Italian wine

Ah Italy , what a beautiful hedonistic country, people of the Dolce Vita , but how difficult it is to understand its wine organization! The key to understanding the appellation system in Italy is to consider it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous country because each region has its own appellation system. Italy can nevertheless give amateurs a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles as well as bottles filled with surprise and creativity.

Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless and characterless wines that are sold under their most useful and commercially reputable names: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco and many others...

But let's talk a little history, viticulture in Italy dates back to ancient times and originated in Greece. The Etruscans are said to have planted vines and the Greek immigrants improved and modified the grape varieties, who later called this country "Oenotria": the land of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life and some regions already stood out for the excellence of their product. The Romans also planted many vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible testimony to their invasion.

Today Italy is the largest wine producer in the world ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic areas. The northern mountains have a fairly harsh mountain climate. The plain of the "middle of the boot" is the area of ​​the continental climate with cold winters and hot and stormy summers. In the "southern part of the Italian boot" the Mediterranean climate reigns with very hot and very dry summers without forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In summary Italy produces wines of a great variety thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which are native to their lands. It is a country as complex as its wines which deserve to be explored!