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The Best Italian Wines

The best Italian wines are made from varietals like Chianti from Sangiovese grapes or Barbaresco from Nebbiolo grapes. The Super Tuscan wines, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Verdicchio are also popular.

Italy is one of the largest wine producing countries in the world, and as such there is a long list of the best Italian wines. You'll find great wines coming from many different grapes and being produced in various Italian wine regions. There are many different options for you to choose between. A great place to start is by learning some of the most famous varietals for best Italian wines and then learning some of basic information on the various Italian wine regions.

Famous Varietals of the Best Italian Wines

There are many famous varietals of the best Italian wines. The most famous of all is Chianti, and Chianti Classico. This wine is produced primarily from Sangiovese grapes. Another famous varietal of red Italian wine is Barbaresco, which is produced from the Nebbiolo grape. Also made from the Nebbiolo grape is the even more revered Barolo red wine.

Is this all that Italy has to offer? Of course not! There is a near infinite array of different wines and grapes used to produce them. Additionally, while the DOCG classification system donates the highest grade wines produced within specific regulations and guidelines, outside of these rigid rules there are many fabulous finds as well. For example, Super Tuscans are not made within the bounds of DOCG but are well known for being of the highest quality, carrying a price tag to match.

Most people associate the best Italian wines as being reds, however there is also a great selection of Italian white wine. Chardonnay is produced in Italy and is known to be fruity and crisp. Pinot Grigio is probably the most famous of the Italian whites, and the dry Verdicchio is also very popular.

Italian Wine Regions

Knowing some basic information about the Italian wine regions will help you sort through all of your wine choices much easier. To begin with, there are 20 main regions within Italy. The 20 different regions are divided into four basic groups.

  • Northwest: Five regions are found here, including the Piedmont, Aosta Valley, Lombardy, Liguria and Emilia-Romagna.

  • Northeast: Home to three Italian wine regions, the Northeast includes Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

  • Central Italy: The most famous grouping, there are six regions in Central Italy. This includes Umbria, Marches, Abruzzi, Molise, Latium and the most famous of all Italian wine regions, Tuscany.

  • Southern Italy: The final six regions are found here, including the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, as well as mainland Calabria, Basilcata, Campania and Apulia.

The bottom line is that the best Italian wines can change from one person's opinion to the next, and that's the great thing about wine. No matter what the experts say or no matter what anybody else thinks, nobody can tell you that your preferences or tastes are wrong. Dive into all of the above Italian wine regions and find producers that match what you are looking for. You'll easily be able to find something that both tastes great and allows you to indulge by fitting into your price range.

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