WINES OF ITALY

                             WINES OF ITALY

Italy is called the ‘Vineyard of the World ‘Produces the greatest quantity of grapes, but the quality varies greatly.
The main lands of Italy produce good quality of wines. Most of the red wines are aged in casks for a minimum 2 yrs. Thus they are full bodied, robust, matured and deep red in colour
E.g. Capri, Sicily, etc., because of the warm climate the grapes flourish vigorously and the quality produced is enormous.

Pedmont

Italian wines are named after their provinces and individual wines either named after the grapes or districts or place of origin;
E.g. Capri, Orvieto, Asti,
Or name after grapes origin:
E.g. Nebbiolo, Pedmont, etc.

Chianti: comes from Tuscany, they are the best red wines produced in Italy with a deep red colour. They are full flavoured, astringent in taste. The alcoholic strength is 20%, the wine is made from a number of varieties of grapes, which have a wide difference in quality, and they are stored and sold in a round covered flask. They are drunk while still young, they taste somewhat tart and its harshness and acidity makes an excellent thirst quencher. It can be served with only or highly spicy food and helps in digestion and prevents constipation.

Chianti

Marsala

Capri

Falarno and Lacrima Christ

Falarno and Lacrima Christ

Asti Spumante

Gran Spumante

 Marsala

 Marsala

 Marsala wine

Asti: Made from Moscato grapes in piedmont, light golden in colour, musky smell, sweet and sparkling, they are still asti wines, sparkling wines made from tank method,
E.g.: Gran Spumante is dry
        Asti Spumante is sparkling

Barolo: It is a red Burgundy type of wine from Piedmont. This wine has a good bouquet and improves in bottles.

Capri: This wine is produced in the island of Capri. Some wines are produced in the neighborhood of Isehia and parts of the mainland adjoining Mount Vesuvius. They are the red wines of Claret type.
The white wines are dry and golden in colour.

Falarno and Lacrima Christ: These wines are produced from the grapes grown on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius. The white wines are closely associated with Capri. Lacrima Christi comes from Naples. Both still and sparkling wines are produced from this region, whose names mean ‘The Tears of CHRIST’.

Orvieto: This is a straw coloured wine from Umbria. This wine can be dry and high in alcohol or sweet, slightly nutty in after taste.

Nebbiolo: This is a very good red wine from Piedmont, named after the grapes.

Terlaner: These wines are produced in the upper Adige. The, Tsareo and Trentino. They are straw coloured wine, with a greenish tint. It has a clear appearance, and fine mellow with lasting flavour.

Marsala: This is a popular dessert wine if Italy, produced, on the slopes of Sicily. The volcanic nature soil gives a distinct flavour to the wines.
The white wine resembles sherry but, softer and fruitier in flavour
This wine is produced by combining 2 grape varieties [white] with a small quantity of red grapes.
The must is plastered with calcium sulphate, and sweetened with ‘vino cotto’ and a dark coloured evaporated must and is fortified with Brandy or Cogncia
Marsala is matured by exposing it to the sunlight in casks during day time and left in cold during night time for 2-5 yrs. It has a unique flavour and a brown colour. Marsala is fortified to make it travel; it was originated by John Woodhouse, who shipped wine from Trapani.

Wines laws of Italy: Italian laws, recognizes the following quality control categories.
1. Denominazione Swmplice [DS], in this class the wine is simply described by the place of origin, applies to Table wines quality for which criteria is not specified.

2. Denominazione Di Origine Controllata [DOC]: wines in this class have controlled description of origin and must meet certain criteria.
       E,g.: Growing area is exactly defined,
The wine production method is prescribed,
The yield is limited,
The grape variety and the vineyard maintenance are described
DOC is comparable and corresponds roughly with Appellation Controleé of France and Qualitätswein of Germany.

3. Denominazione Di Origine Controllata E Garantita [DOCG], is a exemplary distinction awarded to only a few areas and controlled very strictly. Wines in this class have controlled and guaranteed description. DOCG has been awarded to only six wines, i.e.:
1.Barolo----- red wine, ---- Piedmont
2. Albana Di Romagna ,----- White wine ----- Emilia
3. Chianti ------white wine -----Tuscany
4. Vina Nobile Di Montepulciano ---red wine---- Tuscany
5. Brunello Di Montalcino ---- red wine,---- Tuscany
6. Barbaresco---red wine--- Piedmont

4.Vino Da Tavola: Italy’s table wines cover a wide variety of styles from very inferior winesto the best equal or even better than DOCG sometimes.
5. Vino Tipico: Similar to the Vin De table of France, made from established grape varieties not DOC quality standards.