| Fine wine often brings to mind images of French | | | | The Northeast region is home to two of Italy's |
| rolling hills and elegant dinners; however, Italy's | | | | wine schools, and generates about a third of the |
| twenty regions bring to the pallet an array of fine | | | | country's DOC wines. The three regions create |
| wines for your dining pleasure. | | | | about a fifth of Italy's total wine production. |
| Italian wine making enjoys tradition rich in both | | | | Veneto, one of the regions, now produces the |
| modern and rustic methods, although much of the | | | | most wine of any region in the country. |
| country's wineries now employ scientific and | | | | Central Italy, comprised of six regions, accounts |
| technological tools to create quality wines. The | | | | for about twenty percent of both wine production |
| country's wines are made primarily from two | | | | and DOC wines. The tradition of wine making in |
| types of grapes, Nebbiolo and Sangiovese. The | | | | this region has often been traditional, the region is |
| Nebbiolo grapes are used in the northwester part | | | | moving toward more contemporary wine making |
| of the country, creating the red wines Barolo and | | | | methods, and the overall quality has improved. |
| Barbaresco. The Sangiovese grapes create one of | | | | Some wine experts believe that this region will |
| the better-known Italian wines, Chianti, and are | | | | continue to make great strides in wine making, so |
| native to the central Tuscany and Umbria regions. | | | | for those who love red wine, this is an area |
| Italy's wines are divided into four categories based | | | | worth watching. Tuscany creates the well-known |
| on origin, quality, and purity. When shopping for a | | | | Chianti wine, as well as a variety of other |
| fine Italian wine, look for those with the | | | | Tuscan reds. |
| designation of "Denominazione di Origine | | | | The Southern region, which includes the islands, is |
| Controllata e Garantita D.O.C.G.," which is awarded | | | | comprised of six regions. These regions produce |
| to wines with a solid reputation. This designation | | | | about forty percent of the total production, but |
| considers region, production yields, and a DOC of | | | | only about fourteen percent of DOC and DOCG |
| at least five years. DOC indicates the origins of a | | | | wines. The region is focusing on overall quality, and |
| wine, the type of grapes used in making the wine, | | | | this, too, is a region worth watching. For those |
| and the methods of production. DOCG is a | | | | interested in consistent quality wines, many of the |
| designation following stricter guidelines than the | | | | region's production offer just that. |
| DOC, which includes a guarantee of origin. | | | | For those new to Italian wine or wanting additional |
| The five regions of the Northwest produce over | | | | information, there is an abundance of sources. An |
| a quarter of the country's DOC wines, but only | | | | importer specializing in Italian wine is one of the |
| about twenty percent of the country's total wine | | | | best sources for information on fine Italian wines, |
| production. This, then, is a good place to begin | | | | and can provide suggestions based on your |
| when shopping for Italian wine, as many wine | | | | individual preferences. You can also do your own |
| sellers group Italian wine by the region, whether in | | | | research and wine tasting based on your style |
| general terms, such as Northwest, or by specific | | | | and preference. As with many things Italian, the |
| region, such as Piedmont. The Piedmont region | | | | wines are among the finer indulgences. |
| creates a number of DOC and DOCG wines. | | | | |