Italian Red Wine isn’t just one type of wine, it’s an entire category! There are hundreds of different types of Italian Wine. In this article, I’ll be talking about the different types of Italian Red Wine, as well as how to pick which one will suit your palate the best.
It’s not hard to find different types of Italian red wine if you know where to look. Quality varies greatly from region-to-region and while some wines are expensive and sophisticated, others can offer great value for money at much lower prices.
Whether you’re looking for something cheap or high quality, there is a variety of options out there for everyone – so don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t have any choices when it comes to wine!
I hope you enjoy reading!
1) Chianti
Chianti is one of Italy’s most popular red wines. It is mainly produced in Tuscany, with some production in Emilia-Romagna and Lazio. The traditional grape varieties used to produce Chianti are Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Colorino. In recent years, producers have begun to explore other grape varieties.
2) Sangiovese
Sangiovese is an Italian red wine that’s produced mostly in Tuscany. It’s one of Italy’s most popular wines because it can be blended with other grapes to create numerous different red wine varietals. As such, Sangiovese is often used as an ingredient in Brunello di Montalcino, Valpolicella, Chianti, and Barbera. Because Sangiovese doesn’t have many tannins or high alcohol levels, it blends well with any other variety which makes it great for experimentation by winemakers.
3) Brunello di Montalcino
Brunello di Montalcino is one of Italy’s most prized wines, and with good reason. Produced in the region surrounding Montalcino, it is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes. Brunello is different from other red wines because it is aged for at least 4 years, if not more. The wine can be aged for up to 20 years, and develops an amazing complexity and flavor with time. A high-quality brunello will also be dryer than other wines: instead of being sweet, it has notes of cherry in its palate that provide balance to its acidity.
4) Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
This is an Italian red wine, its main grape being Montepulciano. It is typically dry and acidic, but can be fruity with soft tannins. Historically it was used to produce rosato or blush wine.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo made from 100% Montepulciano grapes is primarily found in Abruzzo, Italy and is often described as meaty and robust.
5) Arneis
Arneis is native to Piedmont and Alessandria in northwest Italy. It was first created in 1881 by Alessandro Martini, who found that Trebbiano along with other varieties of white grapes like Barbera, Nebbiolo, and Colombard can create an aromatic wine with less bitterness. Arneis are light bodied wines with high acidity and low tannins making them good food wines. They are often blended with other varietals like Dolcetto or Cabernet Sauvignon.
Thanks for reading, hopefully we have given you some ideas of where to start in the wide world of Italian wine – if in doubt go to a wine merchant! Good luck on your journey – Saluti!
Gourmets Food 