In recent weeks, I have been praising Spain as a source of good value but this week I want to focus on Italy.Italy is one of the most difficult wine producing countries to get a handle on, even for experienced wine drinkers. There are just too many unfamiliar grape varieties, wine regions and styles of wine, particularly to anyone who began their wine journey in Chile or Australia. In famous regions such as Tuscany or Piedmont, the grape variety is often not on the label (just as in France), and in regions where the grape is mentioned, it is rarely one that is familiar. The main grape in Valpolicella and Amarone, for example, is Corvina, a grape few people have heard of or seen on a bottle. The great Nebbiolo grape of Piedmont is also rarely seen on a label despite many (including myself) proclaiming it to be Italy’s best red grape. As our tax increased in recent years, Southern Italy became a good hunting ground for inexpensive red wine, but you can also find good value throughout Italy if you keep an eye out and are willing to try the unfamiliar.

SuperValu have an Italian wine sale which is running until April 29 which will give you a chance to explore inexpensive regional wines but also a few classics. One extra recommendation that I didn’t have room for below is the excellent Zaccagnini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo for €15 — this wine is better known by its nickname “Twiggy” due to the piece of vine that is tied to each bottle. The first Dublin Wine Festival runs from April 20–25 with more than 30 participating wine bars and restaurants and is worth checking out if you are planning a trip to Dublin next week. There are discounts, competitions, wine tastings and food and wine pairing deals. The Whitefriar Grill on Aungier Street for example is offering guests a chance to win 10% off your bill (up to 100%) for every wine trivia question you get correct. Intrigo Negroamaro 2014, Puglia, Italy — €9 Negroamaro is found mainly in Puglia (it is the main grape in Salice Salentino) and is almost always worth a look.

Despite being under €10, this packs quite a fruity punch with sweet blackberry and touches of coffee on the nose and lots of juicy fruit on the palate. Santoro Primitivo Puglia IGP 2012 , Italy — €11.99 Stockists: Ardkeen Stores Waterford, Kellers Carry Out Roscrea and Nenagh, Vintry Rathgar, Independents Smoky cherries and red fruit aromas with a light red currant and plum influenced palate and a bitter cherry tang on the finish. Very clean and fresh and tastes more than its low price. Serve with rustic Italian food that needs a lift. Sartori Valpolicella Ripasso 2012, Veneto, Italy — €10 Ripasso Valpolicella is left on the lees (spent yeast cells and other particles) of Amarone for a time to pick up extra flavour and complexity. This has ripe bitter-sweet cherry aromas and flavours and is made in a relatively luscious style given the price. Ammasso, Terre Siciliane 2012, Italy — €15 This blend of Nero d’Avola, Nerello Mascalese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from North West Sicily is new to the SuperValu range and a bit of a find.

Made from partially dried grapes, this has aromas of blackcurrant and liquorice and is jam-packed with rich sweet black fruit. Ricossa Barolo 2012, Piedmont, Italy — €15 Barolo is arguably Italy’s greatest red wine region and can produce wines of extraordinary power and finesse. Don’t expect anything extraordinary for €15 but this is nevertheless a lovely glass of wine, with perfumed red fruit aromas and flavours, fine structure and balance and good length. best red wine for drinking without foodTry with some spring lamb. best quality red wine brands in india with priceSopra Sasso Amarone della Valpolicella 2010, Veneto, Italy — €20glass of wine on the beach

Amarone is a Valpolicella made with dried grapes and at their best are exotic, opulent wines with prices to match. This is new to the SuperValu range and is almost as rich as some of the high-end versions, providing solid aromas and flavours of raisins and figs and good balance and complexity.Italian wine sales grow by 5% in 2015 8th April, 2016 by Neal Baker Strengthened exports, growing demand for sparkling wines and a buoyant domestic market have been thanked for a 4.8% sales boost for Italian wine.top wine shop london Exports of Italian still wine grew by 6.5%, and sparkling wine, or spumanti, grew 10% on 2014, according to a survey of the country’s largest producers.best common wine brands Resilience in the domestic market saw Italian’s buying 3.1% more of their own wines in 2015.buy sell fine wine

The North American market for Italian wine showed impressive growth of 13.3%, with the world’s largest wine market now accounting for 34% of exports from Italy, the world’s largest wine producer. However, exports to Asia reduced significantly in 2015, down 10%. The region now accounts for just 3.9% of non-domestic sales, the research from Mediobanca found. The net worth of the 87 Italian wine-makers which are limited companies amounted to some €2.4 billion, the Italian investment bank found. Based on the stock market multiples of the companies which are listed on international markets, their market value may be estimated at around €3.3 billion. Cantine Riunite-GIV confirmed its position as the leading Italian group in 2015, with turnover of €547 million – up 2.7% year-on-year. Co-operative group Caviro from Emilia Romagne remained in second position with sales of €300m, despite a 4.4% loss, while Antinori’s growth story continued, with revenues up 8.7% taking it into third position (with €202m).