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Fine Wine Italian Style: The Beauty Of Italian Wine.
Fine wine often brings to mind images of French rolling hills and elegant dinners; however, Italy's twenty regions bring to the pallet an array of fine wines for your dining pleasure.
Italian wine making enjoys tradition rich in both modern and rustic methods, although much of the country's wineries now employ scientific and technological tools to create quality wines. The country's wines are made primarily from two types of grapes, Nebbiolo and Sangiovese. The Nebbiolo grapes are used in the northwester part of the country, creating the red wines Barolo and Barbaresco. The Sangiovese grapes create one of the better-known Italian wines, Chianti, and are native to the central Tuscany and Umbria regions.
Italy's wines are divided into four categories based on origin, quality, and purity. When shopping for a fine Italian wine, look for those with the designation of "Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita D.O.C.G.," which is awarded to wines with a solid reputation. This designation considers region, production yields, and a DOC of at least five years. DOC indicates the origins of a wine, the type of grapes used in making the wine, and the methods of production. DOCG is a designation following stricter guidelines than the DOC, which includes a guarantee of origin.
The five regions of the Northwest produce over a quarter of the country's DOC wines, but only about twenty percent of the country's total wine production. This, then, is a good place to begin when shopping for Italian wine, as many wine sellers group Italian wine by the region, whether in general terms, such as Northwest, or by specific region, such as Piedmont. The Piedmont region creates a number of DOC and DOCG wines.
The Northeast region is home to two of Italy's wine schools, and generates about a third of the country's DOC wines. The three regions create about a fifth of Italy's total wine production. Veneto, one of the regions, now produces the most wine of any region in the country.
Central Italy, comprised of six regions, accounts for about twenty percent of both wine production and DOC wines. The tradition of wine making in this region has often been traditional, the region is moving toward more contemporary wine making methods, and the overall quality has improved. Some wine experts believe that this region will continue to make great strides in wine making, so for those who love red wine, this is an area worth watching. Tuscany creates the well-known Chianti wine, as well as a variety of other
Tuscan reds.
The Southern region, which includes the islands, is comprised of six regions. These regions produce about forty percent of the total production, but only about fourteen percent of DOC and DOCG wines. The region is focusing on overall quality, and this, too, is a region worth watching. For those interested in consistent quality wines, many of the region's production offer just that.
For those new to Italian wine or wanting additional information, there is an abundance of sources. An importer specializing in Italian wine is one of the best sources for information on fine Italian wines, and can provide suggestions based on your individual preferences. You can also do your own research and wine tasting based on your style and preference. As with many things Italian, the wines are among the finer indulgences.
About the Author:
Italian Wine Facts is an information site that contains articles, a directory and other Italian Wine Resources. It can be found at:
http://www.italianwinefacts.com
Wine Serving
Don't be afraid to ask for advice. My list has so many tiny producers that many people don't know. Many people are just too worried about asking for help - whether it's due to shyness or feelings of inadequacy - but that's what I'm there for. I just tell them to ask me. I love talking about these great little wineries!
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Hanna Wine
It is best to drink at least 1-2 hours after opening. Drink it chilled/slightly chilled (51-63�F), rather than cold. Inexpensive Champers needs to be colder, though
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Nancy Wine
It�s ok to spit. In fact, you�ll be better able to taste more wines that way. Wineries will provide a bucket (usually located on the tasting counter) for just that purpose. Just do it. It�s the one place outside of the baseball diamond where it�s perfectly acceptable.
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Virginia Wine Country EventsFeatured Virginia Event: Oakencroft Spring Fiesta. Closest winery to Charlottesville and the University of Virginia. Our first event of the year. Featuring tours, tastings of our premier wines, picnic by the lake, enjoy the spring time in Jefferson Country and the panaromic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Live Music, light fare.
COPIA - Al Stewart: Down in the CellarsAl Stewarts accessible guitar style and literary lyrics shone in his 1970s hits Year of the Cat and Time Passages. In his Napa debut, Stewart performs favorites plus songs derived from his love of wine: Down in the Cellars, Shiraz Shuffle and Night that the Band Got the Wine.
We had started out on this mission of information on Wine Vintages with lots of optimism. And we have also ended it in the same manner.
Not Your Orthodox Way Of Learning About Wine?
Nowadays young people who have the foresight to actually plan a career in wine can choose from a plethora of study programmes that focus on different academic aspects of wine. Not so long ago, however, there was hardly any professional wine education available.
It is thanks to unorthodox devotees like Alan Robb Hickinbotham, for example, that there are now professional wine courses around as organised by universities, colleges and qualified independent lecturers.
You will be struggling to find mention of him in any of the oenology history books. And yet, in 1932 Australian Alan Robb Hickinbotham, or 'Hick' - as he was more affectionately known - established the very first oenology diploma course at Roseworthy Agricultural College (now Adelaide University).
Hick joined Roseworthy in 1929. At the time, viticulture and oenology were included in the agriculture curriculum but only as an optional subject taken in the third year. This was the time of the Depression and soon Hick's viticulture and oenology scholars became headhunted by wineries who could no longer afford hiring French or German trained winemakers. Soon the 12 monthly ?cadetship? was further developed as a two-year ?Diploma of Oenology?.
One of Hick's first?s cadets was Ray Beckwith, a young man who was to become instrumental, together with winemaker Max Schubert, in overseeing the birth of Grange Hermitage. Hick was much liked by his dedicated ex-students and earned the respect of the wine industry for his frank pragmatism. He was involved in many industry 'firsts'.
The use of the glass electrode pH meter at Penfolds has been attributed to his foresight and expertise, and its widespread implementation has helped Australia?s wines gain international recognition. Hick fought his battle with most Australian winemakers who wrongly believed that malolactic fermentation did not occur in Australia?s red wines. As early as 1932 he was warning of salt build-up in the soils in many South Australian vineyards and gave advice on how to remedy it. In an article in 1947, he suggested the industry should look at planting grape varieties from other countries with similar terroirs. The recent plantings of nebbiolo, barbera, dolcetta and sangiovese go to show that Australian winemakers are now embracing this idea ? some 50 years on.
In the same pioneering spirit as Hick?s, wine institutes and colleges all over the world have meanwhile made wine education more accessible. The Mediterranean Campus of the European Wine Academy is one such leading institute. It explores new, unorthodox avenues like the modern teaching method called ?distance learning? or ?e-learning?. The professional wine courses series at the Wine Business School of the Mediterranean Campus are designed to reach any student anywhere as long as he or she has the interest, a computer and an Internet connection.
Inspired by free thinkers such as Alan Robb Hickinbotham, wine professionals are being shaped in many different disciplines of wine, and in modern ways, too, by utilising up-to-date technologies and effective methods such as distance learning. Probably not even ?old Hick? could have foreseen this way of learning about wine.
About The Author
Georges Meekers is a well-respected wine writer and wine educator based in Europe. He contributes to trade publications and sits as a judge on wine tasting panels. He can be contacted via www.winecampus.org.
View their website at: www.winecampus.org
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Wine Grape
The variety of grape(s), aspect (direction of slope), elevation, and topography of the vineyard, type and chemistry of soil, the climate and seasonal conditions under which grapes are grown, and the local yeast cultures all together form the concept of "terroir." The range of possibilities lead to great variety among wine products, which is extended by the fermentation, finishing, and aging processes. Many small producers use growing and production methods that preserve or accentuate the aroma and taste influences of their unique terroir.
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Aging Wine
Wine is a popular and important beverage that accompanies and enhances a wide range of European and Mediterranean-style cuisines, from the simple and traditional to the most sophisticated and complex. Wine is important in cuisine not just for its value as a beverage, but as a flavor agent (primarily in stocks and braising) in which its acidity lends balance to rich savory or sweet dishes. Red, white and sparkling wines are the most popular, and are also known as light wines, because they only contain approximately 10�14% alcohol. (Alcohol percentages are usually by volume.) The ap�ritif and dessert wines contain 14�20% alcohol, and are fortified to make them richer and sweeter than the light wines.
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Chianti Region
Be careful about temperature. I drink white wine around 48-55� F and red wine around 60-65� F. If you drink wine that's too warm or too cold you lose all the fruit flavors and the complexities of the wine.
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Wine Cup
The first lesson of collecting wine is to buy what you like. The market could go south, wine could not appreciate the way you feel it might, but in the end if you have wines you love, you haven't lost everything. Spend some time figuring out what you personally enjoy. Try different wines, and read web reviews and talk to friends for for best buy suggestions. Visit wineries and learn about how wines are made.
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Temecula Wine EventsFeatured Temecula Event: Flamenco Fridays at Miramonte Winery. Only a $5 cover, and that includes your initial wine tasting. Come early if you want to get a table. $5 tapas plates provided by Volker Lutz, owner and head chef of European Cafe and Vineyard Gourmet Catering. Music provided by the incomparable Jeffrey Briggs and Michael Murphy, both renowned Classical and Latin guitarists. Come enjoy delicious gourmet tapas, beautiful sunsets, panoramic valley views, and some of the best live music around. No cover charge for wine club members.
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