Review by Bill Rohwer. With dozens of wine regions, hundreds of grape varieties, and several overlapping classification systems, Italian wine is not a subject for the faint of heart. The authors of Vino Italiano certainly have the credentials to write an authoritative account. Joseph Bastianich co-owns (with Mario Batali, who lived and cooked in Italy for some years) five Italian restaurants and an Italian wine shop in New York City, as well as owning two Italian wineries, one in Toscana, another in Friuli; David Lynch is the wine director at one of these restaurants and a prolific wine writer. Each has won a James Beard Award for achievement in the field of wine. Together they have produced the best reference book on Italian wine to come along since Burton Anderson's out-of-print The Wine Atlas of Italy. Vino Italiano has three broad sections: a brief, 20-page introduction to the history, regulations, and grape varieties of Italian wine; a region-by-region account of local wines and customs, including food;

and "The Data," a uniquely useful set five appendices including an annotated list of the 350 "authorized" grape varieties grown in Italy. There are also a useful bibliography and a brief index. Each of the 19 regional chapters (two of the 20 regions discussed are combined in a single chapter) opens with an engaging, evocative anecdote that recounts an authors' a personal experience. The following material surveys the major wines produced in the region, including commentary on recent winemaking history and developments, quantities produced, evaluations of the general quality of each type of wine made, and identification of the region's more important producers. Then comes a section of "Fast Facts" packed with information about the region, a list of the main varieties of grapes grown there, a designation of the top vintages from 1980-2004, advice about where to taste the region's wines, and recommendations for three specific bottles of each major wine type to use in your own comparative tastings.

The final section of each chapter offers a brief summary of the major foods and typical dishes of the region and presents a detailed recipe along with a recommended wine. (Recipes are attributed to either Lidia Bastianich—Joseph's mother—or Mario Batali.) Vino Italiano is one comprehensive book—so much so that you'll never make your way through it in a single sitting, and wouldn't want to. new age wine redStill, it reads very enjoyably, makes people and places come alive, provides enlightening commentary, and offers useful guidance for planning your wine tours of Italy or of your local wine shops.best value wine awards 2015 There are, naturally, some oddities. best place to buy wine cellar

The authors emphasize the regional specificity of all things Italian, but neglect to explore how the differences from area to area within each region can be equally dramatic. The identification of "Top Vintages" is sometimes at variance with other Italian publications, such as Vini d'Italia published by Gambero Rosso and Slow Food Editore—but then, what's more normal than differences among wine experts? what red wine do you chillThe identification of Edoardo Valentini as "Abruzzo's only real star among private vintners" ignores the international attention and the awards won by the wines of Gianni Masciarelli. buy wine online portugalOn the food front, you may come away with the mistaken impression that the black (summer) truffles of Umbria are very much like the white (autumn) truffles of Piemonte (p.238), or that the Alto Adige's speck is "smoked bacon" (pp. 79 and 94) rather than the region's famous version of smoked ham.best wine areas in usa

Even though there may be some devils in its details, the addition of this book has significantly upgraded the reference section of my Italian wine library. Joseph Bastianich and David Lynch, Vino Italiano: The Regional Wines of Italy, Clarkson Potter, 2005, $13.57 (paperback) After thirty-some years as a professor at UC Berkeley, Bill Rohwer and his wife, Carol, started in 2002 West Coast Fine Wines, a two- person firm that represents selected California wineries to many of the best restaurants and wine shops throughout Italy.best wine shops east london Previous Entry - Main - Next Entrybuy wine washington stateThe Italian Wine Scholar™ education program is an Italian wine course designed to provide committed students of wine with the most advanced and comprehensive specialization study program on Italian wine bar none!best red wine under 10 2012

It was created by native Italian, Maurizio Broggi, DWS, FWS with the support of the Italian wine DOC/G consortia.The Italian Wine Scholar™ study program mirrors the unparalleled level of depth, accuracy, detail and academic rigor offered by the acclaimed French Wine Scholar™ program. Like the French Wine Scholar program, the Italian Wine Scholar study and certification program also confers a post-nominal to wine professionals and enthusiasts who successfully pass the certification exams (Ex: John Smith, IWS). The Italian Wine Scholar course is composed of two separate units: Jeannie Cho Lee MW The program is designed to provide committed students of wine with all the tools necessary to successfully master the wines of Italy at a professional level.IWS candidates are both members of the wine trade and serious wine hobbyists seeking specialization and certification. In both instances, students should register for each unit separately. We highly recommend that students complete one unit before moving on to the next.

The units can be taken in any order. Register today for Unit 1 and be among the first Italian Wine Scholars! The Italian Wine Scholar™ curriculum as a distance-learning experience offers an interactive program that is put into a measurable, meaningful format designed for maximum content retention and ease of use. There are three main components to the distance learning program for each unit: NOW AVAILABLE AROUND THE GLOBE The Italian Wine Scholar™ program is offered by the Wine Scholar Guild's approved program provider network which now includes 50 wine schools in 20 countries and five continents. Each unit of the Italian Wine Scholar™ program is offered as a series of 4 to 8 wine classes with tutored tasting.Included in the registration with an approved program provider, is the complete study package (study manual, online program and in-class exam sit) Register now with your local wine school! While the sheer volume of information necessary to master Italian wine is extraordinary, we have broken down our course material and Italian wine regions into two manageable chunks:

UNIT 1: WINES OF NORTHERN ITALY UNIT 2: WINES OF CENTRAL & SOUTHERN ITALY There will be two separate study manuals and two separate exams. The Italian Wine Scholar™ credential/pin is based on the final composite score (Unit 1&2). This format makes it much easier to retain information and to pass the exam. Students register for each unit separately. The units can be taken in any order.FAQS: Why is advanced Italian Wine Study so complex? Modeled after the French Wine Scholar™ program, Italian Wine Scholar™ students will receive the same complete set of study materials… times two (one set for each Italian Unit)! STUDY MATERIALS  FOR EACH UNIT INCLUDES: PLUS: Access to live and recorded review webinars with Maurizio Broggi, Education Director for ItalyThis extensive list of study resources will empower students to learn and gain a profound working knowledge of the complex and diverse world of Italian wine. LEARN MORE: About the program roll-out schedule

THE ITALIAN WINE SCHOLAR STUDY MANUALS The Italian Wine Scholar manuals follow a regional approach with strong tie-ins to terroir.Each chapter is designed for maximum content retention and utilizes a systematic approach, allowing the student to compare and contrast each of the Italian wine regions.Manuals are current and discuss the most recent trends. They are printed in full-color, are rich in imagery and peppered with the iconic wine labels of each region.Every Italian wine DOC/G is discussed (vs. just mentioned) and triaged by need-to-know icons. Emphasis is given to the flavor and structure profiles of DOC/G wines A Foundation Unit provides an overview which pulls all of Italy and its wines into perspective. FAQs: What information is covered in the program/study manuals? Individuals who follow this in-depth Italian wine education program and pass the exam, earn the Italian Wine Scholar post-nominal which may be incorporated into a professional signature (e.g. John Smith, IWS).

The exam for each unit is composed of 100 multiple-choice questions. Candidates need a composite score of 75% to receive the credential, i.e. the scores from both exams are added together and averaged for final assessment.Students with a composite score of 85-90 pass with HONORS. Candidates scoring 91-100 pass with HIGHEST HONORS.LEARN MORE: About the exam Why study Italian wine with us? The Italian Wine Scholar program is a great resource and supplement for students of wine moving toward advanced general wine study programs such as WSET Diploma (level 4), Master of Wine, Court of Master Sommeliers’ Advanced Sommelier (level 3 and up) or Society of Wine Educator’s Certified Wine Educator (CWE). Many of these programs ask their students to do extensive independent research in order to study for their exam. To this end, the Italian Wine Scholar program serves as an advanced and comprehensive study supplement to help them master the complex wines of Italy. While not a pre-requisite, we recommend that students have successfully completed, at a minimum, one of the following programs before enrolling in the Italian Wine Scholar program: WSET level 2, Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) or Court of Master Sommelier’s Introductory Sommelier Certificate (Level 1).

Although an Old World country, Italy is younger than the United States. Unification of the Italian peninsula occurred in 1861. In the centuries prior to Italian unification, Italy was divided into a plethora of small kingdoms and city-states. Each of these political entities shaped the history, people and culture of their region; for this reason, studying Italy is akin to studying the wine production of 20 different countries--each one with its own grapes, wines, food and traditions. The manuals structure the study of each of Italy’s 20 distinct wine regions in the following manner: The era of self-professed wine experts is long over. Certification is resume-building, validates competency and serves as a point of distinction midst trade and peers alike. Read this page to learn more about the exam Sign up to receive updates about the launch of our Italian wine program: Master-Level Programs as well as Study Abroad Trips comparable to those offered for France are on the way!