No other country can claim the amount of diversity in wine types and styles than Italy. And there has never been a better time than now to enjoy Italy’s wines. In the past few decades, the vineyards and wineries of Italy have integrated modern techniques and equipment to enhance the quality of their traditional wines and develop new wines of equally outstanding complexity.
In the Northeast, Italy’s best white wines are produced. Using modern methods, this new generation of wines are bright, clean, fresh and complex. Drawing upon a multitude of native and imported vine varieties, Italian white wine has gained a reputation of world-class status.
And in ancient Tuscany, tradition is blended with innovation to continuously enhance the wines. From Chiantis of greater and greater complexity and character to the rise of the “Super-Tuscans”, this region leads Italy’s red wine production in terms of quality and diversity.
The Alps and the Apennines dominate the region of Piemonte, with cold winters, hot summers and rainfall that is spasmodic, falling, viticulturally speaking, at just the wrong time. Barolo, with its impressive power, is viewed the King of Piedmont wines and Barbaresco is Piedmont’s Queen (As aristocratic as its Alba neighbor, though less famous and unfairly thought as second best). These wines are 100% Nebbiolo, with a touch more delicacy.
Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, has more vineyards than any other Italian region. Once known mainly for sweet fortified wines, the emphasis has shifted from quantity to quality. This ancient island now boasts one of Italy's most progressive wine industries making premium reds and whites. Sicily is home to some of Italy’s most intriguing reds, including Nero d’Avola.
