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The grapes varieties of Veneto

The grape varieties of Italy’s Veneto region

The grape varieties of Veneto Veneto’s grape varieties are almost equally divided between white and red. More than 60% of the cultivated varieties are native or Italian grapes. Among them, the indigenous Glera, Garganega and Corvina Veronese account for almost half of Veneto’s total plantings.

The History of Italy in 12 Glasses of Wine with Paul Wagner

Summary:  Paul Wagner has always believed that wine is much more effectively understood as a product of culture than of geology, and nowhere is this more accurate than in the vast cultural landscape that is Italy. Standing the traditional organoleptic tasting order on its head, Paul will lead us on a tour of Italian wine through the lenses of history, society, and

The Italian Rosé Renaissance with Elizabeth Gabay MW

Summary:  Italy is one of the world's largest producers of rosé, with Pinot Grigio from the Veneto being a major success story, but sales are now falling. The result has been a growing movement in appreciating the history of Italian rosati, cerasuoli and chiaretti, with its vast range of styles and varieties. From alpine valleys to Mediterranean

The Legend of Chianti's Black Rooster (Gallo Nero)

The Gallo Nero (Black Rooster) was the historic symbol of the League of Chianti and has become the symbol of the wines of Chianti Classico. The Black Rooster symbol is linked to a medieval legend that takes place during the time of open hostilities between Firenze and Siena for control of the Chianti territory.

The New Wines of Mount Etna

Summary:  By examining Mount Etna's peculiarities, history, and modern practices we are able to learn why these inimitable volcanic wines have everyone talking about Sicily.  Presenter: Benjamin Spencer DipWSET  Benjamin Spencer is an award-winning American author, journalist, and the founder of the Etna Wine School, a wine consulting company on Mount Etna, in Sicily. After making
Orange wine from Gravner, Friuli

The orange wines of Friuli

Advances in the cellars coupled with better vineyard management and Friuli’s natural gift of a temperate climate, resulted in concentrated wines with an extra layer of richness. From the 1970s onward, Friuli gained commercial success and popularity for its white wines.
Friuli Grave DOC

The red wines and gravel soils of the Friuli Grave DOC

Friuli Grave DOC Friuli Grave was previously called Grave del Friuli but is often simply referred to as Grave. This is the largest DOC, both in terms of area under vine and in production. It accounts for more than one-third of Friuli’s total wine production.

The Secrets of Amarone with Deborah Parker Wong

Summary:  Amarone relies on one of the world’s oldest winemaking techniques which results in some of the world’s most delicious wine. Through a combination of natural factors and human intervention the indigenous Corvina grape and cast of supporting varieties gives us several different styles of Amarone.  Join Valpolicella wine specialist Deborah Parker Wong for a webinar that reveals

The Ten Best Italian Red Wines: A Beginner’s Guide

The best way to make sense of Italian red wines is to simply start tasting them. Italy offers the perfect red wine for every occasion—from pizza on Monday to roast beef with the in-laws on Sunday. Many of Italy's best red wines are labeled with the name of the wine appellation, often combined with the grape variety. If you've ever felt wholly overwhelmed while browsing an Italian wine section, knowing just a few key wine names will help keep your shopping trip focused and ensure that you have the perfect wine to drink at a moment's notice.
Friuli Colli Orientali

The white blends of Friuli

The Super-Whites of Friuli In the late 1970s, the producer, Jermann, created Vintage Tunina, a complex blend of native and international white grapes that became iconic among Friuli’s superior white blends. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Jermann inspired several other Friuli producers, particularly in the DOCs of Collio and Friuli Colli Orientali.

The White Wines of Collio with Richard Baudains

Summary:  The Collio is one of Italy’s premium white wine-producing areas. Nestling in the far northeast corner of the country, on the border with the Republic of Slovenia, it’s a fascinating region to get to know. This webinar will introduce the Collio and its wines and explore the intricate relationships between the natural environment, the vine and human activity which determine the character of its unique production.  Presenter: Richard

The Wine History of Italy with Tanya Morning Star

Summary: Italy has a unique history among European wine-producing countries. This webinar will explore the factors influencing contemporary Italian wine from the Roman era to the present, with a focus on the accelerated pace of transformative events over the past 170 years, which have shaped contemporary Italian wines. Italian wine can feel overwhelmingly complex, but when one understands the context of how and why Italian wine became so multifold and diverse, the

The Wines of Alto Adige with Nancy Gilchrist, MW

Summary:  Alto Adige is a land of spectacular contrast and diversity. Positioned in northeast Italy, on the sunny side of the Alps, it is an area where men and mountains have met for centuries. It is a frontier region; not just politically but geographically, climatically, and viticulturally. Winemaking here requires a special skill set. Vineyards are planted from 200m to 1000m and experience huge diurnal swings in temperature, while alpine

The Wines of Alto Adige/Südtirol with May Matta-Aliah

Summary:  Two languages spoken side by side is only one of the many unique characteristics of this stunning wine region, formerly a part of Austria, and since 1919, a part of Italy. Today it embraces the best of both cultures and languages but identifies as purely South Tyrolean. Nestled in the northeastern part of the country, in the shadow of the dramatic Dolomite Mountain peaks, Italy’s northernmost wine

The Wines of Irpinia - Contemporary Excellence from an Ancient Territory

I returned to Campania recently for the first time in three years and as with most Italian regions, discovered that not much had changed, at least as far as appearances are concerned. I did meet a few producers I hadn’t visited before, with one of them – Petilia – being a great new discovery for me. More on that below, but overall what impressed me most was the consistency of the wines, white and red.

Think you know Lambrusco? Think again!

Lambrusco Family: Lambrusco represents one of the most ancient families of native grapes in Italy. In fact, it is so ancient, that a specific area of origin has not been determined. Historically, they were believed to descend from domesticated wild vines. All the Lambrusco grapes are related to each other but are considered distinct varieties. In general, the wines produced from these grapes share common features, such as high acidity, moderate alcohol and red fruit-floral aromas, however, each variety does express a distinct character, despite such similarities.

Trebbiano: The Most Perplexing Nine Letters in Italian Wine?

When you think of Italy’s vast array of wine grapes, which one comes to mind as the most difficult to study? Maybe Nebbiolo, for its seemingly endless site-specific details? Or Sangiovese, simply because there is so much of it, in so many different forms? I would posit that Trebbiano is perhaps the most perplexing. For one, Trebbiano grapes appear in vineyards across the Italian peninsula. In the case of Trebbiano Toscano and Trebbiano Romagnolo, they are among the most widely planted white wine grapes in Italy. The potential for variability is astounding.

Umbria, Secret Treasures Revealed with Tanya Morning Star

Summary: Nestled between the Apennine and the Sub Apennine, Umbria is Known as the Green Heart of Italy and is apt, overflowing with extraordinary food and wine traditions! While often overshadowed by its famous, and wealthy neighbor to the West (Tuscany), Umbria has a rich culture in its own right. A place where ancient meets maverick, and tradition meets modernity, Umbria welcomes both international, but

Valtellina and Sforzato – Explore the spectacular terroir of this mountainous Northern Region of Lombardy with Mario Cagnetta

Summary:  In this live one hour webinar we will explore a very small but unique appellation in Italy which produces one of the best expressions of Nebbiolo. An appellation where the Alpi Retiche mountains, climate and influence of the Adda River and Lago di Como play key role in the evolution of its wines. Valtellina Superiore DOCG, its Subzones
Veneto Wine Production

Veneto’s wine production by the numbers

Today, Veneto represents Italy’s most productive wine region and accounts for 25% of Italy’s total DOC/G wine production.