I have spent more than a thousand days in Italian vineyards from the Alps of Alto Adige to the volcanoes of Sicilia. With wines coming from 2,000 varietals, no other country can justifiably challenge Italy as champion of diversity; and 27,000 different producers bring out a rich spectrum of characteristics in the fruit and terroir. Journalists often ask me if I believe Italian wine suffers from not having a single identity, and my answer is always the same: Italy's diversity is her identity and her greatest asset. This is the common element found in all subjects which Italy masters.
This week, I'm delighted to offer a selection of wines that shine a spotlight on the way that Italian winemakers have embraced so-called "international varietals." These are the grapes that are most familiar to you--for example, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. While many countries have only recently taken to growing these grapes, almost all of which are most famous in and most connected with France, Italy's been making wines from them for millennia. That's what happens when you're a country that has both invaded and been invaded--you find yourself adopting the tastes and practices of other cultures. And so from Friuli to Umbria, you find wines made from grapes that aren't, strictly speaking, Italian.
The really amazing thing about the wines that we're offering today is how they offer a bridge for wine-lovers who are unfamiliar with Italian grapes; likewise, it's stunning how that these wines convey the smells of the air, the feel of the land, and the ineffable essence of Piemonte, Toscana, or wherever they originated. Open a bottle of Sammarco, a Cabernet Sauvignon mono-varietal, and you are transported to Toscana. Or pour a glass of Iugum, and you're immersed in an Alto Adige meadow. They're great wines that speak strongly of Italy, and they're all fantastic for the holidays.
After all, the holidays are a time when we should all get along, love one another, and celebrate. These wines are a tasty model of how to do just that.
My Best,
