Italy has hundreds of appellations and thousands of producers, many of whom, just to confuse us even further, decide to forego their regional appellation and make fancily named “table wines”. These wines can be overpriced but often they are the star buys. Unlike many Italian specialists, we are continually comparing our Italian wines with the best that France and Australia can produce. This ensures that when you buy from our Italian wine range, you will receive a world class wine.
Italians think of Piemonte and Tuscany as their two great red wine producing areas: Piemonte for its Barolo and Barbaresco from the Nebbiolo grape; and Tuscany for its Sangiovese-based Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino. Valpolicella must, for the British at least, qualify as the third most important area. Sources for other good reds are dotted around the South, or Mezzogiorno, where some of the most individual wines are made.
2005 was a difficult vintage throughout Italy. 2004 A good vintage with fresh whites and balanced reds in the north. 2003 is generally good, especially for reds from Tuscany and the South. 2002 was a difficult year but good early to mid-term drinking wines have been made. Piemonte was particularly good in 2001, Tuscany was mixed and the south very good. 2000 is generally good particularly in the south. 1999 variable but good Nebbiolo in Piemonte and some Chiantis are as good as in 1997. 1998 has seen good quality from Piemonte and Tuscany districts, a bit more variable than in 1997 where quality is extremely high with long-term reds. 1996 has also produced excellent wines for the mid to long-term. 1995 harvest was very successful although quantities are low and Tuscany has made some superb wines.
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