Picture clear skies; rolling hills with lots of vineyards; small towns with medieval structures; tall cypress trees around homes, towns, and lining driveways. You are in Tuscany. Tuscany is the most important wine growing region in central Italy. About 15 percent of all the land in the region is under vine.
Sicily is an island, located off Italy, where lovely wines can be made. Here are some interesting facts about the island:
Cabernet Franc is well known for being a blending grape in Bordeaux, but it is so much more than that. It is not only one of the parents of Cabernet Sauvignon, but also a parent of Merlot and Carménère. Cabernet Franc is also one of the top 20 most-planted grapes in the world. It is believed that Cabernet Franc originated in the Basque region in France, where Northern Spain meets with Southwestern France, near the cost of the Bay of Biscay.
Along the east of Lake Garda, the province of Veneto, in north-eastern Italy, lies around the picturesque town of Bardolino. The wine region takes its name from this town, but it also encompasses a broader area. Wines labelled as Bardolino Classico are those made specifically near the town of Bardolino, itself, from original vineyards.
Nebbiolo is an iconic grape hailing from the Piedmont region of Italy. Over 95 percent of the word’s Nebbiolo is grown there, and you’d be hard pressed to find much growing in Italy outside of this region. The origins of the name Nebbiolo have been linked to the Italian word nebbia meaning fog. This connection may be attributable to the fact that the best vineyard locations for the grape are above the fog line, once it has settled into the lower valley.
