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Published:
August 30, 2001

Italian Wine For Dummies

Overview

"A must-have book for anyone who is serious about Italian wines."
—Lidia Bastianich, host of PBS?s Lidia's Italian Table

"I have yet to encounter more knowledgeable guides to...Italian wine."
—Piero Antinori, President, Antinori Wines

"Bravo to Ed and Mary! This book shows their love for Italy, the Italian producers, and the great marriage of local foods with local wines. Here is a great book that presents the information without intimidation."
—Piero Selvaggio, VALENTINO Restaurant

Right now, Italy is the most exciting wine country on earth. The quality of Italian wines has never been higher and the range of wines has never been broader. Even better, the types of Italian wines available outside of Italy have never been greater. But with all these new Italian wines and wine zones not to mention all the obscure grape varieties, complicate blends, strange names and restrictive wine laws. Italian wines are also about he most challenging of all to master. The time has come for comprehensive, up-to-date guides to Italian wines.

Authored by certified wine educators and authors Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan,

Italian Wine For Dummies introduces you to the delectable world of fine Italian wine. It shows you how to:

  • Translate wine labels
  • Identify great wine bargains
  • Develop your own wine tastes
  • Match Italian wines with foods

Here's everything you need to know to enjoy the best Tuscans, Sicilians, Abruzzese and other delicious Italian wines. This lighthearted and informative guide explores:

  • The styles of wine made in Italy and the major grape varieties used to make them
  • How the Italian name their wines, the complicated laws governing how names are given and the meanings of common label terminology
  • Italy's important wine regions including a region-by-region survey of the best vineyards and their products
  • A guide to pronouncing Italian wine terms and names and how to order Italian wines in restaurants

For Italians, wine (vino) is food (alimentari) and food is love (amore). And you can never have enough love in your life. So, order a copy of Italian Wine For Dummies, today and get ready to share the love!

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About The Author

Ed McCarthy is a wine writer, Certified Wine Educator, and wine consultant. McCarthy is considered a leading Champagne authority in the U.S. He is the Contributing Editor of Beverage Media. Mary Ewing-Mulligan is the first woman in America to become a Master of Wine, and is currently one of 50 MWs in the U.S. and 380 in the world.

Sample Chapters

italian wine for dummies

CHEAT SHEET

To enjoy Italian wine, all you have to do is drink it. But if you want to get just a bit under the grape skin, you can explore the major varieties of Italian red and white wines, the grapes they're made from, and how to say their names.Major Italian white winesItalian white wines come in varieties that run from sparkling and sweet to smooth and fruity to crisp and dry.

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Articles from
the book

Sometimes ideas or stories take on lives of their own, and innocent Italian-wine lovers become unwitting believers in what are the wine equivalent of urban legends. Here are some examples of those myths — and the real story, to set you straight. Chianti is an inexpensive, commercial wine Some very fine Chianti wines have always existed, but — in the days of straw-covered flasks — they used to represent a tiny minority of all Chianti.
Twenty-one red grape varieties compose Italy's major varieties for red wine. Four of these are especially important, either for the quality of wine they produce or for their dissemination throughout the country. Explore this "fab four" of Italian red wine and discover a new favorite. Sangiovese The indigenous Sangiovese (san joe VAE sae) is the most planted red variety in Italy's vineyards.
Seventeen white grape varieties compose Italy's major varieties for white or sparkling wine production. Following are five particularly key varieties in their rough order of importance. Trebbiano If any single factor is to blame for the lackluster quality of the white wine category in Italy, it is the Trebbiano grape.
To enjoy Italian wine, all you have to do is drink it. But if you want to get just a bit under the grape skin, you can explore the major varieties of Italian red and white wines, the grapes they're made from, and how to say their names.Major Italian white winesItalian white wines come in varieties that run from sparkling and sweet to smooth and fruity to crisp and dry.
Sometimes you know the name of the grape used to produce the nice Italian wine you're drinking because the name of the grape and the name of the wine are the same. But that's not always the case, so if you want to match the Italian wine to the principal grape (or grapes) used to make it, consult the following
Italian red wines bring up the image of grape-stomping parties that provide fun for the whole village. Fortunately, you don't have to press the grapes yourself to enjoy a bottle of good Italian red wine. The major reds are described in the following list: Amarone: Lusty, full-bodied wine from partially-dried Corvina grapes, in the Veneto region.
Italian white wines come in varieties that run from sparkling and sweet to smooth and fruity to crisp and dry. The following list describes each of the major Italian white whites: Asti: Sparkling wine made from Moscato grapes around Asti, in Piedmont. Deliciously sweet, low in alcohol, with pronounced fruity and floral flavors.
To fully enjoy your Italian wine-drinking experience, practice with the following pronunciation guide — the syllable in all CAPS is the one to accent. Soon, you'll be speaking Italian like a true wine lover. Amarone: ah mah RO nae Brunello di Montalcino: brew NEL lo dee mahn tahl CHEE no Chianti Classic
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Frequently Asked Questions

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