Italian Wine 101

Italy is known for a wide variety of things: history, culture, incredible food, and even better wine. Before I moved to Italy, I would drink white wine, on occasion, but absolutely never, ever red wine. I didn’t care for the way red wine sits on my tongue and gives me a “cotton mouth” sensation.

That was until I moved here and tried Italian red wine. Italy contributes to one-third of the world’s wine production. With more than 4,000 years of practice, the Italians have figured out how to do wine and do wine well. One of the key features to European wine drinking that we have noticed as Americans is that Europeans are drinking wine to enjoy the experience as opposed to a “drinking to get drunk” mentality. It is a tradition sewn deep within Europe (particularly that of Italy, France, and Spain) that to drink wine is to embrace the simple pleasures in life and the ability to share that joy with those around you.

Being passionate about wine is an art form.

Jon McDaniel, the CEO and sommelier of Chicago’s Second City Soil was quoted as saying, “Having lived in northern Italy, the wines of this country start with the people. The stewards of the land and vines care in a way that I have never seen before; the vines are part of the family fabric. I love Italian wine because it speaks a language of its own, with varieties and tastes that you cannot repeat or duplicate in any other area of the world. Italian grapes and the wines they produce bring back beautiful memories every time I drink them—and I drink a lot of them!”

So, what makes an Italian wine so perfect? Besides the love that the growers and vineyards put into producing the most incredible product, there are 400 varieties of grapes to choose from and more than 225 million cases exported annually, so there is no shortage of finding a wine to suit your taste buds. Italian wine is as varied as it is unique to the area in which it is grown, and the national standards for producing wine are very strict.

One of the coolest things I’ve learned and been able to share with friends and family that visit is that Italy has lesser known regions and grapes that make the wine experience just that—an experience.

While most people are familiar with Merlot, Chianti, and Sangiovese, there are lesser known beautiful varieties that I love like Amarone, Valpolicella, and Grignano. Exploring wine is as much fun as exploring this beautiful country, and sitting down with family and friends over a bottle of wine or prosecco is an experience to be enjoyed.