Imagine yourself walking around in the vineyard among the luxuriant vines on a warm June day. You can get a feeling for the rich vegetation and fauna while the winemaker explains about organic farming, biodiversity, or the sexual-confusion method to keep certain species of moths away from the vines.
Italian reds tend to be higher in acidity than American wines, which means that they’re more difficult to drink on their own but terrific with food.
Italy’s whites are food-friendly, too, particularly the aromatic, minerally wines of northern Italian regions such as Friuli and Alto Adige.
Where Will Your Next Bombshell Bottle Come From?
– Mantua, Lombardia
The territory of the mantuan province wedges itself in Veneto and in Emilia and it looks, beyond the common thought, various and interesting. You go therefore from the hilly north close to Lake Garda to the plains, whose abundance of water creates a pleasant river- and lake-landscape.
Thanks to its geographical position between north and south, but also between east and west our territory keeps big evidence of its glorious past.
Recommended:
Lebovitz – Rosso dei Concari Lambrusco DOP
-Gambellara, Veneto
Gambellara wine zone creates the border between Vicenza and Verona provinces.
In geological terms, the area is of volcanic origin, with basaltic soils conforming more or less to the form of earthy and friable tuffs, which offer natural fertility particularly favourable to vine-growing, and a high mineral content that gives the wine its extraordinary accents. The area where vineyards are currently cultivated extends for about thousand hectares of predominantly hilly area, most of which are in the so-called “classic” region, the oldest area of provenance.
Recommended:
Tenuta Natalina Grandi, Recioto Classico Riserva DOCG
– Appiano, Trentino-Alto Adige
Appiano with its surroundings is known as the “region of castles” and comprises the villages of San Michele, San Paolo, Cornaiano, Riva di Sotto, Frangarto, Missiano, Predonico and Gaido.
Vine-growing is the main source of income for farmers in Appiano, a fact that is also reflected by the landscape that is mainly characterised by vineyards and some fruit orchards. Appiano stretches at the slopes of the Mendola mountain ridge, partially on moraine hills of the last Ice Age. Archaeologic findings of the Bronze Age and the Middle Ages testify an early settlement of this area. It is presumed that the name of the village derives from a Roman squire named Appius. S. Paolo is one of his places of residence.
Recommended:
THOMAS NIEDERMAYR, “T.N. 04” Bronner
– Castelli Romani, Lazio
Located in the cooler hilly areas, the Castelli Romani area is very close to Rome, a mere 15 miles/25 km away! These wines, like the aforementioned Frascati DOCs are usually lighter and easy, made from blends of Malvasia (di Candia and del Lazio) and Trebbiano (Giallo and Toscano). The cooler temps, and volcanic soil tend to allow for higher quality wines, despite the often high amount of wine produced.
Recommended:
Castel de Paolis, Docg Frascati Superiore
– Valtellina, Lombardia
The Rhaetian side of the Valtellina is characterized not only by its famous terraced vineyards,but also by the presence of historical buildings, both civil and religious, of considerable artistic interest. The Valtellina vineyards have a southern exposure and were built by terracing the rocky side of the mountain with dry-stacked stone walls (without mortar); it is the presence of these rock walls, which create the small terraces where the vines grow, that multiply the contribution of solar heat.
Recommended:
Mamete Prevostini, “Corte di Cama” Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG
– Vibo Valentia, Calabria
Fundamental elements for the production of wine are as follows: the sun, the ground, the mild climate, the Poro plateau and a long autumn which refines grapes.
No other fruit plant needs more light and warmth than grapes. In summer their vine leaves use the warmth and transform it into sweet grapes.
The Poro plateau has those pedoclimatic characteristics which allow the production of a high quality wine deriving from vineyards treated by men with their culture and history.
The vineyards in the Poro plateau are few and mostly used to meet families’ requirements. However they produce excellent wines and even though they aren’t famous, they are able to face the difficult requirements of the market.
Recommended:
Cantine Benvenuto, Zibibbo
-Bertinoro, Emilia Romagna
Located a few kilometers from Via Emila, stands Bertinoro. Considered the “Balcony of Romagna” but not only, the town retains its medieval aspect, due to the presence of walls, towers and ancient houses. “City of Hospitality” par excellence, Bertinoro also has the recognition of City of Wine.
Bertinoro is a terrific land of ruby and gold; gold is the colour of its most typical wine Albana, but is also the colour of its vines in autumn. While ruby is the divine juice filling the glasses with hints of violet, that is to say, Sangiovese.
Recommended:
Tenuta Diavoletto, “A.mare” Sangiovese Superiore DOP
– Lipari, Sicilia
Growing vines since ancient times, the Aeolians (Sicily) were first made prosperous from Bronze Age maritime trade routes that stretched from Crete to Cornwall.
Malvasia delle lipari is one of the 70+ iterations of Malvasia, one of the oldest commercial grapes in the world, grown all over the Mediterranean since the Middle Ages because of its resistance to salty environments and its capacity to hold sweetness while maintaining acidity.
Recommended:
Hauner, Malvasia delle Lipari DOC
– Irpinia, Campania
It ‘a district of Campania, in southern Italy, located in the heart of the Southern Apennines, in an area full of hills and mountains. A strong rural vocation territory, inaccessible and isolated that, thanks to its location, it has retained over the years a strong production identity, becoming in many ways the wine capital of the region and one of the points of excellence of South Italy.
Recommended:
Villa Raina, Alimata
– Bari, Puglia
Bari, historic jewel in the far south-eastern corner of the ‘boot’ of Italy.
Many wine companies here now enlist the services of ‘flying winemakers’ from the New World to bring a new focus to their products. Fifteen years ago only a tiny percentage of Puglian wine was of DOC quality; that figure is now climbing steadily and new DOCs are being introduced.
Recommended:
Mazzone, Filotorto
Don’t miss the other 10 Unconventional Italian Wine Areas next month..
