the northeast, Friuli.

Piedmont

Barolo made from Nebbiolo grapes, is a serious wine that can age for decades, when well made.

Barbaresco, also made from Nebbiolo grapes.  If Barolo is the King, then Barbaresco is the queen.

Both exhibit earthy aromas and flavors often characterized as violet, dried rose petals, tar, tobacco.

Barbera d'Alba and Barbera d'Asti are both from Piedmont and made from Barbera grapes.  Bright cherry flavors and good, bracing acidity.

Dolcetto, named for the grapes, is lower in acidity and can have a silky, lush texture.

Tuscany

Chianti, Chianti Classico

Within Tuscany lies the Chianti region, where Chianti made is made from the Sangiovese grape.  Chianti can contain up to 10% of other grapes or can be 100% Ssngiovese.  Within the Chianti region lies the Classico zone, about 15% as big as Chianti.  Chianti Classico must come from within this zone.    

Brunello di Montalcino - Montalcino is a small hill town in Tuscany where Brunello grapes, a clone of Sangiovese, are grwon.  Brunello is one of the noble wines of Italy

Rosso di Montalcino - Same grapes as Brunello, but usually younger vines and not aged as long before release.  Sometimes referred to as Baby Brunello. 

Super Tuscans were developed out of frustration with the limitation of the  Italian  wine laws.   They can contain almost any combinations of grapes.  But often the are made with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese in some combination.  Most of these wines come from the areas in Tuscany called Maremma and Bolgheri.

Veneto 

Valpolicella isnamed for a town in the Veneto region in which it is made.  Valpolicella is made from 3 grapes, Rondinella, Corvina,  and Molinara.  Usually light and young drinking, casual wine.

Ripasso di Valpolicella is made from the Valpoilcella blend and iether partially dried before fermentation or fermented withe lees of the Amarone.  This creates a wine that has some of the freshness of Valpolicella and some of the richness of Amarone.  Ripasso is sometimes referred to as Baby Amarone.

Amarone, made from the Valpolicella blend of grapes.  Prior to fermentation the grapes are air dried from harrvest until the next spring.  With reduced water the grapes make a very rich, concentrated, complex wine.