Italy
Italy is the oldest wine producing region, and some Italian wines are considered to be among the most prestigious in the world.
Depending on the vintage, Italy is the world`s largest or second largest producer of wine, along with France (each country is generally the source of around 1/5 of the world`s overall production). In 2005, Italy was second globally, producing about 20% of the global production of wine compared to France, which produced 22%.
In 2005, 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%. Italian and Australian share has rapidly increased in recent years (Ewing & McCarthy).
Most winemaking in Italy is done in modern wineries. But villagers, making wine for their own use, sometimes tread the grapes with their bare feet until the juice is squeezed out. They believe this ancient method still makes the best wine.
As far as generalizations can be made, Italian wines tend to be acidic, dry, light-to-medium bodied, and subdued in flavour and aroma. Because of these characteristics, Italian wines are, in general, a better accompaniment to food than they are beverages to be enjoyed on their own.
Important wine-relevant geographic characteristics of Italy include:
* The extensive lattitudinal 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, contributing moderating climate to coastal wine regions; and
* The extensive mountains and foothills providing a range of altitudes for grape growing and a variety of climate and soil conditions.
Italy`s 20 wine regions correspond to the 20 political regions. Understanding of Italian wine becomes clearer with an understanding of the differences between each region; their cuisines reflect their indigenous wines, and vice-versa.
Italian wine regions
* Aosta Valley (Valle D`Aosta)
* Piedmont (Piemonte)
* Liguria
* Lombardy (Lombardia)
* Trentino-South Tyrol (Trentino Alto-Adige)
* Friuli-Venezia Giulia
* Veneto
* Emilia-Romagna
* Tuscany (Toscana)
* Marche (Le Marche)
* Umbria
* Latium (Lazio)
* Abruzzi (Abruzzo)
* Molise
* Campania
* Basilicata
* Puglia
* Calabria
* Sicily (Sicilia)
* Sardinia (Sardegna)
Italy\'s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MIRAF), has documented over 350 grapes and granted them \``authorized\`` status. There are more than 500 other documented varietals in circulation as well.
Trivia
* The wine had a mention in a popular film The Silence of the Lambs in the catchphrase ``I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.`` (It should be noted that a young wine as Chianti is an exceptional poor choice for eating entrails, in the original novel Lecter named Amarone instead, but that was changed during scriptwriting due to Chianti`s wider fame).
* Chianti is also the name of Discovery Bay Phase 14.
This article is based entirely or in part on the
Italy wikipedia article
and is licenced under the terms of the
GNU Free Documentation Licence.
Contact
If we can be of any assistance please don't hesitate to contact us, or drop by the Rose & Crown during business hours:
email: roseandcrown@alderney.ws
phone: +44 (0) 1481 823414
fax: +44 (0) 1481 823615
The Rose & Crown Hotel
Le Huret,
Alderney
UK Channel Islands
Delivery on Alderney is free :-) we deliver Monday to Saturday between 10am and 1pm.
Please note that we cannot deliver off-island.
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In this categoryMoscato Sparkling Toso
Although medium dry this wine makes a delicious and refreshing drink. Richlya flavoured, powerful muscat with tropoical fruit flavours. It has quite a prickle on the tongue which is quite natural. And it is very low in alcohol: only 5. 5%. A good vin de terrace! [read on...]
A B V: 0% Vintage: -1 Color: Country: Italy Code: 47238
Pinot Grigio Veneto Classic Veronesi 2011
Hugely popular wine produced from Pinot Gris grapes grown in the Fruili- Venezia Guilia region in north east Italy. Dry, with a full, rich flavour and a whisper of crisp acidity which makes the style silky and elegant. [read on...]
A B V: 12% Vintage: 2011 Color: white Country: Italy Region: Veneto Code: 77194
Pinot Grigio Veneto Villa Rocca 2009
A white that is very much in fashion. Pale straw yellow in colour, bouquet of white flowers and honey ripe pears and lemon on the palate, finishing with a delicious crispness - a combination that gives mouth watering appeal. [read on...]
A B V: 12% Vintage: 2009 Color: white Country: Italy Code: 73745
Sambuca Molinari
[read on...]
A B V: 40% Vintage: non-vintag Color: unspecifie Country: Italy Code: 51243
Soave Classico Superiore 99
Bright colour, yellow gold straw. Nose is delicate, a little minted. Very interesting complex flavour, excellent structure, good acidity with soft texture. Have with soups, starters, vegetables, egg dishes and fish. [read on...]
A B V: 12.5% Vintage: 1999 Color: Country: Italy Region: Soave Code: 46690
Tenuta di SantAlfonso Chianti Classico 2001
This is a prestigious chianti classico produced form 100% sangiovese grapes. It has a tremendous concentration of colour and aromatic bouquet. The flavour has great structure and extra dimention from ageing in French oak barrels. [read on...]
A B V: 13.5% Vintage: 2001 Color: Country: Italy Region: Chianti Code: 61390
Valpolicella DOC Class. Sup. 08 Caterina Zardini
This truly exceptional red from the heart of the area on the eastern shore is quite the best Valpolicella we have come across in recent years and certainly a wine to set your standards by. Deep garnet red and a heady, spicy bouquet with intense multi-layered aromas of ripe cherry, almond and dark fruits, carried on to the palate with full, rich flavours and a long finish. [read on...]
A B V: 14% Vintage: 2008 Color: red Country: Italy Region: Veneto Code: 76873
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