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World
Wine Education: Italy |
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Fun
Facts |
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1. One quarter of the Worlds wine production is from Italy, about 18 million hectolitres per year.
2. Italians are still the worlds largest consumers of wine but have declined from a high of 110 litres per capita to 70 litres per capita.
3. The Roman God of Wine is Bacchus; with perpetually rosy cheeks he seems to be a happy fellow.
4. One of the earliest peoples of southen Italy were the Oenotria tribe, this is where we get the wine prefix oeno or eno.
5. Most wines produced during the Roman era were flavored with resin, honey, spices, herbs or sea salt.
6. DOCG ( Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita), is a mark of esteem given to six different wine of Italy.
-Barolo
-Barbaresco
-Brunello di Montalcino
-Vino Noble di Montepulciano
-Chianti
-Albana
7. Chianti is a blend of different grapes, some being white grapes.
8. There are over 1000 different varieties of grapes grown in Italy.
9. Lacyrma Crysti is one of Italy's famous wines, meaning, The Tears of Christ. This wine is grown at the base of Mt. Vesuvius and is close to
the traditional Roman style.
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| Italy
in Brief |
Italy
Features |
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Italy is probably one of the oldest and most diverse wine growing countries in the world. Italy has been making wine for over 4000 years. Its wine tradition is marked by constant changes in wine styles and wine making techniques, all contributing to better and better wines. Italy is also unique in that wine is produced in every region covering its 1200 mile length. Italy's rugged terrain and its geographical distances are the reasons behind it's great diversity in grape varieties and wine styles.
History
Italians were probably not the first people to make wine, and seem to be the most adept at evolving into great wine producers. Wine and primitive wine making techniques have been in Italy since before 2000 BC. These early peoples were eventually conquered by the Greeks and Etruscans, wherein wine making became more common. The Romans then took this knowledge and advanced grape growing and wine making techniques probably more than any other culture in history, all while under the protective watch of Bacchus, the Roman God of Wine. During the Dark ages (1000 AD to 1400 AD) Italy's wine making and consumption declined and was not brought back to prominance until the late Middle Ages ( around 1600 AD), when wine became a part of every day life.
Even with this long history, Italy did not have its true wine revolution and enlightenment until the early 1800's. At this time Italy began to produce more dry red wines that could be aged. These new methods were brought to Italy by French winemakers interested in the wines of Barolo and Chianti. At this time, Italy also began to produce sparkling wines in the Asti region, from techniques learned from the wine makers of Champagne.
Italy is presently making what many believe to be their best wines ever. While in recent years it has developed tough new standards and laws to govern and protect its classic wines, Italy has also continued to grow and experiment with new grape varieties and methods of wine making. Some of the wine makers in the northeast around Fruili-Venezia and Veneto, are producing varietal character wines similar to those of California and are labeled by varietal ( ie. Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot) instead of the region. In Tuscany, wine makers have had great success with producing the critically aclaimed "Super Tuscans". This wine combines the bold, tannic structure of the Cabernet grape with the fruit and drinkability of Chianti (mainly Sangiovese grape).
Geography and Climate
Italy probably has the most varied wine growing climate of any wine producing country. The climate of Italy's regions include everything from:
The Northeastern area of Trentino, Veneto and Fruily-Venezia producing California style Chardonnays and Merlots; The Northwestern mountains of Valle D' Aoste, producing light fruity reds and whites; The central warm hills of Tuscany and Umbria producing the dry crisp citrousy whites, like Vernacchia, and the famous Chiantis; The hot subtropical pennisula and islands of Sicily and Sardenia, producing ripe, rich wines like Apulia's Salice Salentio; and finally, what many consider Italy's noblest wines, the Barolos and Barberescos of Western Italy's lush Piedmonte region. |
While Italy remains protective of its older classic wines, there is still a strong sense of adventure in the present young and old wine makers of Italy. One of the up and coming trends in Italian wine is the production of dry sparkling wines, such as BellaVista Cuvee Brut. These bubbly wines are produced using bottle fermentation similar to French Champagnes. While expermenting with new concepts Italy continues to raise the standards on its classics. As shipping becomes easier and more profitable to the Italian wine producer, we will begin to see wines from lesser known regions, such as, the clean crisp whites of liguria and the robust reds of Sardenia. Lastly, gowers of Tuscany's "Super Tuscan" wines will continue to grow and compete for top honors with the Rothchilds, Caymuses and Granges of the world. Among these top contenders are Antinori's Tiganello and Frescobaldi's Montesodi.
| Producer | Varietal | Vintage | Price | Buy Now | | Antinori | Italian White | 2001 | 10.49 | Details | | Antinori | Sangiovese | 2001 | 9.99 | Details | | Antinori | Italian Red | 1998 | 67.99 | Details |
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