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11:34 AM

June 2008 - Chianti Region

Another Great Chianti Region Article

I Love French Wine and Food - Reviewing The Reds


I recently finished a wine tour of Italy?s twenty administrative regions, briefly describing each region prior to tasting a representative wine with food, and at least one imported Italian cheese. I enjoyed this experience so much that I plan to repeat it, but only after doing something similar for France and perhaps a few other countries. I am happy enough with Italian wine to continue to drink it for the rest of my days, but there are other wine-producing countries out there, and other wines to drink. I am going to give you a bit of a report on the red wines I encountered on this wine tour, but only after a quick summary of Italian red wines, as if such an endeavor was possible. Look for a similar article on Italian white wines.

You wouldn?t be alone if you immediately think red when the subject of Italian wine is raised. In spite of extreme variations in climate, soil, elevation, and other geographical conditions, every single one of Italy?s twenty regions produces red wine. The percentage varies widely from 91 % in the southern region of Calabria to 16% in the central region of Latium.

The reality of Italy wine is more complex than first meets the eye. Who would have thought that Sicily, a southern Italian region if ever there was one, produces almost as much white wine as red wine? Considering that Sicily holds first place for Italian wine production that?s a lot of white wine. In fact, Sicily?s annual white wine production is greater than the total wine production of all but five Italian regions. But this article is about Italian red wines, not Italian white wines.

In chronological order we tasted a red wine from the southern region of Calabria, the central region of Latium, the northern region of Piedmont, the southern region of Sardinia, the central region of Abbruzzi, the northern region of Lombardy, our only ros? wine from the southern region of Apulia, the northern region of Trentino-Alto Adige, the central region of Tuscany, two Vino Novellos (new wines) one from the northern region of Trentino-Alto Adige and the other from the northern region of Veneto, the southern region of Sicily, the central region of The Marche, the southern region of Bascilicata, and finally the northern region of Piedmont while describing its neighboring region of the Aosta Valley. I was unable to find a wine from the Aosta Valley. I am in the process of tasting a Riserva (longer-aged) version of this last wine, and will write an article when I have finished it.

These sixteen wines varied in classification from basically unclassified table wines to IGT, DOC, and DOCG. In short, all Italian wine classifications were represented. IGT stands for Indicazione Geografica Tipica, which may be translated as Typical Geographic Indication, in other words a wine that typifies its specific location. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin. DOCG stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Guarantita, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin.

The wines varied in price from $8 to $38 but only three bottles cost more than $21. Their alcohol content varied from 11.5% to 15% but only one bottle exceeded 13.5%. The vintages varied from 1999 to 2006, with slightly more than half in the range 2002 to 2004. The grapes used varied widely, including both international and strictly Italian varieties. Some wines included multiple grape varieties, while others did not. And now for the question that you?ve been waiting for, what about the quality, and in particular the quality as a function of price? That too varied widely, there were both positive and negative surprises. We overpaid and there were definitely some bargains. Which was which? Read the articles.

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His wine website is http://www.theworldwidewine.com.



A synopsis on Chianti Region.

I Love French Wine and Food - Reviewing The Reds


I recently finished a wine tour of Italy?s twenty administrative regions, briefly describing each region prior to tasting a representative wine with f...


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Chianti Region Items For Viewing

Merlot QBA Trocken


New! For the first time from Germany we have a Trocken dry Merlot. This wine comes from the Volz winery, the innovator of dry red and white wines from Germany. It is a wonderful full-bodied red with a hint of cherries and slight tannins at the finish. A great wine from the Rheinphalz region, try it a bottle today! Include this wine in a basket to be a perfect gift for someone you love! GRMTS702 GRMTS702


Price: 28.95 USD



Headlines on Chianti Region

I’ll see you on the Ponte Vechhio in Florence

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:41:54 PDT
ponte vecchio in florence, originally uploaded by The Rambling Rountrees. Arrivederci!!!! Time has come to leave my desk and go home and pack for our Italian Adventure 2008. I think and daydream about Italy and become incessantly obsessed with planning for over a year, only to find is so close to leaving and I still have not packed!!! Life will stand still when we arrive in Italy. Stress will be checked at the gate, and all work-related thoughts will be be left behind like lost luggage. Whe

You be the reviewer: Tigelleria Ristorante in Campbell (San Jose Mercury News)

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:24:26 PDT
Have you been to Tigelleria Ristorante in Campbell? Read Aleta Watson's review, then contribute your own thoughts about the restaurant. Please include your full name and city. We will print a selection of comments in the June 22 LifeStyle section.

$8.99] Amadeo Chianti 2005 Free Shipping on 4 or more by Wines `Til Sold Out

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:02:02 PDT
Amadeo Chianti 2005 By lairdandcompany.comAmadeo Winery ProfileThis fine Chianti is produced by the Castellani brothers in Tuscany, Italy. Roberto and Pier Giorgio Castellani have been producing wine for many years. You might liken them to the Gallo brothers. One brother is responsible for the production of the wines and the other handles the administrative chores. These two polite Tuscan gentlemen combine their talents to form an unbeatable team. The operation is quite large, one of the bigges

I’d like to be, under the sea..

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:03:00 PDT
In an Octopuses’ wine cellar, you see. My rhyming skills aside; wine producers have been conducting ongoing experiments into the undersea ageing of wine in bottle. A glimpse into the rationale of one such recent experiment: “This week one of France’s oldest champagne houses, Louis Roederer, sent divers to place several dozen bottles of its Brut Premier on the seabed of Saint-Malo bay. In a year’s time experts will assess if it has matured with a different or better taste than in the tradition

Forum to tackle global drink maker concerns (Nutraingredients.com)

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:53:54 PDT
Wines reforms and their wider global impact, customs regulations, nutrition labelling and responsible marketing and retailing will all be up for discussion at the association's 2008 Spring Meeting.


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