The Style of Italian Wine

When you think to wine, you often recall to your mind images of French rolling hills and elegant dinners; however, Italy's regions bring to the pallet a great array of fine wines for your dining pleasure.

Italian wine making is a blend of modern and traditional methods, although much of the country's wineries now employ scientific and technological tools to create quality wines. The country's wines are made primarily from two types of red grapes, Nebbiolo and Sangiovese. The Nebbiolo grapes are used in the northwestern part of the country, creating the famous wines Barolo and Barbaresco. The Sangiovese grapes, instead, create a lot of wines, also the most-known of Italian wines, Chianti, and are native to the central Tuscany and Umbria regions.

Italy's wines are divided into four categories based on origin, quality, and purity. When shopping for a fine Italian wine, look for those with the designation of DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita), which is awarded to wines with a solid reputation. This designation considers region, production yields, and a DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) of at least five years. DOC indicates the origins of a wine, the type of grapes used in making the wine, and the methods of production. DOCG is a designation following stricter guidelines than the DOC, which includes a guarantee of origin. Italian law contemplates also IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) and Vino da Tavola (Table Wine) as lower levels of designation.

The five regions of Northwest Italy produce over a quarter of the country's DOC wines, but only about twenty percent of the country's total wine production. This, then, is a good place to begin when shopping for Italian wine, as the Piedmont region, placed in the Northwest Italy, creates a number of DOC and DOCG wines.

Northeast Italy is home to two of Italy's wine schools, and generates about a third of the country's DOC wines. The three regions create about a fifth of Italy's total wine production. Veneto, one of the regions, now produces the most DOC wine of any other region in the country.

Central Italy, comprised of six regions, accounts for about twenty percent of both wine production and DOC wines. The wine making in this region has often been traditional, but the regions are moving towards more contemporary wine making methods, and the quality has improved a lot. In some wine experts opinion, this part of Italy will continue to make great strides in wine making, so for red wine lovers, this is an area worth watching. Tuscany creates the well-known Chianti wine, as well as a variety of other red wines.

Southern Italy is comprised of six regions, islands included. These produce about forty percent of the total Italian production, but only about fourteen percent of DOC and DOCG wines. The region is focusing on overall quality, and this, too, is a region worth watching. For those interested in consistent quality wines, many of the region's production offer just that.

For those new to Italian wine or wanting additional information, there is plenty of sources. An importer specializing in Italian wine is one of the best sources for information on fine Italian wines, and can provide suggestions based on your individual preferences. You can also do your own research and wine tasting based on your style and preference. As with many other Italian things, the wines are among the finer indulgences.