Nino Negri Valtellina Superiore Sassella 2008

Winery: Nino Negri

Varietal: Nebbiolo

The dusty purple grapes of the Nebbiolo variety are widely considered to be amongst the finest in the world, and hold many unique characteristics which have secured their place in wine making history. Indeed, almost all of the most respected and sought after red wines of Italy are made using this grape varietal, and it wasn't long before several New World wineries started experimenting with the fruit of this special vine, too. Nebbiolo grapes are renowned for their ability to age beautifully, with their strong and dense tannins mellowing out and becoming more balanced inside the oak. Alongside this, they hold some of the most complex and exciting flavors to be found in any grape, which range from gorgeous notes of black truffle, to aromatic violets and tobacco tones.

Region: Lombardy

Lombardy is a stunning region of north west Italy, and is home to many of the country's finest white wines. In particular, the wines made from grapes grown on the shores of the expansive and unspoilt Lake Garda have come to be regarded as the finest of the region, and the Trebbiano di Laguna grapes grown there are capable of expressing their wondrous terroir, alongside their crisp and fresh fruit flavors and aromas. In recent decades, wineries in Lombardy have been keen to expand their portfolio, and plenty of French Bordeaux vines were planted, bearing varietals including Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. As such, Lombardy today produces a wide range of excellent wines, packed full of fascinating characteristics and classic flavors which are popular around the world.

Country: Italy

There are few countries in the world with a viticultural history as long or as illustrious as that claimed by Italy. Grapes were first being grown and cultivated on Italian soil several thousand years ago by the Greeks and the Pheonicians, who named Italy 'Oenotria' – the land of wines – so impressed were they with the climate and the suitability of the soil for wine production. Of course, it was the rise of the Roman Empire which had the most lasting influence on wine production in Italy, and their influence can still be felt today, as much of the riches of the empire came about through their enthusiasm for producing wines and exporting it to neighbouring countries. Since those times, a vast amount of Italian land has remained primarily for vine cultivation, and thousands of wineries can be found throughout the entire length and breadth of this beautiful country, drenched in Mediterranean sunshine and benefiting from the excellent fertile soils found there. Italy remains very much a 'land of wines', and one could not imagine this country, its landscape and culture, without it.