Italy

History of Italian Wine

Italian wine dates back to the times of the Romans, and have been part of the lifestyle since then. It over the last 30 years however that Italian wine has come of age. With a collapse in domestic sales in the 70's and 80's, Italian wine producers looking to a new generation of winemakers supported by international consultants and new technology to revolutionise wine production in Italy. The results was a dramatic improvement in the quality of the wine being produced in the country.

Whilst quality improved, Italian wine production remains on a small scale compared to other countries. The growing regions are a fraction the size of regions in other countries, for example a top Barolo winery will produce 800 cases of wine per annum compared to 40,000 cases for an equivalent Medoc vineyard. As in France, the best vineyards have been growing grapes for several thousand years, mostly on limestone based soils in the foothills of mountain ranges, at altitudes between 300 and 600 metres, delivering wines of complexity and intensity.

Italian Wine Regions

Italy has a vast range of wine styles and regions. Tuscany and Veneto produce the majority of Italian fine wine, producing great Chianti's and Valpolicellas. But all over the country, there are small family run wineries producing increasingly interesting wines that rival the mass produced blended wines for the masses. A broad range of grapes are now beng grown, including the Cabernet's and Merlot's so beloved of the Super-Tuscans, along with Nebbiolos, Corvinas, Sangiovese, Primitivos, Verdicchios and Pinot Grigio which form the backbones of many famous Italian red wine, prosecco, or Italian white wine.

Best Italian Wine

Italy produces some excellent wines of great quality. The very best Italian wine still bears the famous names that we all recognise - Barolo, Chianti, Allegrini, Amarone and Valpolicella, as well as the new breed of Super Tuscans. At Corks Out within our "Italian wine shop" we have carefully selected some of the best examples of each of these styles of wine for you to taste. We hope you will enjoy our Italian wine list.