Perfect Pairings: Italian Wines for a Wedding Menu Trying to select the wines for your wedding but not sure how to pair them with your menu? Usually in Italy we start the aperitif when the newlyweds arrive at the banquet hall, and for this we suggest an Altemasi Brut Millesimato, with notes of apple, herb, and honey, served with canapaes of seafood and fresh mozzarella. Learning About Italian Wine Whether your goal is to become a capable wine connoisseur, or simply to better understand what kind of wines you like so you can select wines with confidence, to learn about wine is a worthwhile and valuable process. Italy is fortunate to have the most diverse wine selection of any country. This can be intimidating... A Land, a Castle, a Great Wine: The New Barolo Wine Museum Italy, being such an ancient and important hub of wine production, is made up of numerous appellations with fascinating histories. The family wine estates of Italy have long guarded the secrets of their success, though the mysteries held by the most famous appellations are starting to be made public through new museums...

Italian Wine Regions: Varietals and Territories Italy has a proud history in winemaking, going back to the Etruscans and Greeks settlers, who made wine there long before the Romans began developing their prolific vineyards. Add the extremes of climate and landscape from north to south, and within Italy's many regions there is truly a wine for every palate.Otellon'Ice Breaks the Taboo It’s a hot summer night and someone forgot to chill the wine. Can you just throw a piece of ice or two in the glass, pop open the bottle and drink? Sommeliers cringe at this watered-down destruction of the distinguished and carefully balanced aromas! But wait: an Italian winery has the perfect solution for this common problem... Alto Adige Wine Renaissance: Excellent Whites, Unusual Reds Alto Adige, also known by its German name Südtirol, is one of Italy’s most unique wine areas. In the past decades, the import and cultivation of various grapes, as well as a more refined use of the indigenous Gewürtztraminer varietal, has brought this province to the top in the world of white wines.

Excellent Lagrein-based red wines... Moscato d’Asti: An Italian Twist on a Popular Grape The ancient muscat grape can be found all over Italy, but its claim to fame is its use in the Piemonte region, where winemakers cultivate the Moscato Bianco varietal to make Asti spumante (sparkling) and Moscato d’Asti (still or lighty bubbly) DOCG wines. Being fairly sweet, Moscato is usually served with desserts, but... Italian Wine Books: Expand Your Horizonsbest wine schools in europe If you would like to learn about Italian wine, the best way is to embark on a three-pronged journey. best wine schools in europeYou should taste Italian wines, visit Italy, and of course you should read about Italian wine. cheap wine bar new york city

There are many fine books available on the subject of Italian wine, but these five title we selected for you are among the very best. Zinfandel’s Italian Cousin: Primitivo di Manduria from Apulia Dedicated fans of America’s Zinfandel get ready for a fling with Zin’s charming Italian cousin: Primitivo di Manduria DOC. While Zinfandel has grown to be an important American wine in recent decades, the Salento region of Puglia has been producing a bold, tannic purple wine from the same grape varietal since the 18th century...best wine under 200 An Introduction to Italian Wines by Victor Hazanbest online wine store in europe Unlike food, wine in Italy has dramatically transformed in the last 25 years. best wine without alcohol

The biggest change has been that Italians realized they could make very great wines only if they paid extraordinary attention to their vineyards. This altered the landscape of production and has sparked the revolution in Italian wine quality.We Americans are raised almost from birth with an intimate knowledge of our country’s various fast food selections. Even small details like the difference between a Wendy’s, McDonalds, and White Castle burger—square, $1, guaranteed stomachache, respectively—are ingrained in our cultural food knowledge.top 10 wine songsThat’s how Italians are with wine. best 7 bottle wine coolerA native Italian does not drink cocktails or beer or soda for dinner, he drinks wine—or so boasted my hosts on a recent trip to three-Michelin-star restaurant La Pergola, located at the top of the Rome Cavalieri Hotel.best place buy wine online australia

La Pergola’s chief sommelier Marco Reitano—who this year received the title of best sommelier from Italy’s gourmet guide Identità Golose—is an expert among experts. The La Pergola cellar is home to 3,000 labels—all of which has been tasted and then purchased either by his staff or Reitano himself. “Our selection has representation from each Italian region, representation from every type of Italian grape, and it’s also representative of world wines,” Reitano explains. We asked Reitano for the 10 best Italian wines, and we gave him a catch: They all had to be available for purchase in the United States either in a wine shop or by mail order. Here are his picks.Cà del Bosco Franciacorta Annamaria ClementiThis wine from Northern Italy is full-bodied with notes of citrus and a refreshing finish—perfect for an Italian-style special occasion dinner. “It’s often compared to the French Dom Perignon,” Reitano says.Pair with: Parma ham or spaghetti carbonaraBuy online: $65.19;

Villa Raiano Fiano di AvellinoItaly’s Campania region isn’t only famous for its gulfs and the gastronomic town of Naples. It’s also known for the strong-flavored white Fiano grape, which is grown almost exclusively in Southern Italy. “This 100% Fiano from the southern Campania region is dry, refreshing, and mineral, with apple and walnut flavors,” describes Reitano.Pair with: Mushroom risottoBuy online: $203.88 per case; Venica Ronco delle CimeClosely related to a sauvignon blanc, the Friulano grape is one of the oldest vines in Italy’s northern Fruili region. (It also goes by the name Sauvignonasse and Sauvignon Vert.) Dry and fruity with an herbal finish.Pair with: Sea bass carpaccio or sautéed clamsBuy online: $30.50; Pieropan Soave Classico La RoccaIf you’re browsing your local shop for a bottle on this list, look for this common label. “With exotic flavors and a rich body, this is among the most long-aging Italian white wines,” Reitano says. It’s pressed from 100% garganega grapes, local from the Veneto region.

Pair with: Grilled lobster or scallops saladBuy online: $42.22; Giacomo Conterno Barolo MonfortinoIt’s only appropriate that this wine from old vines is “probably the most long aging Italian red wine,” according to Reitano. Monfortino is a classic Barolo-style wine—designed to be aged in casks for many years and made with native Italian nebbiolo grapes. What’s the payoff of patience (and the hefty price tag)? A deep, mineral flavor with wildberry and spices.Pair with: White truffle ravioli or grilled lambBuy online: $399; Gaja Barbaresco“From the world-famous Gaja winery comes a classical bodied nebbiolo—rich and mineral, with a balsamic finish,” Reitano says. Translation: It’s a wine that’ll put hair on your chest.Pair with: Roasted duckBuy online: $95.49 per case; Zenato Amarone della ValpolicellaFor the classic wine and cheese pairing, offer up this traditional red. The cherry fruit and a spicy tobacco finish complement any strong Italian cheese like Parmesan or pecorino.

Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Poggio all’OroAs every beginning student of wine knows, every vintage has its own characteristics. So what’s a vintner to do when certain year’s weather doesn’t cooperate? They don’t sell it. That’s why you’ll only see this available in specific vintages—and why you can trust that any bottle will be of the highest quality. The taste: “Power and balance with a lot of fruit and soft tannins.”Pair with: T-bone steakBuy online: $109.99; Donnafugata Passito di Pantelleria Ben RyèIf you like sweet wines, try this sugar-rich red from the small island of Pantelleria in Sicily. “The wine has a dense body with lots of dry fruit flavors,” Reitano describes.Pair with: CannoliBuy online: $44.99; Incisa della Rocchetta SassicaiaReitano calls this Bordeaux-style blend from the coast of Tuscany “the king of Italian wines.” It’s known as a Super Tuscan wine—a Chianti-style wine that didn’t technically meet Italy’s strict regulations to be officially labelled as Chianti.Pair with: Baked pigeon, chicken, or game henBuy it: Available at specialty wine shops for around $80/bottle