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Discovering the Italian Vineyard

Italy holds a leading position in the world of wine. It is regularly ranked first in terms of volume. With more than 600 000 hectares and a winemaking tradition dating back to Antiquity, the Boot is also renowned for its incredible diversity of grape varieties, terroirs, and wine styles, making it, for enthusiasts, a kingdom of discoveries as vast as the French vineyard. While it is difficult to summarize Italian wine in just a few lines, here is a brief overview to give you an idea of its great richness.

The Italian classification system : IGT, DOC, and DOCG

Italian wines are divided into four categories:

- Table wines (Vino Da Tavola) primarily include wines without a specific designation. This category corresponds to our Vin de France designation and defines wines produced anywhere in Italy, particularly in areas where wine production is not especially renowned.

-Next, we have the IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica). These are comparable to our French IGP, thus identifying specific production areas that are generally broader than traditional appellations.We can take as examples the Toscana IGT, which covers the entire Tuscany region, or the Sicilia IGT, which brings together all the Sicilian terroirs.

-Finally, there are the DOC (Denominazione Di Origine Controllata) and DOCG (Denominazione Di Origine Controllata E Garantita), the highest levels of classification. In Italy, DOCs currently identify more than 330 crus, guaranteeing both origin and production method. These are comparable to our French AOCs. DOCGs, on the other hand, must meet even stricter production regulations than DOCs. There are only 74 to date, including the very famous Barolo, Barbaresco, Chianti Classico, Chianti, and Brunello di Montalcino.

Italian appellations and grape varieties

There are now more than 400 appellations in Italy. Here are the main ones.

The Barolo DOCG, located in the Piedmont region in the northwest of Italy, is one of the most renowned in all of Italy, producing great red wines made from the grape variety Nebbiolo. The latter is highly regarded for its robust tannic structure, complex bouquet, and excellent aging potential. The Armando Parusso estate perfectly illustrates the magnificent qualities of this grape variety as well as the great nobility of this illustrious appellation.

The Chianti and Chianti Classico DOCG, located in Tuscany, are renowned for their intense and complex red wines made from the great variety Sangiovese. The wines regularly display notes of cherry, spices, and tobacco, and are also capable of very long aging. The Chianti Classico DOCG represents the historic heart of this production. More generally, the rolling hills of the region offer diverse terroirs with soils rich in clay, limestone, and schist, contributing to the complexity of the wines. The estate Ruffino is a perfect illustration of the greatness of these production areas.

The Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, also located in Tuscany, allows for the production of very prestigious red wines, exclusively made from the Sangiovese grape variety. These wines undergo long aging periods and display aromatics of incredible power and great richness, as exemplified by the Brunello from the Fattoi estate. The vineyards of Montalcino benefit from a warm Mediterranean climate and soils rich in clay and schist, giving the wines their structure and character.

Another important appellation, the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC is located in the Abruzzo region, south of Tuscany.This wine takes its name from the main grape variety used,  Montepulciano, producing flavorful red wines known for their intense color, medium to full body, supple tannins, and aromas of dark fruits, cherry, and spices. The vineyards benefit from a  warm Mediterranean climate  and a variety of soils, ranging from clay to limestone. Whether enjoyed as an everyday wine or as a cellaring wine, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wines often offer excellent value for money, as exemplified by the Ilico cuvée from the Dino Illuminati estate.

Prosecco DOC , on the other hand, offers  sparkling wines  whose reputation has now spread worldwide.Mainly produced in the Veneto region (particularly in the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene area), Prosecco is made exclusively from the  Glera grape variety and offers fine bubbles, a lovely freshness  as well as  very pleasant fruity aromas , just like the one crafted by the Sacchetto family. The gentle hills, limestone soils, and the influence of the Alps all contribute to creating ideal conditions for grape growing here.

The Valpolicella DOC, located in the Veneto region, is renowned for its light and fruity red wines made from  the  Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Molinara grape varieties. The hills of Valpolicella, with their varied soils, promote optimal grape ripening here and add an extra dimension to the wines. In the same region, you will also find the  Valpolicella Classico DOC, the historic heart of production, as well as the Valpolicella Ripasso DOC  and the  Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG. Within the latter, red wines of incredible power and aromatic richness are produced, thanks to the drying process of the grapes, a method used to evaporate the water content, resulting in a great concentration of aromas. Just like the Amarone from the Le Calendre estate, the result is exceptional and every enthusiast should experience it at least once in their lifetime.

Finally, many other appellations also exist in Italy, such as the Puglia IGT (Feudi di San Marzano estate) or the Montello e Colli Asolina DOC (Serafini & Vidotto estate), a little-known appellation located in Veneto, producing notably exquisite red wines made from the grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. We could also mention the "Super Tuscans", those great age-worthy red wines made from blending Sangiovese with these same French grape varieties, which are highly sought after by enthusiasts around the world.

In short, as you will have understood, Italy is too vast to be summed up in just a few paragraphs but its incredible wealth and great diversity of grape varieties, appellations, and terroirs make it a wonderful playground for the country’s winemakers and wine enthusiasts. So, whether you enjoy full-bodied wines, smooth wines or even light and fruity sparkling wines, you will find what you are looking for in Italy !