Wrap your heads around this – Italy’s National Registry of Grapes boasts 461 official grape varieties, of which 377 are genetically different Native grapes. According to ISTAT in 2010, there are 625,000 hectares under vine in Italy. So where should one initiate their journey to explore this dizzying array of diversity and heritage?
Luckily for us common folks, Veronafiere together with Wine Spectator and VinItaly hosted their annual soiree Opera Wines at the historic Palazzo della Gran Guardia in Verona, Italy on April 8th. And we had front row seats for this exclusive event showcasing the finest Italian wines and a chance to hob-nob with iconic producers we only manage to read and drool over in publications.
The most momentous surprise and treat perhaps was an impromptu private concert by the legendary artist Sting singing his infamous song “Message in the Bottle”. Whose wine Sister Moon 2011 from their wine estate Il Palagio was a newcomer on this year’s 100 Great Producers.
So be it Italy’s oldest cultivar Fiano di Avellino from Terredora; sparkling bubbles from Glera by Bisol or international varities Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Nero boasting classic method champagne, Ferrari and Ca’del Bosco; steely and mineral-driven Garganega producing Soave, Pieropan and Grazino; dramatic yet sensual Amarone from Bertani, Allegirini, Zenato, Tomassi; majestic Nebbiolos of Barolo and Barberesco from Gaja, Scavino Paolo, Bruno Giacosa, Guiseppe Mascarello, Massolino, and my personal favorite Elvio Cogno; rich Sfursat made with air-dried Nebbiolo by Nino Negri; Sangiovese – one of the greatest red grapes of Italy, producing the romantic Chianti from Marchesi Antinori or Tuscany’s most revered wine Brunello di Montalcino from Biondi-Santi, Altesino; avant-garde Super Tuscan from Ornellaia, San Guido, Le Macchiole; cerebral complexity of Aglianico from Re Manfredi , Mastroberardino, and San Gregorio; red fruit driven Gaglioppo by Ippolito 1845; Italy’s most tannic grape Sagrantino by Arnaldo Capari; jack of all trades Montepulciano by Masciarelli; Sicily’s hottest red grape Nerello Mascalese by Tascha d’Almerita; plush Primitivo by Gianfranco Fino; intensely perfumed Aleatico sweet wine by Masseri Livelli; or luscious Zibbibo (Moscato di Alessandria) made in the volcanic island of Pantelleria by the graceful Donnafugato, Opera Wine showcased the breadth and diversity of Italian wines with each wine expressing unique site-specific terroir. A tasting any wine aficionado would have been proud to attend.
Italy’s mountainous terrain (40%) Apennine Mountains covering the western portion and Alps up north, proximity to four seas (Adriatic, Ligurian, Mediterranean, & Tyrrhenian), create uniquely different microclimates that fiercely influences the character of Italian wines. Coupled with presence of varied soils including volcanic origin. Italy is the ideal backdrop for an exhaustive list of indigenous and International grapes. Producing world-class wines in all price brackets.
I present to you the 100 Great producers of Italian Wine 2016 from the sun-drenched land of vines:
- CASTELLO D’ALBOLA Chianti Classico Riserva 2010
- ALLEGRINI Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2010
- ALTESINO Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli 2010
- CASTELLO DI AMA Toscana L’Apparita 2008
- D’ANGELO Aglianico del Vulture 2012
- ANSELMET Chardonnay Valle d’Aosta Élevé en Fût de Chêne 2013
- ANTINORI Chianti Classico Badia a Passignano Riserva 2007
- ARGIOLAS Isola dei Nuraghi Turriga 2010
- AVIGNONESI Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Grandi Annate 2011
- CASTELLO BANFI Brunello di Montalcino Poggio alle Mura Riserva 2008
- BELLAVISTA Extra Brut Franciacorta Gran Cuvée Pas Operé 2005
- BELLENDA Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore S.C. 1931 2006
- BERTANI Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Capitel Monte Olmi 1964
- BINOMIO Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2010
- BIONDI-SANTI Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Greppo 2008
- BRAIDA DI GIACOMO BOLOGNA Barbera d’Asti Bricco dell’Uccellone 2010
- CA’ DEL BOSCO Franciacorta Cuvée Annamaria Clementi Riserva 2005
- ARNALDO CAPRAI Montefalco Sagrantino 25 Anni 2010
- CARPINETO Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2007
- CASANOVA DI NERI Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto 2008
- CASTELLARE DI CASTELLINA Toscana I Sodi di San Niccolò 2011
- CAVALLOTTO Barolo Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe Riserva 2008
- CERETTO Barolo Bricco Rocche 2005
- CESARI Amarone della Valpolicella Bosan 2000
- ELVIO COGNO Barolo Ravera 2006
- ALDO CONTERNO Barolo Romirasco 2005
- CUSUMANO Sicilia Sàgana Tenuta San Giacomo 2011
- DAMILANO Barolo Cannubi 2011
- DESIDERIO BISOL & FIGLI Dry Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze 2014
- DETTORI Romangia Red 2011
- DONNAFUGATA Passito di Pantelleria Ben Ryé 2010
- DREI DONÀ Sangiovese di Romagna Superiore Pruno Riserva 2008
- FALESCO Lazio Montiano 2011
- FALLETTO DI BRUNO GIACOSA Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto Riserva 2007
- LIVIO FELLUGA Colli Orientali del Friuli Terre Alte 2008
- MARCO FELLUGA Collio Russiz Superiore Col Disôre 2003
- FATTORIA DI FELSINA Toscana Fontalloro 2011
- FERRARI Extra Brut Trento Riserva Lunelli 2006
- FEUDI DI SAN GREGORIO Irpinia Serpico 1999
- GIANFRANCO FINO Primitivo di Manduria Es 2012
- FONTERUTOLI Toscana Siepi 2006
- FONTODI Colli della Toscana Centrale Flaccianello 2007
- MARCHESI DE’ FRESCOBALDI Chianti Rufina Nipozzano Vecchie Viti Riserva 2012
- GAJA Langhe Sperss 2011
- FATTORIA GALARDI Roccamonfina Terra di Lavoro 2011
- BIBI GRAETZ Toscana Colore 2008
- J. HOFSTÄTTER Gewürztraminer Alto Adige Kolbenhof 2013
- VINCENZO IPPOLITO Cirò Ripe del Falco Riserva 2001
- JERMANN Venezia-Giulia Dreams 2012
- LIBRANDI Val di Neto Gravello 2012
- LINI ORESTE & FIGLI Vino Spumante Metodo Classico In Correggio 910 Rosso 2004
- CANTINE LUNAE BOSONI Vermentino Colli di Luni-Liguria Black Label 2014
- LUNGAROTTI Torgiano Rubesco Vigna Monticchio Riserva 1977
- LE MACCHIOLE Toscana Paleo Red 2008
- DI MAJO NORANTE Molise Don Luigi Riserva 2012
- GIUSEPPE MASCARELLO & FIGLIO Barolo Monprivato 2001
- MASCIARELLI Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Villa Gemma 2008
- MASI Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Mazzano 2007
- MASSERIA LI VELI Aleatico Salento Passito 2008
- MASSOLINO Barolo Vigna Rionda Riserva 2005
- MASTROBERARDINO Taurasi Radici Riserva 2006
- MASTROJANNI Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto 2007
- MEDICI ERMETE Lambrusco Secco Reggiano Arte e Concerto 2013
- MIRAFIORE Barolo Lazzarito 2008
- NINO NEGRI Valtellina Sfursat 5 Stelle 2005
- NOZZOLE Toscana Il Pareto 2010
- ODOARDI Calabria GB 2013
- TENUTA DELL’ORNELLAIA Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia 2002
- SIRO PACENTI Brunello di Montalcino 2007
- IL PALAGIO Toscana Sister Moon 2011
- PETROLO Val d’Arno di Sopra Bòggina 2012
- LEONILDO PIEROPAN Soave Classico La Rocca 2011
- PLANETA Noto Santa Cecilia 2011
- IL POGGIONE Brunello di Montalcino 2007
- PRÀ Soave Classico Monte Grande 2011
- AGRICOLA PUNICA Isola dei Nuraghi Barrua 2012
- RENATO RATTI Barolo Rocche 2004
- BARONE RICASOLI Chianti Classico Castello di Brolio 2006
- SAN FELICE Toscana Vigorello 2011
- TENUTA SAN GUIDO Bolgheri-Sassicaia Sassicaia 2012
- LUCIANO SANDRONE Barolo Le Vigne 2006
- PAOLO SCAVINO Barolo Bric dël Fiasc 2006
- SCHOLA SARMENTI Nardò Nerìo Riserva 2012
- TENUTA SETTE PONTI Toscana Oreno 2012
- SUAVIA Soave Classico Monte Carbonare 2013
- TABARRINI Montefalco Sagrantino Campo alla Cerqua 2010
- TASCA D’ALMERITA Nerello Mascalese Sicilia Il Tascante 2012
- TEDESCHI Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Capitel Monte Olmi 2007
- CANTINA TERLANO Sauvignon Alto Adige Terlano Quarz 2013
- TERRE BIANCHE Rossese di Dolceacqua Bricco Arcagna 2012
- TERRE DEGLI SVEVI Aglianico del Vulture Re Manfredi 1998
- TERREDORA DI PAOLO Fiano di Avellino CampoRe 2011
- TOMMASI Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2008
- TORMARESCA Aglianico Castel del Monte Bocca di Lupo 2011
- LA TUNELLA Friulano Friuli Colli Orientali Col Livius 2011
- UMANI RONCHI Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Casal di Serra Vecchie Vigne 2012
- VALDICAVA Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano Riserva 2006
- VIETTI Barolo Ravera 2011
- CASTELLO DI VOLPAIA Chianti Classico Riserva 2012
- ELENA WALCH Alto Adige Beyond the Clouds 2013
- ZENATO Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sergio Zenato Riserva 2008
With a colorful history steeped from Greeks, Etruscans and Romans to today’s contemprary maverick winemakers, Italy’s gamut of wine boasts flavors from intensely perfumed, delicate to hedonistic, vibrant racy to plush and tannic, fizzy and fruity to deeply complex, age worthy, fresh nutty to decadent and rich aromas, texture, and body to appease any wine palate. Do yourself a favor, reach out to your local wine purveyor or restaurant to truly experience the mesmerizing and addictive world of Italian wines.
Huge shout out to Italian trade Commission and VinItaly International for sponsoring our memorable Verona trip, without which we would have not had this incredible opportunity to make new friends and share our common obsession for all things Italian.
Italy’s Agriculture Minister, the suave Maurizio Martino was kind enough to share a few words with us.
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