Italy is a country of a whopping 20 different wine regions, each of which developed its own gastronomic, linguistic, cultural, and oenological traditions throughout the centuries. Ancient tribal cultures pre-dating the Greeks and Romans were the first to cultivate the vine throughout the peninsula, helping to set a foundation for the millennia of winemaking that followed their existences.
Over the past few hundred years, several red varietals have risen to prominence as the “noble” grapes of Italy. This class will be an exploration of these wines, as well as the histories that gave rise to their prominence. We’ll be tasting through iterations of Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, and Aglianico in their most famous expressions to understand what makes them so captivating, for reasons good and bad!