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What are the major varieties of Italian red wine?

ITALIAN WINES
‘Italian wines’ are believed to be the world’s most popular and oldest wines. Vineyards in the country started as early as Second century B.C, with the Etruscans and the Greek settlers were believed to be first to plant them. Nowadays wine making in Italy is done in modern wineries.

TYPES OF ITALIAN WINES
Generally Italian wines can be divided into two categories:
• Rosso (Red)
• Bianco (White)

TYPES OF RED WINE
The Italian red wines can be further sub divided into following categories:

SANGIOVESE
Sangiovese is derived from the Latin Sanguis Jovis or ‘the blood of love’. Sangiovese is the principal grape that is grown in the Tuscany region. These wines mainly composite cherry fruit, earth and cedar. Some of the wines produced using Sangiovese are Chianti Classico, Rosso di Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino, Rosso di Montepulciano etc.,

MONTEPULCIANO
This variety is mainly grown in the coastal areas of Abruzzo. These wines generally develop silky-plum like fruit with light tannin and friendly acidity. But these varieties are not grown in the town of Montepulciano.

CORVINA
This variety is mainly responsible for the production of famous wines like Valpolicella and Amarone. It has dark cherry fruit and spice aromas. These varieties may even take more than 40 years of age.

DOLCETTO
It grows along with Barbera and Nebbiolo. It means ‘The little sweet one’ and makes wines that are brightly colored and has aromas of plums and blackberries. It is suitable for everyday drinking.

NEBBIOLO
The name means ‘Little fog’ in English. Another idea is that the name comes from the Italian word ‘nobile’ which means noble. It is one of the more difficult wine varieties to master. The wines are known for their elegance and bouquet of wild mushroom, truffle, roses, and tar.

BARBERA
It is the third most-planted grape variety of Italy. The wine has bright cherry fruit aromas and is very dark in color with a food-friendly acidity.

NERO d’AVOLA
This variety is mostly unavailable in the international wine markets. This kind of wine is robust and is an inky wine and hence named as ‘the Barolo of the South’. This grape produces wines that have sweet-tannins along with flavors of pepper and plum.

NEGROAMARO
The name means ‘Black and Bitter’ in English. These types of varieties mainly consist of spicy, toasty, and full of dark red fruits and tend to be very rustic.

MALVASIA NERA
This variety is mainly from Piedmont. It is a Sweet and perfumed wine elaborated in the passito style.

AGLIANICO
It is mainly grown in Campania and Basilicata. They are generally thick skinned and spicy wines which are both rustic and powerful.

SAGRANTINO
These types of wines are very much limited. They are planted only in 250 hectares. Inky purple, with rustic brooding fruit and heavy tannins, these wines can age for many years.

SUPER TUSCANS
This term includes all of the Tuscan red wines that do not adhere to the Italian blending laws. They are generally prepared by mixing two or more varieties. The first ever Super Tuscan is called a Vigorello. They do not conform to the strict DOC(G) classifications.

These are the main types of red wine. Most of the red wines are not distributed to the world markets because locals consume the wines. So Wine tourism is conducted especially for wine lovers to taste all the varieties of red wine.

Bottles of deep-red wine waiting for labels

Italy has many major varieties of red wine

Take a wine tour to discover the best italian red wines?

WINE TOURISM

Wine tourism refers to the movement of the people to the Wineries, vineyards and restaurants near the wine source for the consumption or tasting of the wine. Many wine regions around the world conduct wine tourism to attract the people. Some of the most important wine tour locations are Hunter Valley in Australia and Chateau de Malle located at Bordeaux, France.

WINE TRAVEL IN ITALY
Every region in Italy, right from the Veneto to Sardinia produces wine. Most of the Italian wines are consumed locally and are not easily found in the Overseas market.

There are many vacation farms found in Italy, known as “Agriturismi” which means ’staying’ in Italian. It is generally a farm house which provides staying facilities along with the information about the products grown.

Following are the main wine tourism places in Italy.

TUSCANY
Tuscany is mainly famous for its super Tuscan wines. A drive along the 14 “strade del vino” or the wine trails shows the different type of wine. Bike tours in this area are very much popular.

CAMPANIA
It is first here in the southern Italy that the wine cultivation started. Wines produced in this region is not popular in the overseas because most the Wine produced is consumed by the local people.

TURIN
It is very hard to believe that world’s best Red wine comes from one of the busiest region in Italy. Langhe district near the town of Alba is the core of the red wine. Renting a Vespa scooter from the district is enough to taste the best red wine in the world. Wine tourism is the best way to explore the red wines of Italy. Following reasons can be stated to justify it:

Most of the varieties of the red wines are not known to the visitors

Most of the wines are consumed by local people.

Only a few varieties of wines are available in the overseas market.

The wine tour is really a feast for wine lovers. For a change of the vacation spot, wine lovers can really take this tour to explore the best red wines from around the world.

What a great way to tour the wineries and vineyards of Italy!

How to find the best Tuscan Italian Red Wines?

The best Tuscan Italian Red Wines are found in Tuscany. The best way to sample Tuscan Italian Red Wines is to go to Italy and get off the beaten path. Stop at any small town in Tuscany enjoy the town as well as the wine.

At lunch, follow the locals to a trattoria. Once there order a litre or mezzolitre of their vino Roso de la Casa. Enjoy the wine with a good meal. If you chat up the owner and express your desire to try a good Tuscan Italian Red Wine. With much pride they will show you what they think are good wines and will recommend certain wineries and will likely arrange for you to visit that winery.

At the winery you will get a truly personalized taste of their Tuscan Italian Red Wines. In addition to tasting good wine and buying a bottle or two, you will have a memorable experience.

The second way to find the best Tuscan Italian Red Wines is to locate wineries that are in Tuscany and travel from winery to winery sampling their wines. I do caution you that you might want to sign up for a wine tour if you are doing this option. The Italian driving under influence (DUI) limits, are quite stringent.

There are maps available online for your review and there are companies that specialize in wine tours through Tuscany.

Italian red wines especially those in Tuscany are great. It is hard not to find good Italian red wines in Tuscany. I encourage you to eat and drink your way through Italy and experience the Italian lifestyle.