Ah Wine! dall'Italia

What are the best wine regions in Italy. Figure out what to serve with that great meal!

Enoteca Elena in Bolgheri. Credit: Helena Nicklin

Since I recemtly shared my secret recipes for Italian Meatballs and Gravy, let’s talk about Italian wine to go with it. As you can tell by the vowel at the end of my surname, I come from Italian stock. Italians, like the French, drink wine for breakfast.

Well, maybe not for breakfast, but we are wine lovers, (officially oenophiles.) The French have a better reputation for wine probably because of Champagne, which is only brewed in Champagne, France, the real one in any case. But Italian wines. So many, “mama mia.”

Italy is divided into 20 administrative regions all of which produce wine, and all of which contain several wine choices. The most significant, when both quality and quantity are taken into consideration, are Tuscany, Piedmont and Veneto.

The whole world loves wine. I myself can’t count myself as connoisseur, so I won’t bother you with my own opinions on which wine is best for what, but I have done some research on Italian wines, which I will share with you.

Check out this map below. You’ll see the incredible selection on the map below.

If you want to keep it domestic There are great ones right here in the old U S of A. Obviously, Nappa Valley wines are famous all over the world including the most popular wine in Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon which  is the acknowledged king of red grapes in Napa Valley, accounting for 40% of their total production and 55% of their crop value. This vine is grown throughout Napa Valley and achieves a variety of expression depending on its vineyard site. There are iconic wine vineyards from our West Coast friends some of whose price can raise your eyebrows. For example.

Duckhorn Three Palm Vineyards Merlot - $125 a bottle when you can find it.

Heitz Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon  - Around $330 a bottle.

Inglenook Rubicon Cabernet Sauvignon – Average $225 a bottle

Joseph Phelps Insignia - Anywhere from $175 to Joseph Phelps Red Blend Insignia 2002 750ml $3,653.64

Robert Biale - Black Chicken Zinfandel - Around $65

Robert Mondavi - Fumé Blanc. – Around $65

Shafer Hillside - Select Cabernet Sauvignon – Around $375

Of course. the above prices can vary greatly with vintage year. I just picked these to demonstrate some premium pricing. Most wines are between $15 to $30 . If they are above $30 they start to feel like a premium—with the exception of certain appellations like Burgundy that, even at the low end, are likely above $25.

The wealth of wine and avid afficionados of the “grape” is why I started a new website,  fabulousgrape.com

In it you will find a wine blog, and a fistful of unique and useful wine accessories,  customized wine glasses, a terrific line of humorous wine themed t-shirts and you can even order wine and get some terrific deals on wine delivered to your doors from Wine Insiders. You won’t have to go through a thousand bottles of wine at the local liquor store to find the ones you want.

So click on over and check it out. Buy a nice gift for a wine lover you love.

Get them at Fabulous Grape

Of course, this being America, I get a small commission on whatever you buy, BUT don’t let that deter you. 😊