Of all the countries in the world, the Italians have one of unmatched beauty. If you are looking for a thrilling, yet relaxing vacation, then Italy is the place to choose. If this wasn't enough, Italians also make wine, extraordinary wine for that matter. The great Italian red wine types are sought after all over the world.
Italians started to make this complex drink a very long time ago. The ones that initiated the Italians where the ancient Greeks. It was them that gave these lands their precious gift and corupted the people of Italy into making wine types. But without lots of passion they wouldn't have come this far.
The climate plays an important role and probably influences the grapes the most. More explicit, it is the variation of micro climates that ensure a large variation of wine types. We are going to follow the trace of the Italian red wine types and ignore the white one for a while. Let’s have a look at the main grape varieties that create them.
The fascinating Primitivo
A remarkable grape with a weird background. First of all, it is the grandfather of red grape types. It has been harvested for thousands of years, being used for making dark, tannic red wine types. But the Primitivo has a clone, a quite famous one actually. It has been proven that Zinfandel and Primitivo are actually the same grape.
You will love pairing this wine with food because it has a spicy touch to it that changes the food's taste nicely. Playing along with the spiciness of this wine is so great but you can also try and contrast the taste with a more smoother dish. It is a harsh wine, the Primitivo. It has high levels of tanic acid. If you choose this wine be prepared for a thrill.
The Stubborn Nebbiolo
This is a classic example of stubborn character that provides excellent results. The Barolo and Barbaresco are Italian red wine types that are made from Nebbiolo. And they are among the finest wines in Italy. The strong and elegant flavors of these two great wines are the pride of all Italian red wine types.
The Nebbiolo is a black-skinned red grape, meaning that the wines are very intense both in color and in taste. With unique skin come unique flavors. The rose notes are one of the most common. Being an acidic drink, this wine will pair nicely with pasta and tomato sauce or shrimp in lemon sauce.
Sangiovese is all about the finer side of wines
This grape originates from the famous Italian region Tuscany where the people are very proud of their great wines. But the vines don't grow only by themselves and the farmers need to have the patience that this grape requires. If it weren't for these careful farmers, the Sangiovese would loose most of his great qualities.
The Rosso di Montalcino, Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino are just a few of the wine types made from the Sangiovese. Of course, the most famous is the fine Chianti. The Chianti owes it all to the Sangiovese, which is found in the wine in a percentage of 70%. The wine types will often have a scent of blueberry or strawberry complemented by subtle cinnamon spice.
What these wines have in common is the passion of the producers. Usually, wines made by smaller wineries tend to have a more powerful taste. It may be that farmers get more personal with the grapes, and generally the work they put into making these delightful wines.
Because there are so many wine types, there are also many producers that offer them at lower or higher quality. The more famous the producer, the better the wine. Italian red wine types vary a lot and go from fresh to full-bodied. Whether you're having a party or just want to cook with wine, you will find one perfect for your taste.
