| |
Campania. The region of Campania lies a little more than half way down Italy’s western coast, facing the Tyrrhenian Sea, and includes one of the most beautiful coastlines in all of Europe. Inland the region is mostly mountainous, with the Apennines – the mountain range that bisects the country from north to south - playing a major role in grape growing. The summers are very hot, but prime vineyards lie in the Mediterranean sun at high altitudes with great exposures, and are swept by cooling updrafts from the sea and even cooler downdrafts from the mountains. The region is rich in volcanic history – you will find the famed Mount Vesuvius here in Campania – and the soils are rich in iron, sulfur, copper, chalk and hundreds of other minerals.
Lombardy. The northern-most region in central Italy, lying between the Swiss Alps and the river Po’, Lombardy derives its name from the Longobard tribes that swept down from the north during the declining days of the Roman Empire. Bordered by Switzerland to the north, the Italian region of Emilia Romagna to the south, Piedmont to the west and Veneto to the east, three distinct natural zones can be fairly easily distinguished in the Lombardy region: mountains, hills and plains. Located in the southwestern corner of Lombardy lies the province of Pavia and the wine-producing area called Oltrepo’ Pavese, meaning “Pavia across the Po.” This is where the foothills of the Appenine Mountains begin. The vines in this area benefit from an excellent microclimate owing to its close proximity to the Po, well-drained soils rich in clay and calcareous marl, with a terroir often compared to that of Barolo.
Piemento. Nestled in the northwestern corner of Italy, Piedmont is the land of castles, vineyards and romantic hills shrouded in mist. The Alps hover over this lovely region, as the name implies (Piemonte means “at the foot of the mountains”) and the valleys and mountains, coupled with its proximity to the sea, contribute to the area’s noted fog cover, which descends over the land in the autumn. Summers are extremely hot, but winters can be extremely cold, with low rainfall due to the “rain shadow” effect of the Alps. Vineyards are typically planted on hillsides at altitudes between 150 and 400 meters.
Puglia. Puglia lies in southeastern Italy, surrounded by the Adriatic Sea to the east and the Ionian Sea to the west. In the southeastern extremity of Puglia lies the peninsula known as Salento, often considered to be a rock of limestone dividing the Adriatic Sea from the Ionian Sea, and the “heel” of Italy’s “boot.” This beautiful region is blessed with remarkable landscapes of palm trees and cactus plants, sunshine, blue skies and a dream-like coastline on crystal-clear waters. Vineyards and olive groves have always played an important part in this beautiful and fertile land, where the harsh sun is tempered by the cooling sea breezes.
| Sicily. Sicily, with its warm temperatures, hilly terrain, sea breezes and rich soil, is the largest island in the Mediterranean, and the largest region of Italy. The Nebrodi and Madonie mountain ranges are the last offshoots of the Italian continental Apennines; all around there are hills that end where the sea begins. Your eyes see only the yellow of the crops, the green of the vineyards and the deep azure of the sea. With such perfect conditions, it should come as little surprise that the country has more area under vine than any other major winemaking region in Italy - and produces more wine per year than Australia, New Zealand and Hungary combined. It boasts amazing indigenous varietals such as Nero d’Avola, Grillo and Inzolia, to name only a few.
Trentino. Nestled in the heart of the Italian Alps and cradling the Dolomites – one of Europe’s most beautiful mountain chains – this lovely region boasts some of the most dramatic landscapes you’ll ever come across, with massive peaks, deep valleys, forests and rivers, along with old towns rich in history. The vineyards of Trentino really are totally unique, completely reflecting the dramatic natural backdrop where they are cultivated. The resulting wines express the terroir of the rich soil, whether on the valley floor or 800 meters above sea level. The wide range in temperature between day and night is particularly beneficial for white wines, making them some of the most pure and fresh wines in the whole of Italy.
Tuscany. A row of cypress trees breaking the blue sky on a rolling hilltop. Olive groves and grapevines marching tidily down the side of a slope. Little medieval hill-towns gazing down upon a country that has been carefully cultivated since the time of the Romans. Long before the first Etruscans made their appearance, wild vines grew in abundance all over the sunny rolling hills of Tuscany. Located in central Italy along the Tyrrhenian coast, Tuscany is home to some of the world's most beautiful landscapes and some of the best known Italian wines in the world. The hilly, chalky soil and the weather conditions of Tuscany are ideal for grape and olive growing, and with the passing centuries, the numerous types of grapes grown gave rise to some rare and much-loved varieties.
Veneto. Once the heartland of the Venetian Republic, the region of Veneto has one of the country’s richest historical, natural, artistic, cultural, musical and culinary heritages. Located in Northeast Italy, near the Austrian border, and one of the three regions making up the Tre-Venezie, Veneto is most famous for its two romantic cities - Venice and Verona. Veneto is also among the most important wine-producing regions in Italy and many of its wines are known and appreciated all over the world.
|
|
|