Buy Italian Red Wines

Varieties of Italian wines to suit a broad range of palates

Italian Red Wines — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:08:28 +0000

Red wines from Italy come from a wide range of geography in its wine-growing regions, so it is no surprise that the country produces a variety of red wines to satisfy a broad range of palates.

Piedmont, a cool mountainous region (much like its namesake in the American Carolinas), makes wines noted for simplicity and crispness. The bright sunlight hills of Tuscany are dotting with richly colored architecture that appeal to the eye just as Tuscan wine appeals to the mouth: full-bodied and strong.

More than half the wine produced in Italy is red, but with all the varieties, a connoisseur can find exactly the right wine for any almost any occasion.

Amarone
This wine originates from the Veneto region near Venice via the “recioto” technique. This method requires the vintner to pick the “ears,” or “wide hanging” fruit on the outside of the bunch. These grapes get the most sunlight and develop more fully, which shows up in the wine as full-bodied taste that might lead one to believe the grapes came from a warmer region. After picking, the grapes are air-dried for three to four months into raisins with a stronger concentration of flavor. Up to one third of the grape’s mass is lost to evaporation. This drives up the alcohol content into the 15 to 16 percent range. Made mostly from Corvina grapes, Amarones age for at least for five years before being bottled. In some cases, oak barrels are used as the aging vessel. Amarone translates to “big, bitter one”, which is apt; the wine complex, lush, and has almost Port-like texture and powerful concentration that gives off hint of mocha. Hearty meats such as roast beef, pork, and strong cheeses pair will with Amarone.

Barolo
Some regard Barolo as the greatest of red wines. The wine strides forward boldly with a bawdy mix of powerful flavors – vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and tobacco that only improve with age. “The king of wines” to some, a Barolo is tannic in its youth and requires at least three years of aging. This softening tenure is required by Italian law. Barolo is best served with decanting. The wine originates from the Piedmont Langhe Hills region, and is comprised entirely of Nebbiolo variety grapes. Nebbiolo is a challenging grape to grow. Best results come from areas with clay, sand, and limestone, ideally on a sunny, south-facing hillside. Barolo goes well with meats, pastas, risottos, and cream-based dishes.

Chianti
Chianti once served as the opening act for wine bottles with long careers as candle holders in Italian restaurants. Those wines were often cheap and low quality. That was then; a good Chianti deserves its place in a well-stocked wine cellar. These Tuscan wines originate from the region around Florence as a government-controlled grade of product. All wine labeled Chianti must originate from the Chianti region. Chianti is produced primarily from Sangiovese grapes, with a splash of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon. Chianti more subtle a Cabernet Sauvignon and brings more elegance than a Zinfandels or Syrahs. Chainti is high in acid and carries notes of plum and wild cherry. Chianti and tomato-based sauces are a classic union, but Chianti also complements steak and other grilled meats.

Barbaresco
Barbaresco is similar to Barolo. Another wine that comes from Nebbiolo grapes, Barbaresco is softer and carries a touch more grace. Barbaresco volume is about half of the annual Barolo yield. Barbaresco can be consumed sooner than Barolos. Red meat and the rich cuisine of Piedmont pair well with it.

Bardolino
Bardolino is a light, fruity wine from the Veneto region. Named after the town of Bardolino on Lake Garda, it has faint cherry flavors and spice. Bardolino’s primary source is Corvina grapes. A dry, rose, sparkling wine called “chiaretto” is a secondary variety. Bardolino works best cold, and works well with seafood.

Brunello di Montalcino
Brunello di Montalcino “The nice dark one” comes from Montalcino, another Tuscan region. Brunello di Montalcino is made exclusively from Sangiovese grapes. Tuscany’s most expensive, rare, and longest-lived must be aged longer than any other wine – at least four years. Brunello carries hints of blackberry, black cherry, chocolate, and vanilla. This treat goes best with hearty dishes. Vino nobile di Montepulciano Another Sangiovese grape, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (Tuscany) is aged about two years (three in “riserva” version), using wood barrels. It is a full bodied wine, that goes well with many foods.

2004 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese Grosso

What are the major varieties of Italian red wine?

Italian Red Wines — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:36:26 +0000

ITALIAN WINES
‘Italian wines’ are believed to be the world’s most popular and oldest wines. Vineyards in the country started as early as Second century B.C, with the Etruscans and the Greek settlers were believed to be first to plant them. Nowadays wine making in Italy is done in modern wineries.

TYPES OF ITALIAN WINES
Generally Italian wines can be divided into two categories:
• Rosso (Red)
• Bianco (White)

TYPES OF RED WINE
The Italian red wines can be further sub divided into following categories:

SANGIOVESE
Sangiovese is derived from the Latin Sanguis Jovis or ‘the blood of love’. Sangiovese is the principal grape that is grown in the Tuscany region. These wines mainly composite cherry fruit, earth and cedar. Some of the wines produced using Sangiovese are Chianti Classico, Rosso di Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino, Rosso di Montepulciano etc.,

MONTEPULCIANO
This variety is mainly grown in the coastal areas of Abruzzo. These wines generally develop silky-plum like fruit with light tannin and friendly acidity. But these varieties are not grown in the town of Montepulciano.

CORVINA
This variety is mainly responsible for the production of famous wines like Valpolicella and Amarone. It has dark cherry fruit and spice aromas. These varieties may even take more than 40 years of age.

DOLCETTO
It grows along with Barbera and Nebbiolo. It means ‘The little sweet one’ and makes wines that are brightly colored and has aromas of plums and blackberries. It is suitable for everyday drinking.

NEBBIOLO
The name means ‘Little fog’ in English. Another idea is that the name comes from the Italian word ‘nobile’ which means noble. It is one of the more difficult wine varieties to master. The wines are known for their elegance and bouquet of wild mushroom, truffle, roses, and tar.

BARBERA
It is the third most-planted grape variety of Italy. The wine has bright cherry fruit aromas and is very dark in color with a food-friendly acidity.

NERO d’AVOLA
This variety is mostly unavailable in the international wine markets. This kind of wine is robust and is an inky wine and hence named as ‘the Barolo of the South’. This grape produces wines that have sweet-tannins along with flavors of pepper and plum.

NEGROAMARO
The name means ‘Black and Bitter’ in English. These types of varieties mainly consist of spicy, toasty, and full of dark red fruits and tend to be very rustic.

MALVASIA NERA
This variety is mainly from Piedmont. It is a Sweet and perfumed wine elaborated in the passito style.

AGLIANICO
It is mainly grown in Campania and Basilicata. They are generally thick skinned and spicy wines which are both rustic and powerful.

SAGRANTINO
These types of wines are very much limited. They are planted only in 250 hectares. Inky purple, with rustic brooding fruit and heavy tannins, these wines can age for many years.

SUPER TUSCANS
This term includes all of the Tuscan red wines that do not adhere to the Italian blending laws. They are generally prepared by mixing two or more varieties. The first ever Super Tuscan is called a Vigorello. They do not conform to the strict DOC(G) classifications.

These are the main types of red wine. Most of the red wines are not distributed to the world markets because locals consume the wines. So Wine tourism is conducted especially for wine lovers to taste all the varieties of red wine.

Italy has many major varieties of red wine

Take a wine tour to discover the best italian red wines?

Italian Red Wines — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 12:57:45 +0000

WINE TOURISM

Wine tourism refers to the movement of the people to the Wineries, vineyards and restaurants near the wine source for the consumption or tasting of the wine. Many wine regions around the world conduct wine tourism to attract the people. Some of the most important wine tour locations are Hunter Valley in Australia and Chateau de Malle located at Bordeaux, France.

WINE TRAVEL IN ITALY
Every region in Italy, right from the Veneto to Sardinia produces wine. Most of the Italian wines are consumed locally and are not easily found in the Overseas market.

There are many vacation farms found in Italy, known as “Agriturismi” which means ’staying’ in Italian. It is generally a farm house which provides staying facilities along with the information about the products grown.

Following are the main wine tourism places in Italy.

TUSCANY
Tuscany is mainly famous for its super Tuscan wines. A drive along the 14 “strade del vino” or the wine trails shows the different type of wine. Bike tours in this area are very much popular.

CAMPANIA
It is first here in the southern Italy that the wine cultivation started. Wines produced in this region is not popular in the overseas because most the Wine produced is consumed by the local people.

TURIN
It is very hard to believe that world’s best Red wine comes from one of the busiest region in Italy. Langhe district near the town of Alba is the core of the red wine. Renting a Vespa scooter from the district is enough to taste the best red wine in the world. Wine tourism is the best way to explore the red wines of Italy. Following reasons can be stated to justify it:

Most of the varieties of the red wines are not known to the visitors

Most of the wines are consumed by local people.

Only a few varieties of wines are available in the overseas market.

The wine tour is really a feast for wine lovers. For a change of the vacation spot, wine lovers can really take this tour to explore the best red wines from around the world.

What a great way to tour the wineries and vineyards of Italy!

What are the health benefits of drinking red wine?

Italian Red Wines — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:09:48 +0000

The initial research on the health benefits of drinking red wine is promising. Red wine has been shown to raise the HDL or good cholesterol as well as mitigate damage cause by high levels of LDL or bad cholesterol. Red wine also helps prevent the formation of clots, thereby protecting the heart and brain from potential heart attacks or strokes. Evidence for this conclusion comes in part from studies done in France, where diets are often higher in fat but the incidence of heart disease is lower than in other countries where high fat diets are common.

What’s the difference? Red wine. In France, red wine is consumed regularly with meals and that seems to be the key factor in the lowered rate of heart disease in that country. Red wine also contains antioxidants, one of which is resveratrol. In lab mice, resveratrol has been shown to protect the subjects from obesity and diabetes. Whether those benefits can be gained by humans drinking red wine is not yet proven.

Red wine contains more of these beneficial antioxidants than white wine because the grapes are fermented for a longer time, so if you wish to reap the potential rewards from ingesting resveratrol, stick with a nice red. What researchers do know is that in moderation, red wine does seem to provide people with heart healthy benefits.

For those who think that if one drink is good then five will be better, remember that over-consumption of alcohol can damage your heart and create the same types of problems – obesity, high cholesterol, heart disease – that red wine in moderation can prevent.

Drinking red wine has been proven to reduce the chance of strokes and heart attacks

What temperature should wine be kept (aged) at?

Italian Red Wines — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:25:44 +0000

Preserving the taste of your well-fermented grape wine is very essential. Wine, like any other consumable good, if left exposed to heat and other spoiling agents naturally deteriorates. Wine bottles are made dark with a purpose of keeping it sheltered from light. Thus, whether it be dry or sweet, to maintain the relative acidity experts suggest that wine is best stored at an optimal temperature of 13°C or 55°F. Of course this could fluctuate between 10-16°C or 50-50°F.

Preserving techniques, which have developed from thousands of years, now include wine rooms and wine refrigerators. Commonly city dwellers prefer to sink their beverage into their refrigerators until it’s really cool or ready for service. However, this is not optimal since the temperate at which it is served at effects its taste. Too much cooler than room temperature could make the wine taste dull and not mature, conversely warm wine could leave your mouth overpowered with alcohol.

Keeping wine at room temperature is also not fully advised, unless it is meant to be consumed shortly as you might end up with a strong alcoholic taste and less fruity flavored drink. Keeping wines in the basement or even closet, on the ground and away from the boiler or other electric appliances is mostly recommended in case of absence of a wine cellar.

General serving suggestions include pulling the wine out of the cooler usually an hour beforehand, allowing it to reach a good temperature before serving.

Ideal place for storing your red wine is a cellar.

How do I start an Italian Red Wine import business?

Italian Red Wines — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:28:07 +0000

Profitably importing alcohol of any kind is largely dependent on where you plan on importing to. Specific states and counties in the United States have different regulations regarding fees, amounts, and quality control of imported products. Check with local and state customs officials about any laws that may apply to your new import business.

Once you know the terms that apply you can start looking for a winery interested in importing through you. This may be an established brand that already has other distributors in the US or elsewhere, or it may be a growing vineyard that’s just starting to show interest in a world market. In either case they’re probably most interested in prospective buyers who can offer a constant rate of demand and good marketing.

Good marketing is one of the most important aspects of your job as an importer. You’ll have to communicate regularly with your Italian partners and the suppliers who’ll be distributing your wine. Your goal is to create a balance of price versus demand within your key demographic. Having too much product available will slow down demand and affect accumulation of product, having too little product available may frustrate buyers and cause them to seek alternative wines. Make sure that the winery you’re dealing with is equipped to handle a large increase in production should your import business be successful and demand increase.

Of course it’s important to already be familiar with the types and brands of Italian red wines already available in your area so you can properly set prices and find your market. You’ll need to know how your wine compares to others in the same price range as far as taste and quality are concerned. It’s important to keep dealings positive for everyone involved by following good business practices and both asking for and offering fair prices. If you feel confidant about your wine, ask a well-known expert for a critique. He may even publish the results and get you valuable exposure.

Choose the right vineyard

Where can I purchase Italian Red Wines?

Italian Red Wines — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:04:42 +0000

In the words of the Billie Joel song “a bottle of red…” finding a good Italian red wine can conjure up romantic evenings, wonderful food or maybe the company of good friends. Whether you are an occasional wine drinker or a budding oenophile (lover of wine), find a local wine purveyor that you like and trust. You will be able to describe the setting, the menu and the atmosphere you are trying to convey, and the expert on staff will be able to help you choose the perfect bottle to complement your evening.

Take the time to visit various wine shops in your area and ask questions. See if you feel comfortable with the staff, the surroundings, and the selection. Let the wine expert know that you are interested in Italian Red Wines and ask for some suggestions. Listen to the way they describe the wine. Do they use descriptive words like robust, fruity, full-bodied, or earthy, or do they just say “it goes great with pasta”? You want to find someone that can almost make you taste the wine without actually opening a bottle.

A good wine shop may also have at least one staff member that is working towards certification by the Court of Master Sommeliers. This designation will assure you that you are working with a professional establishment that values the education of its patrons over simple sales of wines.

By taking the time to investigate Italian Red Wines at various shops, you will discover a wonderful new relationship where you can count on the best advice and the best Italian Red Wine, which of course, translates into the best gathering every time you have guests.

Choose the perfect bottle to complement your evening.

Which are the healthiest Italian red wines?

Italian Red Wines — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:08:09 +0000

Some recent studies have shown the importance of red wine to our heart health. In fact, moderate amounts of red wine (one glass a day for women and two glasses per day for men) can prevent heart attacks from 30-50 %. Red wine can raise HDL cholesterol (the good kind) and lower LDL cholesterol (the bad kind).

Organic wines are especially healthy, as they are harvested without pesticides or fertilizers and they contain only half the amounts of sulfites as non-organic wine. Sulfites are a key contributor to the dreaded wine headache. When it comes to choosing an organic Italian wine, the possibilities are numerous. Casina di Cornia makes a nice, organic Chianti and Chianti reserve, starting at around $19. Barbera del Monferrato Nuova Cepelletta has obtained certification as a vegan and organic wine. The average retail price is around $15.

For those willing to splurge, Cupano Brunello di Montalcino is made from Sangiovese grapes and retails for just over $130. On the other end of the spectrum, for only $8 you can purchase a bottle of Italian Organic Rosso. This wine offers a rich cherry flavor with subtle hints of oak and spice. Terra Viva Merlot del Veneto is a medium-bodied merlot with fruity flavors. It is available for around $10.

On a final note, it has been revealed that wines made from the grapes of the Pinot Noir varieties have the highest levels of antioxidants. The Bodegas Chacra Pinot Noir is an excellent entry level wine from the Patagonia region of Italy. Finaly, Forteto della Luja Monferrato Rosso Le Greve is a nice blend of Pinot and Barbera.

Casina di Cornia produce a nice organic red wine

How to find the best Tuscan Italian Red Wines?

Italian Red Wines — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:23:25 +0000

The best Tuscan Italian Red Wines are found in Tuscany. The best way to sample Tuscan Italian Red Wines is to go to Italy and get off the beaten path. Stop at any small town in Tuscany enjoy the town as well as the wine.

At lunch, follow the locals to a trattoria. Once there order a litre or mezzolitre of their vino Roso de la Casa. Enjoy the wine with a good meal. If you chat up the owner and express your desire to try a good Tuscan Italian Red Wine. With much pride they will show you what they think are good wines and will recommend certain wineries and will likely arrange for you to visit that winery.

At the winery you will get a truly personalized taste of their Tuscan Italian Red Wines. In addition to tasting good wine and buying a bottle or two, you will have a memorable experience.

The second way to find the best Tuscan Italian Red Wines is to locate wineries that are in Tuscany and travel from winery to winery sampling their wines. I do caution you that you might want to sign up for a wine tour if you are doing this option. The Italian driving under influence (DUI) limits, are quite stringent.

There are maps available online for your review and there are companies that specialize in wine tours through Tuscany.

Italian red wines especially those in Tuscany are great. It is hard not to find good Italian red wines in Tuscany. I encourage you to eat and drink your way through Italy and experience the Italian lifestyle.

Looking at some vintage Italian red wine

Which are the most famous Italian Red Wines?

Italian Red Wines — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 23:30:52 +0000

There are a few famous Italian Red Wines as Italians are known for producing some of the best red wine around. It is very popular for them to drink it with every meal. Among the many wines they like to drink the most famous are probably Barolo, Amarone, Chianti, Aldo Conterno, Enzo Boglietti, Pio Cesare, Vietti, Elvio Cogno, Mascarello, Luciano Sandrone and Angelo Gaja. All of the above wines are very widely known because of their tastes. Some of the wines are a dry wine. A dry wine has a more of a burning feeling to it when you drink and is not drank all so commonly.

The other type of wine is what I call a fruity wine. Fruity wine tastes more sweet and is easier to drink because of this. Many people prefer sweeter red wine because it can be easily used to compliment desserts. Wine also has many other uses in the Italian culture. Many Italians use wine in almost all of their cooking dishes. It adds acid and balances some flavours out in the dish. The better the wine usually the better the dish will taste. Many people refuse to use expensive wine on cooking, though because it costs too much.

Pretty much, the most famous red wines are famous because of quality of ingredient. They use the best grapes on those wines offering a better taste. More so, the wines are aged for sometimes fifty years before being open and drank. The older the wine the better it tastes in most cases. Italian’s also have a very prominent position in the wine making community because they have been making wine for a very long time and have become very good at it.

A lot of wines can be considered famous, but the wines listed above are the most famous. Whether it is for their taste, cooking ability, or complimentary aspect to desserts. Everybody loves a good red Italian wine as the can know they will be in for a treat!

Which famous Italian Red Wine do you prefer

Buy Italian Red Wines

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