Wines of Italy

Italy is well known for its robust, full-bodied, and fruity red wines, though it makes
quality white wines. It is also known for spumante (sparkling wines).
The best wines of Italy come from the northern regions, especially from Piedmont
and Tuscany. Well known native grapes are nebbiolo, sangiovese, and trebbiano
Italian wines get their names from geographical regions and from the variety of
grapes used, sometimes with the district’s name.

Italian Wine Laws

Italian wine law classifies the wines as following ( given in ascending order of the
quality standards)
Vino da Tavola ( VdT)
Indicazione Geografica Tipica ( IGT)
Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC)
Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita(DOCG)

Vino da Tavola
4th category in terms of quality.
Unapproved grape variety. Simplest table wine with or without Indication of origin

Vino Tipico
Similar to Vin de paye of France

Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC)

Controlled naming of origin. over 250 DOC wines
Guarantees the origin, grape varieties used, yields, alcoholic content & ageing
methods
Certifies:
Grapes grown in defined areas
Certain quality levels
Classico (special zone in an area)
Superiore (1% higher alcohol – longer ageing)

Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG)

All the points of DOC along with laboratory analysis & tasting examinations
Only a few outstanding wines. Some examples:
Albana di Romagno (w), Barbaresco (r), Barolo (r), Brunello di Montalcino (r),
Chianti (r), Vino Nobiile di Montepulciano (r)

WINE REGION OF ITALY

1. Piedmont
2. Lombardy
3. Trentino_Alto Adige
4. Friuli-Venezia-Giulia
5. Veneto
6. Emilia-Romagna
7. Tuscany
Piedmont
Well known wines
Barolo: robust, full-bodied, high tannin ,Nebbiolo grapes & 3 yrs of ageing.
Barbaresco: Very tannic but softer than Barolo, made from Nebbiolo
Barbera: name after the grape, high tannin with frizzante .Eg.Barbera d’ Alba
Asti: name after the place, centre of sparkling wine in Italy. Best are marked at Asti
Spumate.

Veneto: well known for

Bardolino: light fruity red wine, enjoy young
Valpolicella: fruity red wine, enjoyed young
Prosecco: White wine named after grape
Prosecco spumate: dry sparkling wine

Tuscany:
Home of Chianti, best Italian red wine
Chianti – from Sangiovese grapes.
Cherry flavor & acidicKnown for one of the most popular and famous Italian red
wines –Marketed in a straw-wrapped flagon-shaped bottle (fiasco).
nowadays in Bordeaux-type bottles also.Best is Chianti Classico Reserva – aged
longer.
Other famous wine
Brunello di Montalcino: matured in cask for 5 yrs & bottle for 2 yrs.

ITALIAN WINE TERMS

Abboccato/Amabile – semi-sweet
Seco/Asciutto – dry
Dolce – sweet
Rosso – red
Bianco – white
Roasato – rosé
Annata – vintage year
Vecchio – old
Recioto – wine made from partially dried grapes.
Reserva/Reserva Speciale – aged for long and specific period.

ITALIAN SPARKLING WINES

Labelled Vino Spumante.
Made from aromatic moscato grapes.
Most use the Charmat process.
Most are sweet.
If dry – brut / brut reserva / brut nature
Metodo Champenois / Fermentazione Naturale in Bottiglia (bottle-fermented)
Crackling wine: Vino Frizzante
Asti Spumante is the most popular Italian sparkling wine (delicate and sweet -
Charmat process – from Piedmont).