Explore the Wines of Italy

Welcome to an evening where we explore the wines of Italy which is famous for its food-friendly wine styles from classic regions such as Veneto, Piedmont & Tuscany. For that reason, we also look at the principles of matching food and wine in this session.

Did you know that Italy is home to over 300 indigenous grape varieties, many of which are grown only in Italy?  For this reason alone, Italy can seem rather overwhelming, which is a great shame as it produces fabulous wines.

Let us take you on a tour of Italy, sampling seven wines from the country that produces more wine than any other country (even France).

From refreshing Gavi, to more full-bodied Fiano, the range of white wines on Italy is stunning. 

However, it’s the food-friendly red wines of Italy that get wine enthusiasts excited.  Whether it be the light, fruity and summery wines of Valpolicella, the Earthy cherry-infused Sangiovese-based wines of Tuscany such as Chianti Classico, the majestic, tannic and ageworthy Nebbiolo’s of Piedmont such as Barolo, without forgetting the powerful and yet elegant wines of the South and Islands, there is a more than enough variety for anyone!

We will also decode the Italian labelling system so that you know your DOC from your DOCG.

Tonight, we will sample seven wines from the list below, including a Chianti Classico, a Nebbiolo-based wine, a Nero d’Avola and a Valpolicella.

Veneto

• Valpolicella DOC (Corvina) or Valpolicella Ripasso DOC (Corvina)

Piedmont

• Gavi DOCG (Cortese)
• Barbera d’Asti DOCG
• Langhe Nebbiolo (DOC) or Barbaresco DOCG (Nebbiolo) or Barolo DOCG (Nebbiolo)

Tuscany

• Chianti Classico DOCG

Puglia/Campania/Basilicata

• Primitivo IGT or Negroamaro IGT
• Fiano d’Avalino DOC or Aglianico del Vulture DOC

Sicily

• Nero d’Avola Sicily IGT

Professional ISO tasting glasses, all course materials including tasting sheets & water are provided

Saluti