Italy is the second largest wine producing country in the world, and the wine is grown up and down the country and there isn’t really any part of the country that doesn’t offer somewhere suitable for growing grapes. Italy has many different types of geographical structure which offers different grapes different growing facilities. Also because Italy is a Peninsula country which is thin and long with a long shoreline that runs around it, its offers most of its regions a coastal climate which will create cool see breezes in the evenings which we know is ideal for a lot of grape growing particularly Italian white wine. Italy also has steep sloping mountains which can offer different grapes a warmer micro climate combined with different soils. Also because Italy is long it stretches right from the Alps down to the south end which is in sight of Africa. Again another advantage for Italy’s wine growing, as the difference in growing in the north and south is so great that all types of grapes can be grown in their suitable and most advantage climate.

Etruscans and Greek settlers first begin producing wine in Italy before the Romans, making Italy one of the oldest producing wine countries in the world. When the Romans began to develop their own vineyards they created more organised vineyards with a larger scale production and storage technique.

Italian White Wine is best paired with Italian food. The wine and food go together and both are improved by each other. Italian White Wine tends to be crisp, soft and acidic. A lot of Italian white wine grapes which have originally been grown in other countries to produce wine tend to create a different taste when grown in Italy. Popular Italian White Wines are

Pinot Grigio - Plantings for this Italian white wine can be found in the Lombardy region, Italy’s most northern wine region Alto Adige, and in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region.

Soave - A dry white Italian white wine which originates from the Veneto region, around the city of Verona.

Gavi - from the Piedmont area of Italy, a fruity, dry and balanced Italian white wine which goes well with fish.

Orvieto – A dry, but slightly sweet white wine, which is from Orvieto, Umbria and Lazio region

Verdicchio – grown in the Marche region, this Italian white is known for freshness and nutty flavour. Verdicchio grapes are also used to make sparkling and straw wine

Arneis – This Italian white grape originates from Piedmont. The wine tends to be dry and fully bodied with notes of apricots and pears.

Italian Chardonnay – Chardonnay in Italy can be found with blends of many other grapes. This Italian white wine is made throughout Italy.

Asti – A sparkling white wine which is from around the south of Asti in Piedmont. It’s low in alcohol but sweet and is nicely consumed with a dessert.