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A classical Italian vineyard scene, with vines growing together with olive trees.
A classical Italian vineyard scene, with vines growing together with olive trees. The Olive ( Olea europaea) is a Species of small Tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern
Vineyards around the town of Barolo.
Vineyards around the town of Barolo. Barolo is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 50 km southeast of Turin

Italian wine is wine produced in Italy, a country which is home to some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest In Political geography and International politics, a country is a Political division of a geographical entity Etruscans and Greek settlers produced wine in the country long before the Romans started developing their own vineyards in the second century BC. Etruscan civilization is the modern English name given to the culture and way of life of a people of ancient Italy The Greeks ( Greek: Έλληνες) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC A vineyard is a Plantation of Grape -bearing Vines grown mainly for Winemaking, but also Raisins Table grapes and non-alcoholic Roman grape-growing and winemaking was prolific and well-organised, pioneering large-scale production and storage techniques like barrel-making and bottling. Viticulture (from the Latin word for Vine) is the Science, production and study of Grapes which deals with the series of Winemaking, or vinification, is the production of Wine, starting with selection of the Grapes and ending with bottling the finished wine A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container traditionally made of Wood Staves and bound with Iron Hoops The Traditionally a cooper is someone who makes Wooden staved vessels of a conical form of greater length than breadth bound [1] Two thousand years later, Italy remains one of the world's foremost producers, responsible for approximately one-fifth of world wine production in 2005. [2]

Wine is a popular drink in Italy. Grapes are grown in almost every part of Italy, with more than 1 million vineyards under cultivation. For the Tokyo University supercomputer see Gravity Pipe. GRAPE, or GRA phics P rogramming E nvironment is In some places the vines are trained along low supports. In others they climb as slender saplings.

Most wine-making in Italy is done in modern wineries. A winery is a building or property that produces Wine, or a business involved in the production of wine such as a wine company. However, villagers who make wine for their own use sometimes still tread the grapes with their bare feet, until the juice is squeezed out. They believe this ancient method still makes the best wine.


Contents

History

Although wines had been elaborated from the wild Vitis vinifera grape for millennia, it wasn't until the Greek colonization that wine-making flourished. Vitis vinifera ( Common Grape Vine) is a species of Vitis, native to the Mediterranean region, central Europe, and The Greeks ( Greek: Έλληνες) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions Viticulture was introduced into Sicily and southern Italy by the Mycenaean Greeks[3], and was well established when the extensive Greek colonization transpired around 800 BC. Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy. The Greeks ( Greek: Έλληνες) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions [4][5] During the Roman defeat of the Carthaginians (acknowledged masters of wine-making) in the second century BC that Italian wine production began to further flourish. Carthage (Καρχηδών Karkhēdōn, Carthago from the Phoenician קרת חדשת phn-Latn Qart-ḥadašt meaning new town) refers Large-scale, slave-run plantations sprang up in many coastal areas and spread to such an extent that, in AD92, emperor Domitian was forced to destroy a great number of vinyards in order to free up fertile land for food production. Fundamentally a plantation is usually a large Farm or estate, especially in a tropical or semitropical country on which Cotton, Tobacco An emperor (from the Latin " Imperator " is a (male Monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an Empire or another type of Titus Flavius Domitianus (24 October 51 &ndash 18 September 96 commonly known as Domitian, was a Roman Emperor who reigned from 14 September 81 until his death

During this time, viticulture outside of Italy was prohibited under Roman law. Viticulture (from the Latin word for Vine) is the Science, production and study of Grapes which deals with the series of Exports to the provinces were reciprocated in exchange for more slaves, especially from Gaul where trade was intense, according to Pliny, due to the inhabitants being besotted with Italian wine, drinking it unmixed and without restraint. Gaul (Gallia was the Roman name for the region of Western Europe comprising present day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western Gaius or Caius Plinius Secundus, ( AD 23 – August 25, AD 79 better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient Author [6] Roman wines contained more alcohol and were generally more powerful than modern fine wines. It was customary to mix wine with a good proportion of water which may otherwise have been unpalatable, making wine drinking a fundamental part of early Italian life. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life.

As the laws on provincial viticulture were relaxed, vast vineyards began to flourish in the rest of Europe, especially Gaul (present day France) and Hispania. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Hispania was the name given by the Romans to the whole of the Iberian Peninsula (modern Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Gibraltar This coincided with the cultivation of new vines, like biturica (ancestor of the Cabernets). Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red Wine grape varieties. These vineyards became hugely successful, to the point that Italy ultimately became an import centre for provincial wines. [7]

Depending on the vintage, modern Italy is the world's largest or second largest wine producer. In 2005, production was about 20% of the global total, second only to France, which produced 22%. In the same year, Italy's share in dollar value of table wine imports into the U. S. was 32%, Australia's was 24%, and France's was 20%. Along with Australia, Italy's market share has rapidly increased in recent years. [8]


Italian appellation system

DOCG seal
DOCG seal

Italy's classification system is a modern one that reflects current realities. It has four classes of wine, with two falling under the EU category Quality Wine Produced in a Specific Region (QWPSR) and two falling under the category of 'table wine'. Quality Wines Produced in Specified Regions (often abbreviated to QWpsr or simply "quality wines" is an European Union -sponsored protected indication In the United States table wine is used as a legal definition to differentiate standard Wine from stronger (higher alcohol content Fortified wine or The four classes are:

Table Wine:

QWPSR:

Both DOC and DOCG wines refer to zones which are more specific than an IGT, and the permitted grapes are also more specifically defined. Denominazione di origine controllata is an Italian quality assurance label for food products and especially wines (an Appellation) The main difference between a DOC and a DOCG is that the latter must pass a blind taste test for quality in addition to conforming to the strict legal requirements to be designated as a wine from the area in question. In marketing a blind taste test is often used as a tool for companies to compare their Brand to another brand Presently, there are 120 IGT zones. In February 2006 there were 311 DOC plus 32 DOCG appellations, according to the PDF document V.Q.P.R.D. Vini (DOCG – DOC): Elenco e Riferimenti Normativi al 07.02.2006, published by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture.

Geographical characteristics

Important wine-relevant geographic characteristics of Italy include:

Italian wine regions

Italy's 20 wine regions correspond to the 20 political regions. Understanding of Italian wine becomes clearer with an understanding of the differences between each region; their cuisines reflect their indigenous wines, and vice-versa. The 36 docg wines are located in 13 different regions but most of them are concentrated in Piedmont and Tuscany. Among these are appelations appreciated and sought by wine lovers around the world: Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello and Chianti Classico. Despite its high quality Amarone is not classified as a Docg. [9]

The regions are, roughly from Northwest to Southeast:

Italian administrative regions
Italian administrative regions

Key Italian wine varietals

Italy's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MIRAF), has documented over 350 grapes and granted them "authorized" status. The Valle d'Aosta DOC (or Vallée d'Aoste) is an Italian Denominazione di origine controllata located in the Aosta Valley of northwest Piemonte wine is the range of Italian wines made in the province of Piedmont in the northwestern corner of Italy. Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions Lombardy (Lombardia Latin: Langobardia, Western Lombard: Lumbardìa, Eastern Lombard: Lombardia) is one of the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol ( Italian: Trentino-Alto Adige; German: Trentino-Südtirol; Ladin: Trentin-Adesc Aut   Friuli-Venezia Giulia ( Friulian: Friûl-Vignesie Julie, Friaul-Julisch Venetien Furlanija - Julijska krajina Friul-Venezsia Jułia is one of the twenty Emilia-Romagna is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. The capital is Bologna. Tuscany (Toscana is a region in Italy. It has an area of 22990 km² and a population of about 3 The Marche (plural originally from le marche de Ancona, referring to the March of Ancona) is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. Umbria is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. The capital is Perugia. For the football club see SS Lazio Lazio ( Latium in Latin) is a regione of central Molise is a region of Southern Italy, the second smallest of the regions Campania is a region of Southern Italy in Europe. The region has a population of around 5 Basilicata is a region in the south of Italy, bordering on Campania to the west Apulia ( Puglia) to the east Calabria to Apulia ( Italian: Puglia) is a region in southeastern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east the Ionian Sea Calabria ( Latin: Brutium) is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy. Sardinia (sɑrˈdɪnɪə Sardegna Sardigna or Sardinnya is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily) There are more than 500 other documented varietals in circulation as well. The following is a list of the most common and important of Italy's varietals.

See also: List of grape varieties

Rosso (Red)

Other major red varieties are Ciliegolo, Gaglioppo, Lagrein, Lambrusco, Monica, Nerello Mascalese, Pignolo, Primitivo, Refosco, Schiava, Schiopettino, Teroldego, and Uva di Troia. Ciliegolo is a red Wine Grape that originated in Tuscany and is grown primarily in central Italy. Gaglioppo is a red Wine Grape that is grown in southern Italy, primarily around Calabria. Lagrein is a Grape variety native to the valleys of Northern Italy in the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region north of Bolzano, near the border Lambrusco is the name of both a red Wine Grape and an Italian wine made principally from the grape Monica is a red Wine Grape that is grown primarily in Sardinia and is one of the few grapes that wine regulations allow to appear on the wine label Nerello is a name given to two varieties of red Wine Grapes that are grown primarily in Sicily and Sardinia. Pignolo is a red Italian wine Grape grown predominately in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northeast Italy. Zinfandel is a variety of red Grape planted in over 10 percent of California wine vineyards Refosco is an Italian family of dark-skinned Grape varieties native to the northern Italian areas of Friuli, Gavi, and Trentino Trollinger (or Schiava) is a light-red late-maturing wine grape variety that was originally cultivated in the provinces of Bolzano-Bozen (Alto Adige/South Tyrol Schiopettino (meaning "gunshot" or "little crack" also known as "Ribolla Nera" is a red Italian wine Grape grown predominately in the Teroldego is a red Italian grape variety grown primarily in the northeastern region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. Uva di Troia is a Red wine Grape variety grown in the Italian region of Puglia, particularly in the coastal areas around Barletta

“International” varietals such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc are also widely grown. Merlot ('MERL-oh' in British English mer-LOH in American English and standard French is a red Wine Grape that is used as both a blending grape and for Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red Wine grape varieties. Syrah is a dark-skinned variety of Grape used in Wine. Syrah is grown in many countries and is primarily used to produce powerful Red wines which enjoy Cabernet Franc is one of the major varieties of red Wine Grape in Bordeaux

Bianco (White)

Currently, there are over 3,500 distinct producers of Soave.

Other important whites include Carricante, Catarratto, Coda de Volpe, Cortese, Falaghina, Grillo, Inzolia, Picolit, Tocai Friulano, Traminer, Verdicchio, Verduzzo, Vermentino and Vernaccia.

As far as non-native varietals, the Italians plant chardonnay, gewürztraminer (sometimes called traminer aromatico), riesling, petite arvine, and many others. Chardonnay is a green-skinned Grape variety used to make white Wine. Gewürztraminer (ɡəˈvʏrtstraˈminɚ guh-VURTS-trah-MEE-ner in English is an aromatic Wine Grape variety that performs best in cooler climates Riesling is a white Grape variety which originates in the Rhine region of Germany.

Super Tuscans

The term "Super Tuscan" describes any Tuscan red wine that does not adhere to traditional blending laws for the region. For example, Chianti Classico wines are made from a blend of grapes with Sangiovese as the dominant varietal in the blend. Chianti Classico is a wine produced in one of Chianti's sub-areas Sangiovese is a Red wine Grape variety originating in Italy whose name derives from sanguis Jovis, "the blood of Jove " Super Tuscans often use other grapes, especially cabernet sauvignon, making them ineligible for DOC(G) classification under the traditional rules. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red Wine grape varieties.

In the 1970s Piero Antinori, whose family had been making wine for more than 600 years, decided to make a richer wine by eliminating the white grapes from the Chianti blend, and instead adding Bordeaux varietals (namely, cabernet sauvignon and merlot). Marchesi Antinori Srl is an Italian wine company that can trace its history back to 1385. ( Gascon: Bordèu) is a port city in southwest France, with one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area at a 2008 estimate He was inspired by a little-known (at the time) cabernet sauvignon made by relatives called Sassicaia, which openly flouted the rules set down for traditional wines in Tuscany. The result was the first Super Tuscan, which he named Tignanello, after the vineyard where the grapes were grown. Marchesi Antinori Srl is an Italian wine company that can trace its history back to 1385. Other winemakers started experimenting with Super Tuscan blends of their own shortly thereafter.

Because these wines did not conform to strict DOC(G) classifications, they were initially labeled as vino da tavola, meaning "table wine," a term ordinarily reserved for lower quality wines. In the United States table wine is used as a legal definition to differentiate standard Wine from stronger (higher alcohol content Fortified wine or The creation of the Indicazione Geografica Tipica category (technically indicating a level of quality between vino da tavola and DOCG) helped bring Super Tuscans "back into the fold" from a regulatory standpoint. Indicazione geografica tipica is the second of four classifications of Wine recognized by the government of Italy.

References

  1. ^ Wine
  2. ^ Mulligan, Mary Ewing and McCarthy, Ed. Italy: A pasion for wine. Indiana Beverage Journal, 2006, 62(7), 21-27
  3. ^ The Oxford Companion to Archaeology, Brian Murray Fagan, 1996 Oxford Univ Pr, p. 757
  4. ^ Wine: A Scientific Exploration, Merton Sandler, Roger Pinder, CRC Press, p. 66
  5. ^ Introduction to Wine Laboratory Practices and Procedures, Jean L. Jacobson, Springer, p. 84
  6. ^ http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/wine/wine.html roman
  7. ^ Wine
  8. ^ Mulligan, Mary Ewing and McCarthy, Ed. Italy: A pasion for wine. Indiana Beverage Journal, 2006, 62(7), 21-
  9. ^ Italian good wines

External links

See also

A list of the 36 Italian DOCG ( Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) wines in alphabetical order by region List of Italian DOC wines, in alphabetical order by region the wine-making regions of Italy are equivalent to its twenty administrative regions, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
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