Wine is among the leading Italian exports, and Italy is often associated with this very drink, made from fermented grapes. This is because a great many Italian wines are considered fine wines, and the native grape varieties are perfectly suited to the purpose.
The Italian climate is ideal for growing the grapes that are then turned into must and then wine. From north to south, wine is produced in practically every region, each with its own different styles.
Among the best loved are certainly Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Chianti, Merlot and Nero d’Avola (among reds), and Falanghina, Gewürztraminer and Fiano (among whites). Not forgetting other drinks derived from wine, such as passito, whose distinctive feature is that the grapes are slowly dried before being used.
Wine is mentioned in the Bible, which attributes its discovery to Noah. This already tells us that wine has been made since ancient times. It seems the drink was already in use in the Neolithic period, and was considered precious even before the ancient Romans appeared.
But it was during the Roman Empire that wine production began to grow enormously. The Romans turned it from an elite drink into an “everyday” one, always present at every banquet. With the fall of the Roman Empire, wine also went through a period of crisis, before flourishing again in the Middle Ages.
Today in Italy it is a fine habit to accompany lunch or dinner with a good glass of wine, red or white.
Italy has a huge variety of grape varieties, so the country produces wines of many different styles, the most important of which are:
The most important grape varieties and wines include:
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