10 Most Famous Italian Wines
- Barolo. Originating from northern Italy, specifically from the Piedmont region, is the Barolo wine.
- Franciacorta. From the Providence of Brescia, in the Lombardy region, originates the sparkling wine of Franciacorta.
- Fiano di Avellino.
- Chianti Classico.
- Amarone della Valpolicella.
- Brunello di Montalcino.
Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its influence on high culture. It is regarded as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and has been home to many figures influential in the history of art and science, and contains well-known museums such as the Uffizi and the Pitti Palace.
Let's take a look and some of Italy's best white wine varietals.
- Pinot Grigio. The easiest-to-recognize Italian white wine is definitely Pinot Grigio.
- Traminer. Traminer is the name of a family of grape variants that includes the famous German wine Gewurtzraminer.
- Chardonnay.
- Moscato.
- Prosecco.
All About the Tuscan Wine RegionThis region has been known for its wine production for hundreds of years, especially for its production of red wines like Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino. Of these regions, Chianti and Bolgheri in the Tuscan Coast produce the most extensive array of Super Tuscan wines.
The 8 Major Italian Red Wines
- Sangiovese.
- Montepulciano (the grape)
- Barbera.
- Nero d'Avola.
- Primitivo (aka Zinfandel)
- Valpolicella Blends.
- Dolcetto.
- Nebbiolo.
The Italian Wine Classification system (similar to the U.S. appellation system) is made up of four categories:
- Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG)
- Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC)
- Indicazione di Geografica Tipica (IGT)
- Vino Da Tavola (VdT)
What it stands for: 'Indicazione Geografica Tipica' Created in 1992, IGTs were intended to provide a tier above the basic Vino da Tavola (VdT) for quality wines that didn't meet the regulations for DOC or DOCG. So-called Super Tuscan wines are a prime example.
Sassicaia, one of the original Super Tuscan wines, is made up of Cabernet Sauvignon with a small amount of Cabernet Franc. It is known for its supple texture, elegance and perfume.
Barolo, produced in Piedmont, in Italy's north, is made from Nebbiolo grapes while Burgundy is made from Pinot Noir. Fontodi's Super Tuscan is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes, but is aged in French oak, like Bordeaux.
For Sangiovese-prominent Super Tuscan wines like Tignanello, focus on herby, spicy meats and mushrooms, and tomato-based pasta dishes like lasagna. Pair Sassicaia and other Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines with grilled or roasted meats, such as filet mignon or lamb steak with rosemary.
The Differences Between Barolo and Brunello di MontalcinoThe Nebbiolo grapes that go into Barolo produce a lighter-looking wine which is nevertheless full-bodied and high in both tannin and acidity. Brunello also has high acidity, but contains lower levels of tannin.
The Most Expensive Italian Wines
| Wine Name | Maximum Price (USD) |
|---|
| 1 | Tenuta dell'Ornellaia 'Ornellaia' Vendemia d'Artista Special Edition Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany, Italy | 6,863 |
| 2 | Bruno Giacosa Collina Rionda, Barolo DOCG, Italy | 2,433 |
| 3 | Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva DOCG, Veneto, Italy | 1,999 |
By breaking these rules, and by incorporating non-traditional varieties together with Sangiovese in its blend, Tignanello effectively created the Super Tuscan category; dozens of other wines followed.
Brunello di Montalcino is a red DOCG Italian wine produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montalcino, in the province of Siena, located about 80 km south of Florence in the Tuscany wine region.
Top vintages for Tignanello are: 1978, 1985, 1990, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2013. Top vintages for Solaia are: 1985, 1990, 1997, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009 ,2010 and 2012.
Tignanello was the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques, the first contemporary red wine blended with untraditional varieties (specifically Cabernet) and one of the first red wines in the Chianti Classico region that didn't use white grapes. Tignanello is a milestone.
The Bolgheri RegionLocated in Tuscany and just miles off of Italy's west coast, many of the best Super Tuscans come from Bolgheri. It is one of the country's oldest wine regions, but was not recognized for its terroir—or “flavor of the earth”—until producers here began creating Super Tuscans.
The term Super Tuscan was coined in the early 1980s to describe a red blend from Tuscany. What makes “super Tuscan” wine different from other Tuscan wines (like Chianti) is the use of wine grapes that are not indigenous to Italy.
Tignanello is the name that was given in the 1970s to a new wine produced by the ancient house of Antinori (wine producers since 1385) and takes its name from the Tenuta di Tignanello production area in the town of San Casciano in Val di Pesa.
The practical difference between DOC and DOCG is one of quality: DOC and DOCG wines are both wines with a designation of origin, but DOCG wines have an additional “garantita,” or guarantee, by the Italian government to be wines of especially high quality.
Chianti Food PairingThe high acid cuts through richer fatty dishes and stands up to tomato sauces (pizza!). All that dry, powdery tannin makes Chianti wines ideal with dishes that use olive oil or highlight rich pieces of meat such as Bistecca Alla Fiorentina.
Chianti Classico must contain at least 80% Sangiovese. A maximum of 20% of other red grapes Colorino, Canaiolo Nero, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot may be used. White grapes were banned in 2006. There are three quality tiers in the appellation.
Tignanello WineTignanello is a red wine first made in the 1970s by the prestigious Italian winery Marchesi Antinori. Made predominantly with Sangiovese and Cabernet grape varieties, this wine is known for its flavors of red fruit, cherry, spice, tobacco, and herbs.
Chianti (Italian pronunciation: [ˈkjanti]), in Italy also referred to as Monti del Chianti ("Chianti Mountains") or Colline del Chianti ("Chianti Hills"), is a mountains area of Tuscany in the provinces of Florence, Siena and Arezzo, composed mainly of hills and mountains.
Malbec is considered dry to moderately dry, while Merlot can be very dry. That means that Malbec has a slightly sweeter taste to it, but both are considered to be dry wines. Malbec has a medium level of tannins, while merlot has a medium-high level of tannins.
Pinot Noir has a stronger flavor and lighter color than Merlot. Merlot has a mild taste and aromas of blackberries, blueberries, plums, and a few herbal flavors too with less tannin and acidity. It has a deep color as compared to Pinot Noir, and is smoother and soft. It has a higher alcohol content.
Is Pinot Noir a sweet wine?
Cabernet Sauvignon is very rich and robust, while Merlot is a bit more delicate, and serves up a slightly fruitier flavor. And while both wines are considered “dry”, Merlot tends to be balanced towards a slightly sweeter flavor profile, making it easier to drink.
Re: What are typical wine prices at restaurants? It's not a joke to say that wine is cheaper than water here in Italy! Traditional trattorias will often leave you the whole bottle on the table and only charge you for what you drink. A glass of house wine in some trattorias will only cost 90 euro cents!
Which wine is sweeter, a Shiraz or Merlot? Merlot wines are sweeter, but they are not sugar-sweet, rather they are fruit sweet, but Shiraz is more robust and masculine in flavors, and is more full-bodied.
Red Burgundy is wine that is made in the Burgundy region of eastern France using 100% Pinot Noir grapes. That's right, red Burgundy is just a Pinot Noir. White Burgundy is also made in Burgundy, but, since it is white, it is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes.
Is Cabernet Sauvignon a sweet wine?
When red wine is served too warm, it can have a "baked" taste. The great Gamay wines are light-bodied, as are some Pinot Noirs. Merlot, Syrah, and Chianti are usually medium-bodied. The fullest-bodied wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, and Italy's Super-Tuscans.
