More than 2,500 wines from 441 selected wineries; in the new Wine Guide Italy, Falstaff presents outstanding Italian wine producers from South Tyrol to Sicily and their excellent wines.
The Falstaff Wine Guide Italy is entering its 3rd round. The Falstaff team spends a good 200 days a year on the road in Italian wine-growing regions, visiting old acquaintances, tasting new wines, but also constantly on the lookout for new discoveries. Curiosity is one of the biggest driving forces: where is there a new winery that you should know about, where is there a new wine, which wine-growing regions are on the rise, which are on the decline? A highly competent tasting team then tastes the wines over several weeks for the Falstaff Wine Guide Italy.
Alongside France, Italy is the leading wine-growing country in Europe. Wine and viticulture have a millennia-old tradition in Italy. Wine is produced in all 20 regions of the country, from South Tyrol to Sicily, from Friuli to Piedmont, and much has happened to Italian winemaking in recent decades.
In the second half of the last century – starting in Tuscany and Piedmont – a true quality revolution took place. Wine, which was a natural part of everyday life for Italians, became a luxury food. New vineyards were planted and a lot was invested in modern cellar technology.
Today, top Italian wines are sought after by wine lovers and collectors worldwide. First and foremost, these are wines from Tuscany and Piedmont, but many other Italian regions are also increasingly positioning themselves in this top global field. Italy is certainly well placed at the top end. The Apennine Peninsula offers a wide range of excellently produced, authentic wines at extremely consumer-friendly prices. The regions of southern Italy in particular are worth discovering.
Thanks to modern cooling technology and meticulous work in the vineyard, the greatest leap in quality has probably taken place there. Burnt or defective wines hardly exist anymore, even white wines from southern climes inspire with their clarity and freshness.
One megatrend that runs through all regions is the increasing emphasis on finesse, juiciness and complexity. Gone are the days when Italian red wines impressed with sheer power and richness. We have remembered one of the most important elements of wine, its drinkability. Wine should be drunk first and foremost as an accompaniment to food, and that's where it should taste good.
Another major trend is the meteoric rise of sparkling wine. Thanks to Prosecco, Italy has become the world's largest producer of sparkling wine. But even outside the world of Prosecco, there is no wine-growing region left in Italy that does not produce sparkling wine. Consumers love the freshness and fine sparkle, they also love the fact that sparkling wines are lighter in alcohol. Whether in classic bottle fermentation or in tank fermentation, Italy offers a wide range of fine sparkling wines.
Keyword diversity: it is enormous in Italy. From South Tyrol to Pantelleria, there are various climatic zones, from near the sea to many altitude zones in the hills and mountains, as well as a multitude of different grape varieties, different soils and vintages. Take advantage of this diversity and let yourself be tempted by a lesser-known wine-growing region or a lesser-known variety!
