Italian wine is produced in every
region of Italy
The regions of Italy ( it, regioni d'Italia) are the first-level administrative divisions of the Italian Republic, constituting its second NUTS administrative level. There are twenty regions, five of which have higher autonomy than the rest. U ...
. Italy is the
world's largest producer of wine, with an area of under vineyard cultivation, and contributing a 2013–2017 annual average of 48.3 million
hl of wine. In 2018 Italy accounted for 19 per cent of global production, ahead of
France (17 per cent) and
Spain (15 per cent).
Italian wine is both exported around the world and popular domestically among Italians, who consume an average of 42 litres per capita, ranking fifth in world wine consumption.
The origins of vine-growing and winemaking in Italy has been illuminated by recent research, stretching back even before the
Phoenician,
Etruscans and
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
settlers, who produced wine in Italy before the
Romans
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
* Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
planted their own
vineyards. The Romans greatly increased Italy's viticultural area using efficient
viticultural and
winemaking methods.
History
Vines have been cultivated from the wild ''
Vitis vinifera'' grape for millennia in Italy. It was previously believed that viticulture had been introduced into
Sicily
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and southern Italy by the
Mycenaeans,
[The Oxford Companion to Archaeology, Brian Murray Fagan, 1996 Oxford Univ Pr, p.757] as winemaking traditions are known to have already been established in Italy by the time the
Phoenician and
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
colonists arrived on Italy's shores around 1000–800 BC.
[Wine: A Scientific Exploration, Merton Sandler, Roger Pinder, CRC Press, p.66][Introduction to Wine Laboratory Practices and Procedures, Jean L. Jacobson, Springer, p.84] However, archeological discoveries on
Monte Kronio in 2017 revealed that viticulture in Sicily flourished at least as far back as 4000 BC — some 3,000 years earlier than previously thought. Also on the peninsula, traces of Bronze Age and even Neolithic grapevine management and small-scale winemaking might suggest earlier origins than previously thought.
Under
Ancient Rome large-scale, slave-run
plantations sprang up in many coastal areas of Italy and spread to such an extent that, in AD 92,
emperor Domitian was forced to destroy a great number of vineyards in order to free up fertile land for food production.
During this time,
viticulture outside of Italy was prohibited under Roman law. Exports to the provinces were reciprocated in exchange for more slaves, especially from
Gaul. Trade was intense with Gaul, according to
Pliny
Pliny may refer to:
People
* Pliny the Elder (23–79 CE), ancient Roman nobleman, scientist, historian, and author of ''Naturalis Historia'' (''Pliny's Natural History'')
* Pliny the Younger (died 113), ancient Roman statesman, orator, w ...
, because the inhabitants tended to drink Italian wine unmixed and without restraint. Although unpalatable to adults, it was customary, at the time, for young people to drink wine mixed with a good proportion of
water.
As the laws on provincial viticulture were relaxed, vast vineyards began to flourish in the rest of Europe, especially Gaul (present-day
France) and
Hispania. This coincided with the cultivation of new vines, such as biturica, an ancestor of the
Cabernets. These vineyards became so successful that Italy ultimately became an import centre for provincial wines.
Depending on the vintage, modern Italy is the world's largest or second-largest wine producer. In 2005, production was about 20% of the global total, second only to France, which produced 26%. In the same year, Italy's share in dollar value of table wine imports into the U.S. was 32%, Australia's was 24%, and France's was 20%. Along with Australia, Italy's market share has rapidly increased in recent years.
Italian appellation system
In 1963, the first official Italian system of classification of wines was launched. Since then, several modifications and additions to the legislation have been made, including a major modification in 1992. The last modification, which occurred in 2010, established four basic categories which are consistent with the latest
European Union wine regulations (2008–09). The categories, from the bottom to the top level, are:
* Vini (Wines - informally called 'generic wines'): wines can be produced anywhere in the territory of the EU, the label includes no indication of geographical origin of the grape varieties used or the vintage. (The label only reports the colour of the wine.)
* Vini Varietali (Varietal Wines): generic wines that are made either mostly (at least 85%) from one kind of authorized 'international' grape variety (Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah) or entirely from two or more of them, grape variety or varieties and vintage may be indicated on the label. (The prohibition to indicate the geographical origin is instead maintained. These wines can be produced anywhere in the territory of the EU.)
*Vini IGP (Wines with Protected Geographical Indication also traditionally implemented in Italy as
IGT - Typical Geographical Indication): wines produced in a specific territory within Italy and following a series of specific and precise regulations on authorized varieties, viticultural and vinification practices, organoleptic and chemico-physical characteristics, labeling instructions, etc. Currently (2016) there exist 118 IGPs/IGTs.
*Vini DOP (Wines with
Protected Designation of Origin): This category includes two sub-categories: Vini
DOC
DOC, Doc, doc or DoC may refer to:
In film and television
* ''Doc'' (2001 TV series), a 2001–2004 PAX series
* ''Doc'' (1975 TV series), a 1975–1976 CBS sitcom
* "D.O.C." (''Lost''), a television episode
* ''Doc'' (film), a 1971 Wester ...
(Controlled Designation of Origin) and Vini
DOCG (Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin). DOC wines must have been IGP wines for at least 5 years. They generally come from smaller regions within a certain IGP territory that are particularly vocated for their climatic and geological characteristics, quality, and originality of local winemaking traditions. They also must follow stricter production regulations than IGP wines. A DOC wine can be promoted to DOCG if it has been a DOC for at least 10 years. In addition to fulfilling the requisites for DOC wines, DOCG wines must pass stricter analyses prior to commercialization, including a tasting by a specifically appointed committee. DOCG wines must also demonstrate superior commercial success. Currently (2016) there exist 332 DOCs and 73 DOCGs for a total of 405 DOPs.
A number of sub-categories exist pertaining to the regulation of sparkling wine production (e.g. Vino Spumante, Vino Spumante di Qualità, Vino Spumante di Qualità di Tipo Aromatico, Vino Frizzante).
Within the DOP category, 'Classico' is a wine produced in the original historic centre of the protected territory. 'Superiore' is a wine with at least 0.5 more alc%/vol than its corresponding regular DOP wine and produced using a smaller allowed quantity of grapes per hectare, generally yielding a higher quality. 'Riserva' is a wine that has been aged for a minimum period of time. The length of time varies with (red, white, Traditional-method sparkling, Charmat-method sparkling). Sometimes, 'Classico' or 'Superiore' are themselves part of the name of the DOP (e.g. Chianti Classico DOCG or Soave Superiore DOCG).
The Italian Ministry of Agriculture (MIPAAF) regularly publishes updates to the official classification.
It is important to note that looser regulations do not necessarily correspond to lower quality. In fact, many IGP wines are actually high-quality wines. Talented winemakers sometimes wish to create wines using varietals or varietal percentages that do not match DOC or DOCG requirements. "
Super Tuscans", for example, are generally high-quality wines that carry the IGP designation. There are several other IGP wines of superior quality, as well.
Unlike France, Italy has never had an official classification of its best 'crus'. Private initiatives like the Comitato Grandi Cru d'Italia (Committee of the Grand Crus of Italy) and the Instituto del Vino Italiano di Qualità—Grandi marchi (Institute of Quality Italian Wine—Great Brands) each gather a selection of renowned top Italian wine producers, in an attempt to unofficially represent the Italian wine excellence.
In 2007 the Barbaresco Consorzio was the first to introduce the ''Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive'' (additional geographic mentions) also known as ''MEGA'' or ''subzones''. Sixty-five subzone vineyard areas were identified in 2007 and one additional subzone was approved in 2010, bringing the final number to 66.
[K. O'Keefe ''Barolo and Barbaresco: the King and Queen of Italian Wine'' California University Press 2014 ] The main goal was to put official boundaries to some of the most storied crus in order to protect them from unjustified expansion and exploitation.
The Barolo Consorzio followed suit in 2010 with 181 MEGA, of which 170 were vineyard areas and 11 were village designations.
Following the introductions of MEGA for Barbaresco and Barolo the term Vigna (Italian for vineyard) can be used on labels after its respective MEGA and only if the vineyard is within one of the approved official geographic mentions.
The official introduction of subzones is strongly advocated by some for different denominations, but so far Barolo and Barbaresco are the only ones to have them.
Geographical characteristics
Important wine-relevant geographic characteristics of Italy include:
*The extensive latitudinal range of the country permits wine growing from the
Alps in the north to almost-within-sight of
Africa in the south.
* The fact that Italy is a
peninsula with a long shoreline contributes to moderating climate effects to coastal wine regions.
* Italy's mountainous and hilly terrain provides a variety of altitudes and climate and soil conditions for grape growing.
Italian wine regions
Italy's twenty wine regions correspond to the twenty administrative regions of the country. Understanding the differences between these regions is very helpful in understanding the different types of Italian wine. Wine in Italy tends to reflect the local cuisine. Regional cuisine also influences wine.
The
DOCG wines
The following four classification of wine, classifications of wine constitute the Italy, Italian system of labelling and legally protecting Italian wine:
* ''Denominazione di origine'' (DO, rarely used; ; English language, English: “designatio ...
are located in 15 different regions but most of them are concentrated in Piedmont, Lombardia, Veneto and Tuscany. Among these are appellations appreciated and sought after by wine lovers around the world:
Barolo
Barolo ( , , ; pms, bareul ) is a red (DOCG) wine produced in the northern Italian region of Piedmont. It is made from the nebbiolo grape and is often described as one of Italy's greatest wines.
The zone of production extends into the comm ...
,
Barbaresco, and
Brunello di Montalcino (colloquially known as the "Killer B's"). Other notable wines that have gained attention in recent years in the international markets and among specialists are: Amarone della Valpolicella, Prosecco di Conegliano- Valdobbiadene, Taurasi from Campania, Franciacorta sparkling wines from Lombardy; evergreen wines are Chianti and Soave, while new wines from the Centre and South of Italy are quickly gaining recognition: Verdicchio, Sagrantino, Primitivo, Nero D'Avola among others. The Friuli-Venezia Giulia is world-famous for the quality of her white wines, like Pinot Grigio. Special sweet wines like Passitos and Moscatos, made in different regions, are also famous since old time.
Sannio
*Falanghina del Sannio
*Camaiola (Barbera del Sannio)
*Aglianico del Sannio
Langhe and Monferrato
Grapes
*Nebbiolo
*Barbera
*Dolcetto
*Freisa
*Arneis
*Chardonnay
Vini rossi
*Barolo
*Barbaresco
*Barbera
*Grignolino
Vini bianchi
Franciacorta
Grapes
*Chardonnay
*Pinot Noir
*Pinot Bianco
Vini spumanti
*Berlucchi
*Ca’ del Bosco
*Bellavista
Valtellina
Grapes
Vini rossi
*Nebbiolo o Chiavennasca
Vini bianchi
Veneto
Grapes
Vini rossi
*Amarone
*Recioto della Valpolicella
*Bardolino
The main grape varieties for the production of Valpolicella (Amarone, Recioto, Ripasso and Classico) and Bardolino (Superiore and Classico) are the same: Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara.
They are all native red varieties of the province of Verona.
The most important is Corvina.
The Corvina berry flesh has a sweet flavour profile and its skin has a blue-violet colour with a cherry note.
Corvina and the other varieties are vinified in different ways to obtain different wines.
To obtain Recioto and Amarone, first, drying is carried out.
For Valpolicella and Bardolino the vinification takes place immediately after the harvest.
The Adige river divides the two production areas on the right Adige towards Lake Garda Bardolino is produced on the left Valpolicella.
Many wineries produce both wines.
With a particular vinification, Chiaretto (rosé) and Bardolino novello are also obtained, always starting from the same varieties.
Vini bianchi
*Custoza
*Recioto di Soave
*Soave
*Garda
*Pinot Grigio delle Venezie
Vini spumanti
*Prosecco
*Durello
Grapes
Trentino
Grapes
*Gewurtztraminer
*Schiava
*Legrein
*Muller-Turgau
Vini rossi
*Moscato Rosa
Vini bianchi
*Gewurtztraminer
Collio Friulano
Grapes
Vini rossi
Vini bianchi
*Friulano
Toscana
Grapes
*
Sangiovese
Vini rossi
*Chianti
*Brunello di Montalcino
*Morellino di Scansano
Vini bianchi
Umbria
Grapes
Vini rossi
Vini bianchi
*Torgiano
*SAgrantino di Montefalco
Irpinia
Grapes
Vini rossi
*Taurasi
*Falanghina
Vini bianchi
Puglia
Grapes
Vini rossi
*Primitivo
*Negramaro
*Salice Salentino
*Susumaniello
*Ottavianello
*Nero di Troia
Vini bianchi
*Bianco D’alessano
*Bombino Bianco.
Sicilia
Grapes
Vini rossi
*Nero d'Avola
Vini bianchi
*Marsala
*Malvasia
Italian grape varieties
Italy's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MIPAAF), has documented over 350 grapes and granted them "authorized" status. There are more than 500 other documented varieties in circulation as well. The following is a list of the most common and important of Italy's many grape varieties.
Bianco (White)
*
Arneis: A variety from Piedmont, which has been grown there since the 15th century.
*
Catarratto
Catarratto is a white Italian wine grape planted primarily in Sicily where it is the most widely planted grape. Catarratto can make full bodied wines with lemon notes.J. Robinson: ''Jancis Robinson's Wine Course'' Third Edition, p. 101. Abbevill ...
: Common in
Sicily
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and the most widely planted white variety in
Salaparuta.
*
Fiano: Grown on the southwest coast of Italy.
*
Friulano: A variety also known as Sauvignon Vert or Sauvignonasse, it yields one of the most typical wines of Friuli. The wine was previously known as Tocai but the old name was prohibited by the European Court of Justice to avoid confusion with the
Tokay dessert wine from Hungary.
*
Garganega
Garganega (, ; meaning "from Gargano") is a variety of white Italian wine grape widely grown in the Veneto region of North East Italy, particularly in the provinces of Verona and Vicenza. It is Italy's 6th most widely planted white grape. It for ...
: The main grape variety for wines labelled Soave and Custoza, this is a dry white wine from the Veneto wine region of Italy. It is popular in northeast Italy around the city of Verona. Currently, there are over 3,500 distinct producers of Soave.
*
Greco di Tufo: Grown on the southwest coast of Italy.
*
Malvasia bianca: A white variety that occurs throughout Italy. It has many
clones and mutations.
*
Moscato blanc: Grown mainly in Piedmont, it is mainly used in the slightly-sparkling (''frizzante''), semi-sweet Moscato d'Asti. Not to be confused with
Moscato Giallo
Moscato Giallo or Yellow Muscat is a white Italian wine grape variety that is a member of the Muscat family of grapes. Known for its large deep cluster of loose, deep-yellow berries and golden colored wine, Moscato Giallo is grown mostly in nort ...
and
Moscato rosa, two Germanic varietals that are grown in Trentino Alto-Adige.
*
Nuragus: An ancient Sardinian variety found in southern Sardegna, producing light and tart wines usually consumed as aperitifs.
*
Passerina
The genus ''Passerina'' is a group of birds in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). Although not directly related to buntings in the family Emberizidae, they are sometimes known as the North American buntings (the North American Emberizidae are ...
: mainly derives from Passerina grapes (it may even be produced purely with these), plus a minimum percentage of other white grapes and may be still, sparkling or passito. The still version has an acidic profile, which is typical of these grapes.
*
Pecorino: Native to Marche and Abruzzo, it is used in the Falerio dei Colli Ascolani and Offida DOC wines. It is low-yielding but will ripen early and at high altitudes. Pecorino wines have a rich, aromatic character.
*
Pigato: An acidic variety
from Liguria that is vinified to pair with seafood.
*
Pinot grigio
Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio (, ) or Grauburgunder is a white wine grape variety of the species ''Vitis vinifera''. Thought to be a mutant clone of the Pinot Noir variety, it normally has a grayish-blue fruit, accounting for its name, but the gra ...
: A successful commercial grape (known as ''Pinot Gris'' in France), its wines are characterized by crispness and cleanness. The wine can range from mild to full-bodied.
*
Ribolla Gialla
Ribolla Gialla (also known as Ribolla, in Slovenian: Rumena rebula, in Croatian: Jarbola) is a white wine grape grown most prominently in the Friuli region of northeast Italy. The grape is also found in Slovenia where it is known as Rebula. In F ...
: A Greek variety introduced by the Venetians that now makes its home in Friuli.
*
Trebbiano: This is the most widely planted white varietal in Italy. It is grown throughout the country, with a special focus on the wines from Abruzzo and from
Lazio, including
Frascati
Frascati () is a city and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital in the Lazio region of central Italy. It is located south-east of Rome, on the Alban Hills close to the ancient city of Tusculum. Frascati is closely associated wit ...
. Trebbiano from producers such as Valentini have been known to age for 15+ years. It is known as
Ugni blanc in France.
*
Verdicchio o Trebbiano di Lugana: This is grown in the areas of Castelli di Jesi and Matelica in the Marche region and gives its name to the varietal white wine made from it. The name comes from "verde" (green). In the last few years Verdicchio wines are considered to be the best white wines of Italy.
*
Vermentino
Vermentino is a light-skinned wine grape variety, primarily found in Italian wine. It is widely planted in both Sardinia and Liguria (wine), Liguria, to some extent in Corsica, in Piedmont under the name Favorita, and in increasing amounts in Lan ...
: This is widely planted in Sardinia and is also found in Tuscan and Ligurian coastal districts. The wines are a popular accompaniment to seafood.
Other important whites include Carricante, Coda de Volpe, Cortese,
Falanghina,
Grechetto
Grechetto () or Grechetto bianco is a white Italian wine grape variety of Greek origins. The grape is planted throughout central Italy, particularly in the Umbria region where it is used in the ''Denominazione di origine controllata'' (DOC) win ...
,
Grillo,
Inzolia,
Picolit,
Traminer
Savagnin or Savagnin blanc (not to be confused with Sauvignon blanc) is a variety of white wine grape with green-skinned berries. It is mostly grown in the Jura region of France, where it is made into Savagnin wine or the famous vin jaune and vi ...
,
Verduzzo, and
Vernaccia.
Non-native varieties include
Chardonnay,
Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer () is an aromatic wine grape variety, used in white wines, and performs best in cooler climates. In English, it is sometimes referred to colloquially as Gewürz (; although this is never the case in German, because "Gewürz" me ...
(sometimes called ''traminer aromatico''),
Petite Arvine,
Riesling
Riesling (, ; ) is a white grape variety that originated in the Rhine region. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet, and sparkling wh ...
,
Sauvignon blanc, and others.
Rosso (red)
*
Aglianico: considered to be one of the three greatest Italian varieties with
Sangiovese and
Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo (, ; pms, nebieul ) is an Italian red wine grape variety predominantly associated with its native Piedmont region, where it makes the '' Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita'' (DOCG) wines of Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero ...
, and sometimes called "The Barolo of the South" () due to its ability to produce fine wines.
It is primarily grown in
Basilicata and
Campania to produce DOCG wines,
Aglianico del Vulture Superiore
Aglianico del Vulture and Aglianico del Vulture Superiore are Italian red wines based on the Aglianico grape and produced in the Vulture area of Basilicata. Located on volcanic soils derived from nearby Mount Vulture, it was awarded ''Denomina ...
and
Taurasi
Taurasi is a town and municipality in the province of Avellino, Campania, southern Italy. In antiquity it was a town in Samnium. The town's name probably derives from the Latin ''Taurus''. Over time it changed from ''Taurasos'' to ''Taurasia ...
.
*
Barbera
Barbera is a red Italian wine grape variety that, as of 2000, was the third most-planted red grape variety in Italy (after Sangiovese and Montepulciano). It produces good yields and is known for deep color, full body, low tannins and high level ...
: The most widely grown red wine grape of the
Piedmont and Southern
Lombardy regions, the largest plantings of Barbera are found near the towns of
Asti,
Alba, and
Pavia. Barbera wines were once considered simply "what you drank while waiting for the Barolo to be ready", but with a new generation of winemakers, this is no longer the case. The wines are now meticulously vinified. In the Asti region, Barbera grapes are used in making "Barbera d'Asti Superiore", which may be aged in French ''barriques'' to become
Nizza, a quality wine aimed at the international market. The vine has bright cherry-coloured fruit, and its wine is acidic with a dark colour.
*
Corvina
Corvina is an Italian wine grape variety that is sometimes also referred to as Corvina Veronese or Cruina. The total global wine-growing area in 2010 was , all of which is grown in the Veneto region of northeast Italy, except for planted in Ar ...
: Along with the varieties ''Rondinella'' and ''Molinara'', this is the principal grape which makes the famous wines of the Veneto:
Valpolicella
Valpolicella (, , ) is a viticultural zone of the province of Verona, Italy, east of Lake Garda. The hilly agricultural and marble-quarrying region of small holdings north of the Adige is famous for wine production. Valpolicella ranks just af ...
and
Amarone
Amarone della Valpolicella, usually known as Amarone (, ), is an Italian DOCG denomination of typically rich dry red wine made from the partially dried grapes of the Corvina (45–95%, of which up to 50% could be substituted with Corvinone), R ...
. Valpolicella wine has dark cherry fruit and spice. After the grapes undergo ''
passito'' (a drying process), the wine is now called Amarone, and is high in alcohol (16% and up) and characterized by raisin, prune, and syrupy fruits. Some Amarones can age for 40+ years and command spectacular prices. In December 2009, there was a celebration when the acclaimed Amarone di Valpolicella was finally awarded its long-sought DOCG status. The same method used for Amarone is used for Recioto, the oldest wine produced in this area, but the difference is that Recioto is a sweet wine.
*
Dolcetto
Dolcetto ( , , ) is a black Italian wine grape variety widely grown in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy. The Italian word ''dolcetto'' means "little sweet one", but it is not certain that the name originally carried any reference to t ...
: A grape that grows alongside Barbera and Nebbiolo in Piedmont, its name means "little sweet one", referring not to the taste of the wine, but the ease in which it grows and makes good wines suitable for everyday drinking. Flavours of concord grape, wild blackberries, and herbs permeate the wine.
*
Malvasia nera: Red Malvasia variety from Piedmont. A sweet and perfumed wine, sometimes pronounced in the
passito style.
*
Montepulciano: Not to be confused with the Tuscan town of
Montepulciano, it is the most widely planted grape on the opposite coast in
Abruzzo. Its wines develop silky plum-like fruit notes, friendly acidity, and light tannins. More recently, producers have been creating a rich, inky, extracted version of this wine, a sharp contrast to the many inferior bottles produced in the past.
*
Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo (, ; pms, nebieul ) is an Italian red wine grape variety predominantly associated with its native Piedmont region, where it makes the '' Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita'' (DOCG) wines of Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero ...
: The noblest of Italy's varieties. The name (meaning "little fog") refers to the autumn fog that blankets most of Piedmont where Nebbiolo is chiefly grown, and where it achieves the most successful results. A difficult grape variety to cultivate, it produces the most renowned
Barolo
Barolo ( , , ; pms, bareul ) is a red (DOCG) wine produced in the northern Italian region of Piedmont. It is made from the nebbiolo grape and is often described as one of Italy's greatest wines.
The zone of production extends into the comm ...
and
Barbaresco, made in the province of Cuneo, along with the lesser-known
Ghemme and
Gattinara, made in the provinces of Novara and Vercelli respectively, and Sforzato, Inferno and Sassella made in
Valtellina. Traditionally produced Barolo can age for fifty years-plus, and is regarded by many wine enthusiasts as the greatest wine of Italy.
*
Negroamaro
Negroamaro (seldom Negro amaro; meaning "black ndbitter") is a red wine grape variety native to southern Italy. It is grown almost exclusively in Apulia and particularly in Salento, the peninsula which can be visualised as the "heel" of Italy. T ...
: The name literally means "black bitter". A widely planted grape with its concentration in the region of Puglia, it is the backbone of the ''
Salice Salentino''.
*
Nero d'Avola: This once-obscure native varietal wine of
Sicily
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is gaining attention for its dark fruit notes and strong tannins. The quality of Nero d'Avola has surged in recent years.
*
Primitivo: A red grape found in southern Italy, most notably in
Apulia. Primitivo ripens early and thrives in warm climates, where it can achieve very high alcohol levels. Both Primitivo and California
Zinfandel are clones of the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski.
*
Sagrantino
Sagrantino is an Italian grape variety that is indigenous to the region of Umbria in Central Italy. It is grown primarily in the village of Montefalco and the surrounding area, with a recent rapid increase in planting area from in 2000 to by 2 ...
: A rare native of Umbria, which although by 2010 planted on only , the wines produced from it (either as 100% Sagrantino in
Montefalco Sagrantino
Montefalco Sagrantino (also Sagrantino di Montefalco before 2009) is a style of Italian wine made with 100% Sagrantino grapes in and around the comune of Montefalco in the Province of Perugia, Umbria. The wines gained DOC status in 1979 as part ...
or blended with Sangiovese as
Montefalco Rosso) are world-renowned and very high in tannins. These wines can also age for many years.
*
Sangiovese: Italy's claim to fame and the pride of
Tuscany, it is most notably the predominant grape variety in
Chianti
A Chianti wine (, also , ) is any wine produced in the Chianti region of central Tuscany. It was historically associated with a squat bottle enclosed in a straw basket, called a ''fiasco'' ("flask"; ''pl. fiaschi''). However, the ''fiasco'' is ...
and Chianti Classico, and the sole ingredient in
Brunello di Montalcino. Sangiovese is also a major constituent of dozens of other denominations such as
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano,
Rosso di Montalcino and
Montefalco Rosso, as well as the basis of many of the acclaimed, modern-styled "Super-Tuscans", where it is blended with three of the Bordeaux varietals (
Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot, and
Cabernet Franc) and typically aged in French oak barrels, resulting in a wine primed for the international market in the style of a typical California cabernet: oaky, high-alcohol, and a ripe, fruit-forward profile.
Other major red varieties are
Cannonau,
Ciliegiolo
Ciliegiolo is a variety of red wine grape from Italy, named after the Italian for 'cherry'. It is a minor component of traditional blends such as Chianti, but interest has revived in recent years. In Umbria it is made into a light quaffing wine, ...
,
Gaglioppo,
Lagrein,
Lambrusco
Lambrusco (; ) is the name of both an Italian red wine grape and a wine made principally from said grape. The grapes and the wine originate from four zones in Emilia-Romagna and one in Lombardy―principally around the central provinces of Mod ...
,
Monica,
Nerello Mascalese,
Pignolo,
Refosco,
Schiava,
Schioppettino,
Teroldego, and
Uva di Troia.
"International" varieties such as
Cabernet Franc,
Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot, and
Syrah are also widely grown.
Super Tuscans
The term "
Super Tuscan" (mostly used in the
English-speaking world and less known in Italy)
describes any wine (mostly red, but sometimes also white) produced in
Tuscany that generally does not adhere to the traditional local DOC or
DOCG regulations. As a result, Super Tuscans are usually ''Toscana
IGT'' wines, while others are ''
Bolgheri DOC
Bolgheri () is a central Italy, Italian village and hamlet (''frazione'') of Castagneto Carducci, a municipality (''comune'') in the province of Livorno, Tuscany. in 2011 it had a population of 131.
History
First mentioned in 1075, in a papal bul ...
'', a designation of origin rather open to international grape varieties. Traditional Tuscan DOC(G)s require that wines are made from native grapes and mostly
Sangiovese. While sometimes Super Tuscans are actually produced by Sangiovese alone, they are also often obtained by (1) blending Sangiovese with international grapes (such as
Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot,
Cabernet Franc, and
Syrah) to produce red wines, (2) blending international grapes alone (especially classic Bordeaux grapes for reds;
Chardonnay and
Sauvignon blanc for whites), or (3) using one single international variety. In a sense, red Super Tuscans anticipated the
Meritage
Meritage is a name for red and white Bordeaux-style wines without infringing on the Bordeaux (France) region's legally protected designation of origin. Winemakers must license the Meritage trademark from its owner, the California-based Meritage A ...
, a well-known category of international Bordeaux-style reds of US origin.
Although an extraordinary amount of wines claim to be “the first Super Tuscan,” most would agree that this credit belongs to
Sassicaia
Tenuta San Guido is an Italian wine producer in the DOC Bolgheri in Toscana, known as a producer of "Super Tuscan" wine. It produces Sassicaia, a Bordeaux-style red wine. The estate also produces a second wine, Guidalberto, and a third wine, Le ...
, the brainchild of marchese
Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, who planted Cabernet Sauvignon at his
Tenuta San Guido estate in
Bolgheri back in 1944. It was for many years the marchese's personal wine, until, starting with the 1968 vintage, it was released commercially in 1971.
In 1968 Azienda Agricola San Felice produced a Super Tuscan called Vigorello, and in the 1970s Piero
Antinori, whose family had been making wine for more than 600 years, also decided to make a richer wine by eliminating the white grapes from the Chianti blend, and instead, adding
Bordeaux varietals (namely, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot). He was inspired by
Sassicaia
Tenuta San Guido is an Italian wine producer in the DOC Bolgheri in Toscana, known as a producer of "Super Tuscan" wine. It produces Sassicaia, a Bordeaux-style red wine. The estate also produces a second wine, Guidalberto, and a third wine, Le ...
, of which he was given the sale agency by his uncle
Mario Incisa della Rocchetta. The result was one of the first Super Tuscans, which he named
Tignanello, after the vineyard where the grapes were grown. What was formerly Chianti Classico Riserva Vigneto Tignanello, was pulled from the DOC in 1971, first eliminating the white grapes (then compulsory in Chianti DOC) and gradually adding French varieties. By 1975, Tignanello was made with 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc, and it remains so today.
[ Other winemakers started experimenting with Super Tuscan blends of their own shortly thereafter.
Because these wines did not conform to strict DOC(G) classifications, they were initially labelled as ]vino da tavola
Table wine (rarely abbreviated TW) is a wine term with two different meanings: a style of wine and a quality level within wine classification.
In the United States, the term primarily designates a wine style: an ordinary wine which is not fortifi ...
, meaning "table wine," an old official category ordinarily reserved for lower quality wines. The creation of the Indicazione Geografica Tipica
''Indicazione geografica tipica'' () is the third of four classifications of wine recognized by the government of Italy. Created to recognize the unusually high quality of the class of wines known as Super Tuscans, IGT wines are labeled with th ...
category (technically indicating a level of quality between vino da tavola and DOC(G)) in 1992 and the DOC Bolgheri
Bolgheri () is a central Italian village and hamlet (''frazione'') of Castagneto Carducci, a municipality (''comune'') in the province of Livorno, Tuscany. in 2011 it had a population of 131.
History
First mentioned in 1075, in a papal bull by ...
label in 1994 helped bring Super Tuscans "back into the fold" from a regulatory standpoint. Since the pioneering work of the Super Tuscans, there has been a rapid expansion in the production of high-quality wines throughout Italy that do not qualify for DOC or DOCG classification, as a result of the efforts of a new generation of Italian wine producers and, in some cases, flying winemakers.
Wine guides
Many international wine guides and wine publications rate the most popular Italian wines. Among the Italian publications, Gambero Rosso
''Gambero Rosso'' is an Italian food and wine magazine and publishing group founded in 1986. Its name literally translates as "red prawn" and comes from a tavern in ''Pinocchio'' where the Fox and the Cat dine.
History and profile
''Gambero Ros ...
is probably the most influential. In particular, the wines that are annually given the highest rating of "three glasses" (''Tre Bicchieri'') attract much attention. Recently, other guides, such as Slow Wine, published by Slow Food Italia, and Bibenda, compiled by the Fondazione Italiana Sommelier, have also gained attention both among professionals and amateurs. Slow Wine has the interesting feature of reporting on several wineries (small and medium) that genuinely represent the territory and on products that are especially interesting for their price/quality ratio (Vini Slow and Vini Quotidiani).
Vino cotto and vincotto
Vino cotto (literally ''cooked wine'') is a form of wine from the Marche and Abruzzo regions in Central Italy
Central Italy ( it, Italia centrale or just ) is one of the five official statistical regions of Italy used by the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), a first-level NUTS region, and a European Parliament constituency.
Regions
Central I ...
. It is typically made by individuals for their own use as it cannot legally be sold as wine. The must, from any of several local varieties of grapes, is heated in a copper vessel where it is reduced in volume by up to a third before fermenting in old wooden barrels. It can be aged for years, barrels being topped up with each harvest. It is a strong ruby-coloured wine, somewhat similar to Madeira, usually drunk with sweet puddings.
Vincotto, typically from Basilicata and Apulia, also starts as a cooked must but is not fermented
Fermentation is a metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrates through the action of enzymes. In biochemistry, it is narrowly defined as the extraction of energy from carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen. In food p ...
, resulting in a sweet syrup suitable for the preparation of sweets and soft drinks. Once reduced and allowed to cool it is aged in storage for a few years.
See also
* History of Chianti
* List of Italian DOC wines
* List of Italian DOCG wines
* List of Italian IGT wines
*Old World wine
Old World wine refers primarily to wine made in Europe but can also include other regions of the Mediterranean basin with long histories of winemaking such as North Africa and the Near East. The phrase is often used in contrast to " New World win ...
References
Further reading
* Emlyn Dodd, 'The Archaeology of Wine Production in Roman and pre-Roman Italy.' ''American Journal of Archaeology'' 126.3: 443–480. https://doi.org/10.1086/719697
* ''La Sicilia del Vino'', di S. Barresi, E. Iachello, E. Magnano di San Lio, A. Gabbrielli, S. Foti, P. Sessa. Fotografia Giò Martorana, Giuseppe Maimone Editore, Catania 2003
* Kerin O'Keefe
Kerin O'Keefe is a wine critic specialized in Italian wine and author of four books. She reviews wines and writes articles on the growing areas, wines and producers for kerinokeefe.com.
O'Keefe was Italian Editor for Wine Enthusiast from May 2013 ...
, ''Brunello di Montalcino. Understanding and Appreciating One of Italy's Greatest Wines'', University of California Press, 2012.
* Kerin O'Keefe
Kerin O'Keefe is a wine critic specialized in Italian wine and author of four books. She reviews wines and writes articles on the growing areas, wines and producers for kerinokeefe.com.
O'Keefe was Italian Editor for Wine Enthusiast from May 2013 ...
, ''Barolo and Barbaresco. The King and Queen of Italian Wine'', University of California Press, 2014.
External links
Italian Wine Appellations
from the Italian Ministry of Agriculture (IT)
National Registry of Grape Varieties
from the Italian Ministry of Agriculture (IT)
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