Although it is impossible to list all the red wines produced in Italy, we still want to give a trace of the greatest diversity in the world in wine production, knowing that we will deepen each territory in the next issues of our magazine.
Our virtual journey starts from the north and reaches the islands and we will mention a little of the great history of Italian wine along a hypothetical wine route knowing full well that we have at least a hundred other roads, not just art, history and culture. Italy also boasts an unparalleled food and wine tradition. From north to south to the islands there are many Italian wineries and wine routes to travel, where each territory is able to offer a unique experience.
NORTHERN ITALY
- Valle d’Aosta
Very small region on which Mont Blanc stands and surrounded by the highest mountains in Europe including Mont Blanc. Famous for white wines, it is home to the world competition dedicated to heroic wines such as Petit Rouge and Fumin.
- Piedmont:
Among the Italian regions, one of the most wine-producing regions is certainly Piedmont, a land of red wines recognized also abroad and where we find some of the most famous wines in China. Among both autochthonous and international vineyards we find Nebbiolo grapes which give rise to a large number of Piedmontese red wines including the famous Barbaresco and Barolo.
- Lombardy:
In northern Italy, almost in the center of the Alps, we find Lombardy whose capital, Milan, is one of the nerve centers of the European wine markets. Here we find the Oltrepo ‘Pavese, a spectacular flat area cradle of food and wine traditions of international value and home of the famous Pinot Noir.
- Veneto
Veneto again this year wins the place of first region of Italy in terms of volume of wine production. One of the reasons for the great success of Veneto in the oenological field is its heritage of indigenous grape varieties, including Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara which give life to the timeless Amarone della Valpolicella, a world famous wine.
- Trentino Alto Adige
Both areas have in common an excellent wine production, also thanks to the geographical position and the favorable climatic conditions. The quality level is very high especially for those produced with grapes that prefer cold areas. Although many international varieties are cultivated in the region, the heritage of indigenous grapes is interesting, including Lagrein.
- Friuli Venezia Giulia
It has always been the land of great white wines. Alongside the grapes of international vines that have found ideal production areas here, the presence of native vines is equally important, which with their wines characterize the enology of Friuli-Venezia Giulia such as the Schioppettino di Prepotto and the red Refosco dal Peduncolo.
- Emilia Romagna
The region is divided into two distinct geographical and cultural areas: Emilia and Romagna. The two areas are distinguished by the grapes that are grown and therefore the wines that are made from them: Emilia is the homeland of Lambrusco, sparkling red wines, while in Romagna the wine becomes mainly still and is produced with Sangiovese grapes.
CENTER OF ITALY
- Tuscany
Tuscany is perhaps the first region one thinks of when it comes to Italian wine. Famous above all for its famous red wines produced with Sangiovese grapes, such as Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino, it is also famous for the famous Supertuscans, which have made Tuscany one of the symbolic regions of Italian enology in the world (see Sassicaia).
SASSICAIA, THE MOST FAMOUS WINE IN THE WORLD IS Italian wine spectator
Tenuta san Guido, symbol of the enological Renaissance of Tuscany and of Bolgheri with its famous wine: Sassicaia, which saw its first historic vintage in 1968.
A curiosity about this splendid wine is that it has obtained a special primacy: it is the first Italian wine to which a reserved DOC (Denomination of Controlled Origin) has been recognized. The DOC in question is Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC, relating only to the wines of Tenuta San Guido.
It is a rebellious wine: in 1985 it won the title of best wine in the world with the wording “table wine” for not respecting the disciplinary of the time by proposing Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
It is the supreme example of the Supertuscans who, not following the denominations or certifications, have created their own independent style without obligations and alleys. Today they are considered among the best known and most appreciated wines in the world.
- Umbria
The region of central Italy is suggestive and fascinating also for its enchanting landscapes dominated by oil and vines, pillars of the region’s food and wine culture. Sagrantino di Montefalco will see the DOCG recognized in 1992.
- Marche
The vines grown in the Marche are 60% white, but there are also native vines such as Lacrima di Morro d’Alba and Vernaccia Nera. The coastal area around the Conero promontory is suited to red wines such as Rosso Conero Doc.
- Lazio
Lazio is the home region of the capital of Italy: Rome. It has a great variety of cultivated vines, both indigenous and international. Among the black grape varieties, the most important grape is the Cesanese, at the base of excellent wines.
SOUTHERN ITALY
- Abruzzo
Green heart of Europe and cradle of peasant and mountain traditions rooted over the centuries and forged on one of the most beautiful and generous territories in Italy, Abruzzo is a region known and appreciated both for the goodness of the food and the wines produced, such as his majesty, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, one of the most important red wines of the Bel Paese.
- Molise
The Molise vines are affected by the influence of the neighboring regions and especially of Abruzzo, of which it was part until 1963. The most important vines are black berried grapes, among which we recall the native Tintilia, an expression of the rebirth of Molise viticulture.
- Campania
From the vast Vesuvian area to the Amalfi coast, there is no Campania province that is not home to exceptional and internationally appreciated wines. Among the various production areas and the different labels we find Taurasi, the flagship of local enology together with another great red: Aglianico del Taburno.
- Puglia
It is the region of the Italian peninsula with the highest wine production due to the particular fertility of its soil. Over the last few years there has been a work to enhance the Apulian wine and improve the quality of native vines such as Primitivo di Manduria and Negroamaro, today among the greatest Italian red wines.
- Basilicata
Basilicata is a small region. The Vulture area is an area particularly suited for the cultivation of Aglianico del Vulture, the main grape of the region. The vineyards, near the extinct volcano, are rich in potassium which gives the wines freshness, flavor and minerality.
- Calabria
Bathed by the waters of the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas, Calabria is rich in history and has a vast cultural heritage. After years of inactivity, the Calabrian wine sector is getting back into motion, with new ideas on the quality of the products and on the enhancement of the rich heritage of native vines such as Gaglioppo with which Cirò, the best-known Calabrian wine, is created.
- Sicily
Sicily is a territory rich in history, art and culture, but also a region with deep and ancient winemaking traditions. The vineyard area is among the most important in Italy. On the island, fragrant dessert wines such as Passito di Pantelleria and Marsala are born. Many wines are responsible for the enological development of the region and have made famous the grapes with which they are produced, such as Nero d’Avola.
Filippo Bartolotta
Among the red regions to watch out for starting from the south is Etna which exploded with the very interesting Nerello Mascalese volcanic wine, but Italy is a vineyard wherever you go! However, the profile of less ambitious red wines such as Valpolicella Superiore, for example, is starting to become interesting, so I am not thinking only of Amarone but of wines that are conceived to reflect the origin of provenance. A trend that is being seen is that of transparency in wines: from the Nebbiolo of Valtellina, to the Picotendro of the Aosta valley, to the Sangiovese di Montalcino, these are all wines that are going in a direction more of transparency than of concentration. It is necessary to always stay behind the territories, because they evolve and move forward, they do not stay still inside the books.
- Sardinia
The island of Sardinia is the Italian land that has one of the oldest wine-growing areas. It has recently been shown that Cannonau, a famous native Sardinian vine, had been planted and worked on this land for three thousand years already. When we talk about this wine we are talking about all the nuances of the Sardinian land.