Introduction to Italian wines and grapes |
| Italy grows more than thousand varieties of grapes, international and native ones, with some of them only planted in very small areas and with a very limited wine production and therefore only available to the locals. Wines as we all know, can be made by a single grape or a blend of different grapes, and with such a variety we can easily imagine how many wines can be made without considering the wine making process. Italian wines are an endless story.
This Italian wine and grape guide has been thought to offer you an introduction, an insight, into Italian wines & grapes highlighting the most important native grapes, as well as a selection of Italian wines that many drinkers enjoy without knowing the grapes used in making them. This guide should be seen as the starting point, your first point of reference when wanting to know more about Italian wines and grapes and does not pretend to answer all your questions about Italian wines. The first thing to say about Italian wines is that the appellation system divides the wines into 4 different categories, DOCG, DOC, IGT and vino da tavola in this order. Except for the vino da tavola (table wine) where any grape from anywhere in Italy of any quality can be used, for the wines in the other categories, the law specifies the characteristics of the grapes used in making the wine (eg. maximum yield, origin) and or the wine making process (eg. minimum ageing, grapes allowed), however, a DOCG wine does not mean a better wine that an IGT, it simply means that the wine is made following a different wine making process. A good wine can only be made if the grapes are good and the wine maker knows its job, if any of the two is missing, the wine is not going to be any good not even if it has the DOCG label. |
Vermentino |
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| The vermentino grape is grown in several parts of Italy but it is near the coast, Liguria, Sardinia and Tuscany that produces the best white wines.
The cool climate brings out the best qualities for its wines, freshness, pleasant acidic, lightly herbal flavour and a complex, mineral, finish. |
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Friulano |
| Until recently called Tocai Friulano, now only Friulano, from the Friuli region in the north east of Italy, is a grape and a white wine not related to the Tokaji from Hungary.
The wine is light bodied, slightly bittery and a floral nose with hints of almonds and it is intended to be drunk young. The best Friulano wines have a rich and viscous texture. |
Gavi |
| Gavi is a wine produced in the Alto Monferrato, in the southern part of the province of Alessandria, and it is made exclusively from Cortese grapes. It takes its name from the town of Gavi that is found at the centre of the production area.
The wine has a light straw colour with green hues and a delicate, fruity nose. It is dry, full and harmonic. Recently, Gavi producers have started to produce more structured and complex wines. From 1998 Gavi is a DOCG wine. |
Frascati |
| Known like the wine of Rome, takes its name from the town of Frascati that is part of the area in which the wine is produced. In the production of the wine, different grapes are used, however, the mains are Malvasia bianca di Candia, Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia del Lazio.
Two different Frascati wines can be found, the secco and amabile, with the second being medium sweet and known and drunk only locally. The Frascati is also found in its “superiore” (better) version and differentiates from the normal Frascati because it has to have a least 11.5% of alcoholic content. |
Moscato |
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A grape, the Moscato, that grows all over Italy making all sort of wines, from the Moscato d’Asti a dessert wine to the Asti spumante a sparkling wine.
The floral, perfumed notes that characterise the Moscato in the north are amongst the finest expressions of this variety. |
