On a yearly basis it’s very typical for Italian wine being at the top of the pile in terms of top quality rankings. If you consider that Italy is simply a few hundred square miles smaller than the state of California then this fact is far more interesting.
Italy produces billions of liters of wine annually, and has a legacy of over 4,000 years. Consequently, Italy has some of the most special and high quality wines on earth.
Italian wines have a tendency to be very acidic; this is mainly because wines that contain high amounts of acidity are well suited with food. One of the vital characteristics of Italian wines will be the touch of the land that one can smell and taste in every bottle. The nose may have hints of fresh mushrooms, soil, minerals and grass. These benefits are usually referred to as an earthiness.
Medium Body – Though you can find a number of wines that are more substantial, like Barolo, the majority of wines are moderate bodied in nature. Again, more appropriate to the wide selection of food dishes that go down better when not weighed down by heaviness.
For the reason that climate in Italy is really ideal for cultivating grapes, much of the grape varieties have been improving over the last several thousand years.
There are over 20 key kinds of red grapes growing in Italy, but we’re going to start with what are debatably the most important three:
Sangiovese – Grown in many vineyards throughout the Italian country side, especially in Tuscany and Umbria, this is actually the main grape in the making of Chianti and the ever popular Super Tuscan wines. Medium in body, the wine will posses high levels of tannins and robust acidity with tastes of herbs and cherries.
Nebbiolo – specific to the Piedmont district, this variety of grape produces two of the most notorious Italian wines: Barolo and Barbaresco. For anyone who is thinking about establishing their own wine cellar these 2 wines are the must haves. The grape is intense with enhanced levels of acidity and high tannin levels, calling forth flavors of strawberries, mushrooms and truffles.
Barbera – This grape runs alongside with Sangiovese as the most popular grape variety in Italy. This particular grape is a bit lighter than its partner, the tannin levels are a bit lower whilst it still preserves high acidity levels. The fruity flavours tend to be more distinct than in other grapes, it is {for this reason} that this wine is excellent for a summer meal.
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