Italy
Everything you need to know about the
grapes, wines, and wineries of Italy.
Italian varieties range from table wines to collectable reds that age
well. A wide variety of white wines are also found all over Italy. Within the
official zones (DOC) more than 900 types of wine are produced. Wines from
"Guaranteed Zones" (DOCG) include Barbaresco, Barolo, Brunello di
Montalcino, Chianti (in seven subzones), Vino Nobile di
Montepulciano, Chianti (in seven subzones), Vino Nobile di
Montepulciano, Albana di Romagna, Gattinara, Carmignano (red only) and Torgiano Rosso
"riserva". |
|
France
Everything you need to know about the
grapes, wines, and wineries of France.
French wines lead the world in quality. The area adjacent to the port of Bordeaux is the home of the widely planted "noble" vine, the Cabernet Sauvignon, which, with other related varieties, principally Cabernet Franc and Merlot
produces famous red wine.
Burgundy is a smaller region but produces many famous wines from two related grape varieties: Pinot Noir for reds and Chardonnay for whites. The best reds come from the Côte
d'Or.
The Rhône valley produces excellent full-bodied reds such as
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côte Rotie, and Hermitage.
The Champagne region in northern France produces indisputably the best sparkling wine in the world.
Other good sparkling wines are produced in the Loire, Burgundy, and Savoie. |
|
Other Europe
Everything you need to know about the grapes, wines,
and wineries of Europe:
You could roughly separate the regions of Spain into: North, Central, Mediterranean, South, and the
islands
The north encompasses the green valleys, ancient monasteries, dolmens and bagpipes of Galicia; the lovely Cider producing area of Asturias, with its quaint fishing villages; the ancient cave paintings and elegant coastal resort towns of
Cantabria; Gourmet Basque country, including the two important cities of San Sebastian and
Bilbao; picturesque Navarra, famed for its Rosado wines and exciting experimenting with French varietals for the reds; and of course the world famous wine producing area of La
Rioja. La Rioja is spiritually part of the Basque country, but is its own autonomous region, politically. The wines are usually red, full bodied and aged in American and French oak barrels, giving the wines distinct nuances like vanilla, cedar and tobacco.
Most wine enthusiasts associate Portugal with port and Madeira wines.
Portugal has 13 well delimited wine producing regions, the most famous of which are:
Port (Oporto), Rios do Minho, Dao, Bairrada, Estremadure, Ribatejo, Alentejo, Madeira and
Setubal. There is only one authentic port wine originating in the Douro Valley of northern Portugal.
All wine production in Spain is well controlled by law, which distinguishes four categories: Vinho de Mesa (table wine), Vinho regional (regional wine), Indicacao de provenienca Reglamentada
(PPR - wine of controlled origin) and Denominacao de Origem Controlada (DOC - appellation
controllee). The last category is considered to be the best.
Germany produces the loveliest, lightest, most delicate white wines in the world.
Low in alcohol and exquisitely balanced, they are wines of charm and subtle nuances.
The wines grown in Germany are extremely diverse, although they bear a family
resemblance and include most notably, the Riesling. German red wines are refreshing, often light, and show more of a fruity than tannic acidity. They are a specialty, usually consumed where they are grown — little is exported.
|
|
|
