Italian Wine

There are a total of twenty regions in Italy and all produce good quality wines. There is no better place to be in if you appreciate wine and good food!

Valle D’Aosta is where Hannibal crossed the Alps into Italy and the Roma legions left their mark. This area includes the highest vineyards in Europe with vines planted up to and over 1200 metres. Here you will find varieties like Chardonnay, Gamay, Pinot Nero and Malvoisie.

Piedmont, which together with Tuscany, shares the reputation as the premier producing regions, is a large area with a wide variety of wines. There are sparklng wines such as the famous Asti Spumante, vermouth and many table wines in both red and white such as the Cortese, Dolcetto and Barbera. There are also world class red wines produced from the Nebbiolo grape.

Lombardy’s most important wine zone lies south of the Po river; the Oltrepo Pavese. Classic sparkling wines come from this area as well as the classic grapes of Pinot Grigio, Riesling Italico and Chardonnay. Reds include Pinot Nero, Cabernet Sauvignon and Barbera.

The Italian Riviera of Liguria has beautiful sloping hills down to the sea and vineyards here often go literally to the edge of the sea. There is the rare dessert wine called Sciacchetra as well as the good white wines Pigato and Vermentino, and the reds produced from Ciliegio, Sangiovese and Dolcetto grapes. For example, try the soft red called Rossese di Dolceaqua.