Italian Wine Regions

Bold pop art Ruche wine bottle and grape illustration.

Ruchè

Ruchè (pronounced Roo-Kay) is a red Italian grape from the Piedmont region. This grape has risen from obscurity to having its own recognized DOCG. Ruchè is grown in several municipalities in …

If you Google “Italian grapes that were almost extinct,” the volume of results is overwhelming. While other indigenous grapes have flourished in Italy for centuries, all of these near-forgotten grapes make …

Vineyard workers inspecting grapes with mountains in background.

Maturano

Italy’s Wine HeritageTo love Italy is also to loathe Italy. Italy’s fragmentation makes it both remarkable and dysfunctional, with each region possessing unique characteristics. This fragmentation extends to the vineyards, where …

Colorful vineyard illustration with farmers, wine bottles, and buildings.

Forastera: The Forgotten Grape of Ischia

Introduction to ForasteraIn the world of wine, certain grapes dominate the conversation. Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir often steal the spotlight. Yet, hidden in the shadow of these giants are …

Vien De Nus

Several grapes are nearing extinction in the mountainous area of the smallest wine region in Italy, Valle D’Aosta. These grapes have grown there for years, yet only a small percentage of …

Colorful vineyard illustration with grapes and a barrel.

Grignolino: A Detailed Exploration

About GrignolinoGrignolino, a lesser-known yet remarkable grape varietal from Italy’s Piedmont region, beckons wine enthusiasts with its unique profile and historical significance. This article delves into the origins, characteristics, and modern …

Timorasso

In the early 2000s, I was part of the opening staff of a new restaurant, Penne, at the Inn at Penn located at 40th and Walnut. It would be an Italian …

Pallagrello Nero

In Italy, countless grape varietals have been lost in time, never to be tasted again. But occasionally, a variety long thought extinct reappears, offering a glimpse into the past and a …

Fumin

Winemaking in Valle d’Aosta almost disappeared due to the upheaval brought about by both World Wars. At the end of the 1800s, there was over 3,000 ha of vineyards; however, by …

Slarina

The geographical presence of the Slarina vine is primarily identifiable in the plains between Alessandria, Novi Ligure, and Tortona. Alessandria is located in Piedmont, Italy, and is also the capital of …

Sparkling Wine: Our Favorite Bubbles That Won’t Break the Bank

Sure, not all sparkling wine is Champagne. Sadly, many great bottles are now out of reach for most people. However, there are still great bottles of bubbly at reasonable prices.Here at …

Cave des Onze Communes Cornalin 2017 scaled

Cave des Onze Communes 2017 Cornalin, Aosta Valley

$14.39 (FWGS) 88 Points (WSoP)Sometimes life calls for a crazy wine from Italy’s smallest wine region, right smack on the Swiss border. Aosta is a mountain region, and this is clearly …

Il Poggione Brancato Rosato di Toscana 2019 scaled

Il Poggione 2019 “Brancato” Rosato di Toscana

90 Points (WSoP) $9.99 (FWGS)A Sangiovese Rosé from the famed Brunello producer Tenuta Il Poggione. Bright and crunchy watermelon and river rocks. There is a richness here that is atypical for …

Amazing views of Douro vineyards at sunset from Casal de Loivos in Portugal

The Greatest Wine Regions of the World

The world of wine is at your fingertips. Here at the Wine School, many of our sommelier programs are founded on the idea the core of wine knowledge is understanding wine …

Italian Food and Wine Pairing

Italian food is beloved everywhere. Because of that, you will see sommeliers pairing Italian dishes with wine from nearly every country globally. For example, a good Chilean Sauvignon Blanc will match …

Italian culture icons: wine bottle, grapes, landmarks, flag.

The heritage of Italians with wine dates back many millennia. However, before three wars and several political misadventures during the first half of the 20th century, this incredible legacy began to …