Region: Trentino/Alto Adige
The Italian wine region of Trentino-Alto Adige is often considered to be Italy's finest and most unique wine region, with centuries of history, and a range of different influences coming from the region's proximity to Germanic countries, as well as places like Lombardy and Venezia. However, it is usually Trentino-Alto Adige's alpine nature which causes wine fans to become the most excited, as the beautiful terroir in the foothills of the Italian Alps produce wines which are packed full of fascinating and unique attributes, due to the crystal mountain waters and plentiful minerals present in the soils of the vineyards. The three native grape varietals of the area are still used in Trentino-Alto Adige's wines, however, it is more common to find excellent imported grapes listed on the region's bottles, as great success has been had with Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay grapes over the years.
Country: Italy
Italy is recognised as being one of the finest wine producing countries in the world, and it isn't difficult to see why. With a vast amount of land across the country used primarily for vineyard cultivation and wine production, each region of Italy manages to produce a wide range of excellent quality wines, each representative of the region it is produced in. Any lover of Italian wines will be able to tell you of the variety the country produces, from the deliciously astringent and alpine-fresh wines of the northern borders, to the deliciously jammy and fruit-forward wines of the south and the Italian islands. Regions such as Barolo are frequently compared with Bordeaux and Burgundy in France, as their oak aged red wines have all the complexity and earthy, spicy excellence of some of the finest wines in the world, and the sparkling wines of Asti and elsewhere in Italy can easily challenge and often exceed the high standards put forward by Champagne. Thanks to excellent terrain and climatic conditions, Italy has long since proven itself a major player in the world of wines, and long may this dedication to quality and excellence continue.
