Just as the leaves are changing their colors and the California grape harvest is in progress, we are off to Italy to check out its fall colors, grape harvest and great wines. Fall is the perfect time for an Italian dream vacation. You can visit places like Tuscany and Venice, after all the summer tourists have gone. Fall is also a perfect time to visit Italy’s wine regions. During a fall visit you will be able to see the leaves changing colors and check out the grape harvest.
A few things still stand out in my mind from earlier trips to Italy -- the art, the architecture, and the magic of Venice, the food and the wine; after seeing the movie Under the Tuscan Sun we just had to visit Tuscany. This fall my travels take me first to Brescia, Italy. Historical Brescia is located in the Lombardy wine region. The Lombardy wine region is best known for its Franciacorta sparkling wines with DOCG status, with its reds and whites bottled under the label of Terre di Franciacorta. David Bleeden gives a profile of Franciacorta wine country. See also the article by DiWINETaste on Franciacorta wines.
Alto Adige wine country is home to over 150 wineries that produce the most impressive DOC white wines in Italy. Alto Adige wine is from the higher part (Alto) near the Adige River. The Alto Adige wine region appeals to me because the wines from this region are mainly produced by small family wineries. There are 20 grape varietals found in this area. Given the diversity of grape varieties Alto Adige is a top area for wine enthusiasts to visit.
Tuscany’s Chianti Classico wines are regarded amongst the best in Italy. The Chianti Classico region lies between Florence and Siena, bordered by the Chianti Mountains to the east and Elsa River and Pesa Valley to the west. My early wine memories are of seeing those straw covered Chianti bottles. Therefore revisiting Tuscany in the fall is absolute perfect time to taste those wonderful Chiantis, both old and new vintages.
Something important to know about Italian wines is that Italy uses a wine classification system with the following four categories:
1. Vino da Tavola (VDT) is a basic wine made for local consumption.
2. Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) is a wine from a specific region that is considered to be a higher quality than table wine.
3. Denominazione di Origine (DOC) wine requires that the wine zone is more specific than an IGT, the grapes used are more specifically defined and it must meet other criteria.
4. Denominazione di Origine e Garantita (DOCG) wine exceeds the DOC requirements. It must under go verification that the quality standards have been met. This requires a blind taste review. Alfonso Acevola has posted a list of Italian DOCG's with a map.
The latter two categories (DOC, DOCG) fall under EU system Quality Wine Produced in Specified Regions (QWpsr).
This time we return to Italy in search of great Franciacorta, Alto Adige and Chianti Classico wines. We cannot wait to taste those great Italian wines. Of course, we will be checking out great food and spas as well! Given all three wine regions are not far from Venice we will return to Venice. Just maybe, we will pick up new masks to wear to Antiqua's Venetian style Masquerade Ball.
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