Italy Around the World – 10/25/2023

By almost any measure, Italy is a powerhouse in the world of wine. It's home to more than 350 officially-recognized grape varietals (out of thousands); it makes more wine than any other country; and it is second only to France in exports to the US. In addition, Italy is home to some of the greatest and most widely-recognized wines in the world.

But for all the international recognition that Italian wines receive, Italy's grapes have not really travelled very far. The so-called "international" varietals are almost universally French in origin. Almost everyone has heard of grapes like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon, and they are planted in every country where wine grapes are grown. The same cannot be said of grapes like Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Nero d'Avola, and Vermentino. However, despite the quirks of history and colonialism that got us to this point, there are a growing number of winemakers around the world who are experimenting with the possibilities of Italian grape varietals, with exciting results.

This Wednesday, October 25, we'll be pairing some of these international Italians with their Italian originals. So join us from 4pm to 7pm as we broaden our understanding of what these Italian varietals can be.