How to Pick an Italian Wine

Italy is a country with about as many wines as one could image. With 20 different regions and hundreds of wineries, the amount of wine made in Italy is great. Most of the wine produced in the country never leaves its borders, as it's highly demanded by thirsty Italians. In Italy, wine is food. It's rare that a meal is consumed without a glass of vino. Read on to learn how to pick an Italian wine.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Know that Tuscany is one of the most popular wine regions in Italy. Tuscany is home to Florence and Siena, the districts of Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino, and the wineries of Sassicaia, Tignanello and Ornellaia. Tuscany is also home to the indigenous Italian grape variety, Sangiovese. This region produces the famed Chianti, in addition to varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

2. Understand that Piedmont is another great wine region in Italy. Piedmont is located in the Northwest area of Italy, flanking the Mediterranean coast. Being close to the Alps, the area enjoys a high altitude. It offers the best vineyards benefiting from the hills and elevation. This area is known for the D'Asti family of wines. The Piedmont region is known for both red and whites. The most popular are its sparkling white wines, such as Asti Spumate and Moscato d'Asti. They are revered for sweetness and fizziness.

3. Learn that the Trentino-Aldo Agige area consists of the regions Trentino and Alto Adige, neighbors in Northeast Italy. This region of Italy is fairly hilly due its closeness to the the Alps. In Trentino, many vines are grown along the hillsides for ideal sunlight benefits. White and sparkling wine are high in quality and exports, although more red wine is produced. Reds from this area are likely to be Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, in addition to a few local varieties, most notably Schiaval.

4. Know that further east is Friuli-Venezia Giulia, which is celebrated for its zingy and zesty whites. Hugging the Alps and the Austrian border, the cool climate pervades through the hillside grapevines. Here, successful grapes include Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. The famed local variety is the Tocai Friulano. It produces a wine that is floral and nutty in character but light-bodied.

5. Understand that Veneto is most famous for its city of love, Venice, and in the wine world, Veneto is the top volume producer in the north of Italy. This area is known for its spritzy Proseccos. It's also famed for the easy-drinking white wine, Soave, and the red wine, Amarone.

6. Know that Southern Italy has three areas known for wine: Abruzzi, Puglia and Campania. Abruzzi is known for the Montelpulciano grape; this produces wine that is rustic, yet soft and often fruity. It's a good value, and goes well with food. Puglia, sometimes called Apuglia, is known for its Zinfandel-related Primotivo variety. Campania, home to the city of Naples, offers the white wine known as Greco di Tufo--an indigenous variety, Greco produces white wine that is dry, with a subtle nutty flavor. The best known red wine here is Taurasi, made from the Aglianico grape. It produces a wine of distinct color and flavor, with aromas of tar and leather.

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