Italy is not only one of the most important wine-growing countries in the world, but also one of the oldest in Europe. viniculture and winemaking spread throughout Western and Central Europe, it was the Römer who developed the wine trade into a profitable branch of the economy.
The port city of Pompeii rose to become the most important wine-trading metropolis of antiquity, but the destruction of the city by the volcanic eruption of 79 AD encouraged the emergence of regional wine centres throughout the empire.
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After the decline of the Roman Empire, there was a reorientation in Italy. Viticulture and wine production lost their status as a lucrative economic sector, and wines from France, particularly Bordeaux and Burgundy, were highly regarded. It wasn't until the 19th century that a resurgence began to appear in Piedmont and Tuscany. Following the French example, wine types such as Barolo, Brunello, and Chianti were developed, which would be counted among the most popular and best wines in the world a century and a half later. In the last 20 years, a radical change has occurred in all aspects of Italian winemaking. Carefree attitudes are a thing of the past; instead, seriousness and an intense focus on international trends and tastes have taken hold. In recent decades, the government has done much to bring order to the multitude of Italian wines. In 1992, a new law was introduced that reorganised the entire classification system.
Amarone - flavourful Italian wine made from dried grapes.
Azienda Agricola -Italian term for a winery that produces wine exclusively from its own grapes.
Classico - precisely defined geographical areas in Italy from which the grapes with this designation must originate.
DOCG - Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita - The highest class represents a 'super class' of the DOC. (Albana die Romagna, Barolo, Barbaresco, Brachetto d’Aqui, Brunello di Montalcino, Carmignano, Chianti, Chianti Classico, Franciacorta, Gatti-nara, Gheme, Montefalco Sagrantino, Asti / Asti Spumante, Moscato d’Asti, Recioto di Soave, Taurasi, Torgiano Rosso Riserva, Valtellina Superiore, Vermentino di Gallura, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano).
DOC - Denominazione di Origine Controllata - The next lower class regulates the yield, the permitted grape varieties, the winemaking, the storage and the geographical origin. As in France, quality is regulated only indirectly. 220 areas with DOC classification produce more than 800 different wines.
Frizzante - Italian sparkling wine.
IGT - Indicazioni Geografiche Tipiche - Since 1992, a new class has been established between DOC and Vino da Tavola. The wines may come from a larger geographical area than DOC wines, but must meet higher quality requirements than Vini da Tavola.
Novello - Italian wines that come onto the market shortly after the harvest (like Primeur in France).
Passito - Italian specialty, wines made from dried grapes (e.g. Amarone).
PH value - measure of the acidity of a wine; the lower the PH value, the more acidic the wine tastes.
Phylloxera - Black rot, the most dangerous enemy of the vine, affects the roots.
Polyphenole/ Phenole - a chemical component in wine that is found in the colour pigments, tannins and flavouring substances; it is said to have a positive effect on the body.
Riserva - Italian quality level, red wines must be aged for at least 2-4 years, including up to 12 months in barrel; the regulations vary slightly in the DOC areas.
Tenuta - Italian term for vineyard.
Vin Santo - dessert wine from Tuscany made from dried grapes.
Vino da Tavola - table wine. The lowest class for the simplest wines, but also for wines made from locally unapproved grape varieties. Some of the leading and most expensive of these wines (e.g. Tignanello) are based on Cabernet Sauvignon as the main grape variety. If this variety is not approved in the local DOC class, the wine automatically becomes a Vino da Tavola.
