Italy Wine Tours

Italian Wine Tours with SmoothRed

Any visitor to Italy is almost certain to be wowed and wooed in equal measure by the heady combination of cultural attractions, rural and architectural beauty and of course the vast (and extremely tasty) array of wines and gastronomic delights on offer,

Italy is reputed to have around 2000 varieties of wine grapes. Officially there are 350 varieties that have been given “authorised” status by the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MIPAAF), though there are around 500 other varieties that have been documented.

The grapes are split into Bianco (white) and Rosso (red) and some of the more recognisable grape varieties include:

• Pinot Grigio (white): commercially very successful, known as Pinot Gris in France, this grape produces crisp, clean wines that can be anything from mild to full-bodied.
• Trebbiano (white): this variety is planted more widely than any of the other whites in Italy, though it is perhaps best known for the wines from Abruzzo and Lazio such as Frascati.
• Barbera (red): grown widely in the Piedmont region and also in some regions in Lombardy, wines from these grapes have grown in international popularity in recent years.
• Montepulciano (red): a grape variety that used to get something of a bad press as a result of some rather poor quality wines produced from it, the smooth-as-silk offerings of late have put such negativity to bed.
• Nebbiolo (red): the best Barolo and Barbaresco wines are produced from this grape in the Piedmont region, where the autumn fog-hugged vines spawned its name, which means “little fog”.
• Sangiovese (red): this is the grape behind such Italian classics as Chianti and Rosso di Montalcino and it also plays a significant role in the so-called Super Tuscans for which it is blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Just as the French authorities attempt to maintain standards of quality with their Appellation d’Origine Protégée system, so Italy has its own system of quality control, the top level of which is the Vini DOP (Wines with Protected Designation of Origin). This in turn is split into two sub-categories, Vini DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) and Vini DOCG (Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin); wines in the latter category must adhere to stricter protocols and analyses, including special tastings by an appointed committee of wine experts. At the time of writing there are 73 DOCG wines and 332 DOC wines.

The Key Italian Wine Regions 

Wine is produced all over Italy so essentially whichever part of the country you visit you will not be too far from a vineyard. Having said that, just as in France or Spain, some regions simply produce better wine. The 73 DOCG wines are split across 15 regions, but there is a concentration in the regions of Piedmont, Veneto, Tuscany and Lombardy. Of course, there are a plethora of exceptional wines produced in other regions too, for example as Puglia and Sicily. Here are some of the highlights from the wine regions in which we offer tours.

Piedmont

Home to some of the best-loved wines and most illustrious vineyards, the Piemonte wines produced in in this north-west corner of Italy include Barolo and Barbaresco, which have become synonymous with top quality Italian wine. Turin is the biggest city in the region and is brimming with museums and galleries. However, it is the breath-taking alpine vistas, mountains and lakes that attract many visitors to this area.

Sicily

The very mention of Sicily often evokes old mafia movies or images of an erupting Mount Etna. But this historically significant island, the largest in the Mediterranean Sea, has a long and illustrious heritage that spans the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Vandals, the Ostrogoths and the Byzantines, each of which left their marks on the culture, cuisine and wine of the island. Indeed viticulture itself was first introduced to Italy by the Mycenaean Greeks in Sicily and southern Italy around 800 BC.

Amalfi

The Amalfi coast is situated on the Sorrentine Peninsula in the Campania region of Italy and though it more likely to evoke thoughts of luxury yachts and colourful dwellings on steep hillsides than its wines, if the surface is scratched oenophiles will be pleasantly surprised.  The Costa d’Amalfi might have only recently been granted DOC status (in August 1995), but the wines produced in the villages of Furore, Ravello and Tramonti in particular have certainly forced wine lovers to take notice, both within Italy and beyond.

Prosecco

Prosecco is the party drink of choice for many, but the region from which this fine fizz hails has a lot to offer wine-loving visitors. As well as the most famous hillside vineyards of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, there are the culturally dense gems of Venice, Padua and Verona to explore. Throw in some of the best seafood specialities in Italy and the proximity of popular attractions such as Lake Garda and the Dolomites and a wine tour to the Prosecco-producing region of Veneto will be more than satisfying on many different levels.

Tuscany

For many visitors to Italy, Tuscany has it all: picture-perfect scenery with rolling hills of vineyards, some of the greatest concentrations of Renaissance art and architecture in Europe and gastronomic delights aplenty. Oh, and there are quite a few fantastic wines to be found there too! It is the third most planted region in Italy and is third in the list of producers of DOC and DOCG wines in the country as well. Whether you go on a Tuscan Tour in search of the much-vaunted Super Tuscans or you are seeking something more traditional such as wine made from the local grape varieties of Canaiolo or Mammolo, you will not be disappointed.