Italian Wines

Posted: Oct 14, 2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 126 |

Ask a question

200 Characters left

When it comes to wine with food, there is one place that always stands out for producing great quaffable wine that tastes good with food without overpowering it with overly rich flavours - Italy.

When you think of Italian wines, you inevitably think of pasta with rich meat or cheese sauces and little bistros with great atmosphere and a soupcon of romance.

The Italians are passionate about many things: Food, football, politics, pasta, family, and wine. Traditionally, most of the fine wine produced in Italy remains in the country, and this is still true to this day. Italy is one of the oldest wine producing countries of the world. The Romans were famous for their prolific wine making and their love of the drink. Hand in hand with this passion for wine is the commitment to local style. This makes Italy one of the best producers of idiosyncratic individual types of wine.

Italian wine is classified by a special system. It divides the wines into four different groups, which are in turn divided into two sections: Vino de Tavola (table wine) and a European Union category which denotes specific regions that the grapes are grown in. Italy has 20 wine regions (all 20 regions of Italy grow their own wine) and uses over 350 different types of grapes in its many wines.

Red wine is the type of wine that most people associate with Italy, and perhaps the most famous is chianti. Chianti is produced from the Sangiovese grape, and it is this grape that also produces many of the other well-known Italian wines. Other well-known red wine producing grapes that are cultivated in Italy include: Nebbiolo, Montepulciano, Negroamoro and Aglianico.

Italian white wine used to be less well known in other countries until the commercialisation of Pinot Grigio. This wine has become something of a monster, replacing Chardonnay in bars and pubs across the UK. Pinot Grigio can be a satisfying and flavourful wine, but has of late been harvested too early, due to commercial demand, leading to a host of lack lustre wines.

In addition tot his well-known variety, Italian wine is also produced
from other grapes, including Moscato, Trebbiano and Garganega. Italy also cultivates non-native grape varieties, and so produces wine from Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer and Riesling grapes.

Italy is also well-known for producing a sparkling wine known as prosecco. Prosecco isn't limited to white in colour. It comes in rosé and red as well, and is a good wine for those who like wine to be light in the alcohol content, as it usually comes in about 11%.

(ArticlesBase SC #603227)

Rate this Article
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 0 vote(s)
    Feedback
    RSS
    Print
    Email
    Re-Publish

    Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/wines-and-spirits-articles/italian-wines-603227.html

    Article Tags:

    Italy

    ,

    WINE

    ,

    wines

    ,

    Sangiovese

    ,

    chianti

    ,

    Italian Wines

    ,

    Laithwaites

    ,

    Laithwaites Wines

    ,

    Internet Wine Shopping

    ,

    Online Wine Shopping

    How to Make Quick Thimble Pasta With Sauce

    Impress your guests with this classic Italian pasta dish. (05:05)

    Steamed Mussels in Maso Canali Recipe

    This is a simple recipe that relies on the perfect match of white wine- Maso Canali Trentino Pinot Grigio and mussels. For more like this visit: www.legourmet.tv Distributed by Tubemogul. (03:01)

    The Top 5 Attractions in Lazio

    In this travel video check out the top 5 things you should do when visiting Lazio. (01:29)

    Wine Pairing for Sauerkraut

    Certified Specialist of Wine Kathleen Lisson offers her perfect pairing for tangy Sauerkraut (watch for the mini cameo of her Italian Greyhound). (02:02)

    Can You Pair an Italian Wine with Spicy Asian Food

    Tom from Millbrook Vineyards and Winery in New York's Hudson Valley shares food pairing tips and tasting notes for the 2006 Tocai Friulano. (01:16)

    Prof.dr. Ibrahim Khalil

    Talking about Judah, the Bible says: and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; He hath washed his garments in wine. His eyes shall be red with wine. Can we use the wine to wash our clothes? On the other hand, Judah is not mentioned therein in the entire Quran.

    By: Prof.dr. Ibrahim Khalill Food and Beverage> Wines and Spiritsl Sep 04, 2010

    My own struggle with alcohol began at an early age – at age 12 – but even earlier, I can vividly remember the first "buzz" I felt when I was only 9 years old. After trying some of my grandmother's sherry

    By: Elizabeth Michaell Food and Beverage> Wines and Spiritsl Sep 03, 2010
    Bryan Burbank

    Wine has become one of the most popular drinks that people are enjoying today. There are many people that like to make their own wine as a hobby. One of the most expensive parts of doing this is finding a way to print your labels. You want to have something that is attractive but you do not want to spend a lot of money.

    By: Bryan Burbankl Food and Beverage> Wines and Spiritsl Sep 03, 2010

    Food shopping isn't always the most thrilling of activities to fill your weekend with but if there was more incentive to do so, things might get a little more interesting. We're not talking monetary incentives here, after all, they are all over the local supermarket shelves already, we are talking ‘feel good' incentives, doing something good for someone else. The so-called ‘big shop', the time when you go the local supermarket to get everything from daily basics such as toilet roll and washing u

    By: Jamie Francisl Food and Beverage> Wines and Spiritsl Sep 03, 2010

    re you looking for something to complete the look of a specific room. Maybe one of your rooms, or all of them, has the feel that something is missing. Whatever room it might be, there is something that can look fantastic and add a touch of class to them all. And that is hand painted wine stemware.

    By: kelly pricel Food and Beverage> Wines and Spiritsl Sep 03, 2010

    What are the benefits of an online wine store? Is it safe to buy champagne online?

    By: Arnel Germol Food and Beverage> Wines and Spiritsl Sep 02, 2010
    Peter Gitundu

    Weight gain is a problem that many people battle with all their lives. The problem could be as a result of poor lifestyles such as over-eating, lack of movement and exercise, pregnancy or comfort eating due to stress. Genetics and diseases such as heart, kidney or lung diseases could also be another reason for weight gain.

    By: Peter Gitundul Food and Beverage> Wines and Spiritsl Sep 02, 2010

    Have you ever wanted to sip down your beers while thrashing your mates over a game of ping pong or a friendly round of sbnakes and ladders? Now, with the new wave of bars playing host to sporting activities and board games in bars and pubs, you can. Pubs are no longer just about exercising the liver.

    By: Ashley Purcelll Food and Beverage> Wines and Spiritsl Sep 02, 2010

    Wine is a fantastic drink to enjoy on a summers day but sometimes you can get a bit bored of the same thing. This article gives you some ideas for wine cocktails.

    By: Fiona Mullerl Food and Beverage> Wines and Spiritsl Aug 07, 2009 lViews: 509

    Red wine is traditionally associated with winter. There are many red wines that taste great in summer and the lighter ones are fantastic when chilled.

    By: Fiona Mullerl Food and Beverage> Wines and Spiritsl Aug 07, 2009

    This article discusses low alcohol wines. Are they as good as the wines with higher alcohol content?

    By: Fiona Mullerl Food and Beverage> Wines and Spiritsl Aug 07, 2009 lViews: 534

    Wine is a fantastic drink but every so often you find you have imbibed a little too much and end up feeling a little worse for wear. This article give you a few tips on how to avoid that morning after feeling.

    By: Fiona Mullerl Food and Beverage> Wines and Spiritsl Aug 07, 2009

    Wine is a fantastic drink whatever time o the year it is. It is also something that suits the majority of people as there are so many varieties to choose from.

    By: Fiona Mullerl Food and Beverage> Wines and Spiritsl Aug 07, 2009

    Summer has arrived and the age old question of what to drink at summer parties is raising its head. This article gives an overview and a few ideas of wines that are good to drink at summer parties.

    By: Fiona Mullerl Food and Beverage> Wines and Spiritsl Jun 01, 2009

    This article extols the virtues of a Mediterranean diet. Eaten regularly and with moderation it can be something that makes you healthier and is really great to eat over summer with a good bottle of wine.

    By: Fiona Mullerl Food and Beverage> Wines and Spiritsl Jun 01, 2009

    This article gives you some tips on wine and what to drink with certain types of food. It stresses the importance of wine being a social drink and therefore ideal to have at a dinner party.

    By: Fiona Mullerl Food and Beverage> Wines and Spiritsl May 04, 2009

    Add new Comment

     
    * Required fields
    Author Box
    Articles Categories
    All Categories