Buy Italian Wines from the Wine Specialist
Italian wines - temperamental and diverse. The most complex wine country on earth looks at various wine techniques and a selection of 2,000 different grape varieties. The most important and best-known varieties among them are Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Grillo or Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. Probably the most famous Italian wine-growing region among all twenty provinces is Tuscany, which produces the top wines Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Since wine is grown and traded in all parts of Italy, the country is one of the largest wine producers in the world and has a climatic advantage due to its large geographical north-south expansion. Thus, a microclimate in the north with alpine influences provides fruity and flowery wines. The Mediterranean weather in central Italy, Tuscany spoils mainly red grape varieties with a fresh sea breeze from the Mediterranean Sea. In the south of Italy there is a dry, sunny climate, making the wines produced there powerful and full-bodied.
Historical wine tradition from Italy
The intense connection to wine and viticulture is deeply rooted in Italian history. The history of wine in Italy's antiquity begins about 3,000 years ago. At that time, the Etruscan people cultivated vineyards in Sicily. Later, the Greeks brought their knowledge of wine and grape varieties to Italy, where they spread rapidly from south to north. Wine reached its absolute peak in the Roman Empire. Scholars developed new wine techniques, soil care and aromas. Italian wine soon became so highly regarded that Falerno wine became the exclusive "wine of the Caesars" and even the common people and Roman legions gained access to mass wine. CAPREO offers an exclusive selection of wines for every taste from Italy's enormous variety and wine expertise.
The Most Prominent Italian Grape Varieties and their Wine Growing Areas
The wine country Italy is a model of the wine world. To understand how Italian success is achieved, it is worth taking a look at the most famous wine growing areas in Italy, starting in the north-western part of Italy in Piedmont. The wine region is surrounded by the Aplen hills. The stars of the region are the two wine brothers Barolo and Barbaresco, which are produced from the absolute noble grape Nebbiolo. Since the beginning, the prestigious wines have reached a high quality level.
The above located wine region Lombardy offers sparkling wines and exquisite still wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The province of Veneto on the opposite side, which is probably the biggest competitor of the Tuscany wine region, stretches out in the north-east. On the one hand, Veneto is celebrated for sparkling Prosecco from the Glera vine, whose aromas are juicy and floral. On the other hand, in the eastern part, on the edge of Lake Garda, the Valpolicella region extends, where the cult grape Amarone is cultivated. A well-known wine technique is practiced on this grape variety - the so-called Appassimento method. The process means "withering" and aims to remove water from the grape in order to obtain as much taste, structure and colour as possible. An ancient technique of drying on straw mats is used so that the Italian Amarone reaches the desired degree of sweetness after about two to three months.
Under Mediterranean weather conditions and on barren chalky soils, the internationally famous grape variety Sangiovese feels at home in centrally located Tuscany. The absolute noble wines Brunello, Chianti and Vino Nobile are produced there. These wines are on the highest quality level DOCG or are named with "Super-Toscana". On the lower southern tip of Italy are the wine growing areas of Campania, Basilicata, Calabria and Apulia, where the sun-worshipping grape varieties Primitivo and Nerello Mascalese feel at home. The Italian island of Sicily has the largest area under cultivation in the country and develops aromatic local wines from the Nero d'Avola grape, while the neighboring island of Sardinia produces the age-resistant Granacha Tinto.
Italian Wine Classifications
No matter whether it is a simple wine for everyday use or a noble drop of pleasure - wines from Italy are meticulously divided into different quality classifications and provided with numerous additional designations. The first is Vino da Tavola, a simple table wine that does not have to meet any prescribed standards. Almost 40 percent of all Italian wines fall into this category. The next classification is the IG wine (Indicazione Geografica Tipica). These wines can come from a larger defined geographical area and must provide precise information, such as sugar content. This is followed by the second highest classification level, which defines controlled designations of origin. A DOC wine (Denominaione di Orginie Controllata) must meet strict requirements regarding colour, acidity, minimum alcohol content and much more. Only about five percent of all Italian wines are awarded the highest quality category, the DOCG (Denominaione di Orginie Controllata e Garantita). The winegrowers must comply with the EU wine regulations and achieve a particularly high level through certified wine regions and wine processing methods.
Overview of the Most Important Wine Growing Areas in Italy
- Abruzzo
- Puglia
- Basilicata
- Campania
- Liguria
- Lombardy
- Piedmont
- Sardinia
- Sicily
- South Tyrol
- Tuscany
- Trentino
- Umbria
- Veneto
The Flagship of Italian Wines - Wineries of the Extra Class
Bella Italia! A huge selection of all kinds of wines from Italy is available to the wine lover. In order to keep an overview, CAPREO offers a broad portfolio of established Italian wineries. Sparkling Prosecco for special moments is produced by Villa Sandi from Veneto. Paolo Manzone from Piedmont delights with his fruity white wines and red wines made from Italian noble grapes. Representatives for first-class wines from central Tuscany are Villa Trasqua and Tenuta il Poggione. Wines from the Bardolino wine-growing region taste especially delicious from the Vignetta Villabella winery and radiate the wonderful Italian charm.