Tolchards Wine Brochure 2023 - Magazine - Page 97
ITALY
ITALY
In Italy, wine is simply part of life and grapes are
grown in every region of the country. Officially there
are around 350 varieties of grape grown but this could
really be up to 2000. Greek and Phoenician settlers had
established winemaking around 1000BC, but the ancient
Romans set about planting grapevines anywhere and
everywhere they could, so much so that in AD 92 the
Emperor Domitian ordered the destruction of a large
number of vineyards to free up land for food production.
IN THE KNOW
Specific Region
The diversity of styles is an exploration in itself. Crisp citrussy,
easy-drinking Pinot Grigio and party fizz of Prosecco, astringent
tannins of Barolo and Barbaresco, tart cherry and dried herbs of
Chianti Classico. The ‘Super Tuscan’ is a relatively new innovation,
where modern winemakers buck the established rules by blending
traditional Tuscan varieties with world varieties like Cabernet
Sauvignon and Merlot to produce some of the greatest red
wines in the world.
“My only regret in life is that
I didn’t drink more wine.”
97
Ernest Hemingway
