Italy’s extraordinary vinous diversity can be as overwhelming as it is exciting. These five classic grape varieties are an excellent place to start your vinous adventure, being behind many of the country’s most famous wine styles Glera: Glera is the dominant grape behind Britain’s favourite sparkling wine: Prosecco. Up until 2009, its name was synonymous with […]

Italy has over 800 indigenous grapes. Escape a Pinot Grigio rut with one of these lesser-known varieties Vermentino You might know Vermentino, but it’s worth keeping an eye out for it under its pseudonyms, Favorita and Pigato. The aromatic white grape’s origins are much debated. Some believe its name derives from vermene, a Piedmontese word […]

A new generation of winemakers has transformed Sicily’s reputation, proving the potential of the island’s extraordinary terroir. Here our Buyer for the region, Katherine Dart MW explains why Sicily – and Mount Etna in particular – is worthy of your attention In winemaking terms, Etna is developing a reputation for fresh, defined, age-worthy wines; for […]

Tuscany and Piedmont may produce Italy’s most famous bottles, but they aren’t the only areas creating serious reds. Here, Chris Pollington highlights just a few of the other Italian regions making age-worthy wines Over the last 10 years, there has been a gradual, but undeniable, increase in the interest in Italian wines, to the point […]