Food and Beverage Blog

Italy is the largest producer and exporter of wine, producing one-fifth of the world’s production and offering the greatest variety of grapes. It has some of the oldest wine regions in the world producing some top quality wines. There are more than 1 million vineyards under cultivation in Italy spanning through the country from the Alps in the north to almost within sight of Africa in the south. Grapes are grown in almost every region. The long shoreline of Italy contributes to coastal wine regions as does the mountains and foothills which provide many altitudes for grape growing.

It has been documented and authorized by Italy’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry that there are 350 grape varieties; however there are an additional 500 documented varieties in circulation although these have not been authorized.

The Italians are the biggest consumers of wine guzzling 59 litres per capita.

Italian wines are classified into four categories, two of these falls under the EU’ Quality Wine Produced in a Specific Region’ category and are identified as: Denominazione di Origine Controllatae (DOC) and Denominazione di Origine Controllate e Garantita (DOCG). DOC recognises a quality wine maintaining the international and national reputation of that product. The main difference between the two is that the latter has to pass a blind test.

The other two fall under the category of ‘Table Wine’. Vino da Tavola (VDT), this means the wine is simply produced in Italy, usually a basic wine for local consumption and Indicazione Geografica Tipi” (IGT) which represents wine from a specific region in Italy Italian Red Wines – Tuscany is the home of Sangiovese, a well known grape, and one the Italians are extremely proud of. Sangiovese is made traditionally, and is full of cherry fruit, earth and cedar. Another popular grape is Nebbiolo, made in the province of Cuneo, these wines are renowned for their grace and influence with a bouquet of wild mushroom, truffle, roses and tar. Other grapes include: Montepulciano, Abruzzo, Barbera, Corvina, Amarone, Nero d’Avola, Dolcetto, negroamaro, Aglianico, Sagrantino and Malvasia Nera.

Italian White Wines – The most widely planted grape in Italy is the Trebbiano which is grown throughout Italy. This wine is very easy to drink and mostly pale in colour. Another popular, widely produced grape is Pinot Grigio, which characters include crispness and cleanness. Other grapes include: Moscato, Nuragus, Tocai Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Arneis, Malvasia Bianca, Pigato, Fiano, Garganega, Vermentino, Verdicchio and Vernaccia.