For a student of wine, Italy presents arguably the mosnt dizzying abundance of native grape varieties, appellations, and wine styles of any nation. While the country’s unmatched diversity might induce confusion, the study of its wines is among the most rewarding of subjects. The world’s highest volume of wine is produced in Italy, and vineyards are cultivated in each of its 20 regions. The country is perhaps best known for its red wines, with collectors regularly gravitating toward Super Tuscans and the three B’s: Barolo, Barbaresco, and Brunello di Montalcino. Yet, importantly, its palette also includes the best-selling sparkling wine worldwide by volume, Prosecco; the most established regions for sparkling reds; a series of overlooked, ageworthy whites; fortified wines that, like Madeira, once also endured long sea voyages; and the most extensive tradition of dried-grape wines found anywhere.
The boot’s contributions to the wine industry are not new. Ancient Rome vinified some of the most prized delicacies of the classical world, its soldiers helped spread the vine across the Mediterranean basin and beyond, and its scholars provided the most significant primary accounts of early wine. Italy’s influence continues today, as its winegrowers harness the potential of the country’s indigenous grapes with renewed energy and continue to balance their dignified traditions with a spirit of innovation captured in their finest bottles.
Much of the discussion about ancient winegrowing on the Italian Peninsula centers on the Romans, but viticulture is known to have begun long before Rome’s founding, traditionally—though tenuously—dated to 753 BCE. The precise origins of Italian viticulture remain unclear, especially in light of the discovery in 2017 of wine residue on ceramic storage vessels found in a cave at Monte
Just wanted to express my appreciation for everyone's efforts in putting these guides together for all of us. Thank you for this one, Bryce Wiatrak and Sandra Ban
Hi Cokie! Technically they would be called “regioni” (regions) in Italy, but they are generally the administrative equivalent of U.S. states. They each have their own constitution, and the regions are divided into smaller provinces (like counties or parishes), and then smaller “comuni” (communes or municipalities).
Hi! Under the IGT and DOCG breakdowns, the 20 regions are referred to as states. Do we refer to them as states sometimes? Love the guide-it is amazing!!
Thanks, Molly! This is updated.
Hello! Loving this guide and learning lots! In the Sangiovese section, I see "and sweet wines, such as the rare vin santo ccchio di pernice", but I think it's supposed to be "occhio"? Thanks!!
Hey Victoria! Great Question! The DOC to DOCG standard comes from (EC) No 607/2009 of 14 July 2009. "DOCG: It is similar to the D.O.C. definition, but it also contains the word ‘Guaranteed’ and so it is assigned to wines having a particular value, that have been recognized as DOC wines since five years at least." That being said, it seems to take an average of 10 years for a DOC to make the jump to DOCG. I'd envision this process as the application at five years and the process taking another five. The guide here has been updated.
Looking for wine law clarification: this guide states that "regions must wait a minimum of 10 years after DOC approval until they can apply to be upgraded to DOCG," but the Study Guide for Northern Italy states that "regions recognized as DOC for at least five years may apply for DOCG status." When did this rule shift from 5 to 10 years? Or is one simply incorrect?
This is well written. The paragraphs and sections are so very well constructed. This makes it a delight to read and extract information. Thank you to Bryce, Sandra and the rest of the team.
I haven't been able to find any reference to an 80% requirement for IGT wines, so I'd assume that the 85% requirement is probably correct. I'm going to do a little more digging and will update if needed.
The section on Wine Law above includes the following: "The regulations of IGT wines are stricter than those of Vino, most importantly mandating that 80% of grapes are cultivated from a designated winegrowing area." The GuildSomm Expert Guide to Wine Law MODERN EU WINE CLASSIFICATIONS section, however, has the following requirement for Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) across the European Union: "At least 85% of the grapes used for its production come exclusively from this geographical area. (The remainder of grapes must be grown in the same country.)" Are Italian IGT and European IGP not equivalent in the origin requirement?
Thanks for reading, Vivian! Glad you enjoyed :)