Club del Vino 2024 Wine Tasting Program

Rediscovering the Wines of Italy

2024 Wine Tasting Calendar  < click here to the newest version of the calendar. 
Also available bellow. 

General criteria

1. The wine tasting program for 2024 will continue to deepen our learning of the wine regions, varietals, styles and blends of one specific country. In this context, the program will focus on the world of Italian wines in-depth, aiming to highlight lesser-known grape varieties and regions, their diverse climates, soils, and topography. The program will also review the ancient history behind different wine production techniques and showcase well-known producers and smaller family-run businesses that value both tradition and innovation.
2. Club del Vino – CV –  members will present wines that differ from previous program selections to ensure the program is distinctive and unique. The wines to be presented should be available in the Washington area or through online purchase sites.
3. As a reference, the wines to be selected shall have an average qualification of 90+ by reputable wine critics.
4. The maximum cost for a set of four wines to taste is $240.
5. The members of the CV shall select a month and a topic of their choice by December 12, 2023. Each session may accommodate a maximum of three presenters. This document provides  bellow a tasting schedule and a list of possible topics  in selecting a theme.
6. Throughout the year, members of the CV can propose additional activities, such as visits to wineries and tastings, to expand the annual program.
7. The Technical Director and members of the Steering Committee are available to assist members in selecting topics and wines.

The wine tasting Program for 2024 comprises these criteria, the informational text bellow suggestes topics and calendar of tastings.

General Information About the 2024 Wine Tasting Program of the Club del Vino, Washington DC

 This provides guidance for CV members in selecting regions, wine varieties, and appellations of origin, as well as topics to consider when proposing a tasting session.

Italian Wine Production

The rich history of Italy with wine reveals that the practice dates back thousands of years, even before the arrival of the Phoenician, Etruscan, and Greek settlers. These groups were already producing wine in Italy before the Romans established their own vineyards. The Romans, however, played a significant role in expanding the viticultural area of Italy by introducing efficient viticultural and winemaking methods.

The expansion of Italy’s wine production began to unravel in the first half of the 20th century due to wars and political misadventures. However, in the 1980s, Italy’s economic fortunes rose and brought the wine trade with it. Since then, the quality of Italian wines has multiplied, and they have gained international fame. First, Barolo became the new luxury wine god, then Amarone Della Valpolicella, followed by the Super Tuscans. Italy’s wine industry was on the right track once again. Italian wine is beloved by large swaths of people in America, particularly in the coastal stretch from Massachusetts to Delaware, where over ten million Italian Americans live.

Italy was the largest wine producer in the world until this year, with a total area of 702,000 hectares devoted to vineyard cultivation and an annual average production of 49 million hectoliters of wine. Italian wine is produced in every region of the country and is exported worldwide. In 2022, Italy accounted for 19.3 percent of global wine production, making it the leader ahead of France (17.7 percent) and Spain (13.8 percent). Italians are also big wine consumers, averaging 42 liters per capita per year, which places them fifth in the world in terms of wine consumption.

Variety of Italian Wine Grapes

Italy has been the top wine-producing country in the world (in terms of volume) since 2014. It is well-known both for its huge wine production, and also, as home to the largest number of grape varietals in the world. Despite France’s reputation as a wine-producing nation, it only uses 35 to 40 varietals commercially across all appellations. On the other hand, in Italy the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry recognizes over 350 different grape varieties that are used commercially, which is about 10 times more than the number used in France. Italian winemakers and grape growers have access to a vast array of wine grapes that can satisfy the curiosity of any wine lover. They use various options to create unique and flavorful wine styles from north to south.

Italy is home to many grape varieties that are popularly recognized as native Italian varieties. Some examples are Nebbiolo, which is used for Barolo and Barbaresco, Sangiovese, famous in Tuscany and other regions, and Glera, used for making Prosecco. There are families of grape varieties that all require their individual lines. The likes of Malvasia (12 distinct varieties) and Lambrusco (13 separate, distinct varieties) certainly add up to the numbers.

Few wine grape varieties are genuinely indigenous species to Italy if we go back even further. The spread of the Roman Empire and the trading of Greeks and Phoenicians brought to Italy grape varietals from across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. But arguably, many of these grapes found their feet and true home in Italy, so we continue to refer to them as Italian grapes varieties. There are hundreds of these, and those interested can find a very good list of them HERE.

Italian Wine Classification and Labels

Italian wine labels, just like those from France and Spain, are required by law to show certain basic information (producer name, appellation, vintage, alcohol content and bottle volume). Italy began developing its official wine classifications in the 1960s, modeled on the French appellation system. Since then, several modifications and additions to the legislation have been made, the last being made in 2010, to be consistent with the latest European Union wine regulations (2008–09). The Italian government’s system of wine classification and labeling uses a four-tier quality hierarchy of currently more than 500 DOCG, DOC/DOP and IGT titles. These are the official tiers from bottom to top level:

Vino da Tavola (VdT): Wines with no geographical indication are called Vino da Tavola, or VdT, which means “table wine.” Table wines are made from grapes grown anywhere in Italy and are rarely of high enough quality to be bottled for the European market or export to the US.

Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT): is the broadest category, in which all grapes should produced in a specific territory in Italy stated on the wine label. Otherwise, IGT wines do not have to conform to strict standards regarding the style of wine. Wines in the IGT category are often, but not always, of lower quality than DOC wines. Currently there are 118 IGTs in Italy.

Denominazione di Origine Protetta (DOP) which includes two sub-categories: Vini DOC and Vini DOCG:

Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC): is next quality level, which means “designation of controlled origin.” There are 330 official DOC appellations in Italy, covering many types of wine, from the sparkling wines of Prosecco to the Vin Santo dessert wines of Tuscany, to a wide range of red and white wines across the country. Each DOC has its own rules about permitted grape varieties, maximum harvest yields, and aging requirements.

Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG): is the highest quality level. The DOCG designation was created in 1980 in response to criticism that there were too many DOCs, and their quality was variable. DOCG wines, in contrast, were to be truly the best of what Italian wines could offer. The first DOCG wines were Barolo and Barbaresco, both red wines made from the Nebbiolo grape in Piedmont, and Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, both red wines made from the Sangiovese grape in Tuscany. There are now 77 official DOCG wine appellations located in 15 different regions, but mostly concentrated in the regions of Piemonte, Lombardy, Tuscany, and Veneto.

All DOCG wines and some DOC wines will have a paper band containing a serial number that covers the cork or wraps around the neck of the wine bottle.

On the other hand, the Italian wine classification system hasn’t kept up with the innovations and new quality styles coming out of Italy today. One such example is the case of Super Tuscans: this unofficial term emerged in the 1970s, to describe a particular set of high-quality Tuscan wines which were precluded from claiming DOC or DOCG status because they broke traditional Italian winemaking norms (use of foreign grape varieties, and wines often matured in small, new oak barrels). Several of these wines earned global recognition, hence ‘Super Tuscan’. Originally these wines had to be labeled as Vino da Tavola because they contravened the stringent, tradition-focused DOC laws. This situation ultimately led to the creation of the IGT category in the 1990’s, with its relatively relaxed production rules.

Italian Wine Regions

Italy is divided into 20 administrative regions, all of which produce wine, and all of which contain several discrete wine sub-regions or denominations. Therefore, for the purpose of this program, the 20 main wine regions correspond to the 20 administrative regions of the country. The text continues bellow the map.

Understanding the differences between these regions is helpful in understanding the different types of Italian wine. Wine in Italy tends to reflect the local cuisine, while regional cuisine also influences wine. Although some sub-regions like Chianti, Prosecco, and Barolo are very well-known, Italy’s over 400 diverse viticultural areas produce a wide range of wines that cover the entire flavor profile spectrum.

Here is a brief description of the Italian wine regions listed from smallest to largest in terms of production quantity.

1. Valle d’Aosta (~0.05% DOC production).

Aosta Valley, which is also known as Valle d’Aosta, is the smallest and least populated region of Italy. It is situated in the mountainous Northwest corner of the country, and it shares borders with France and Switzerland. The climate in the Aosta Valley is distinct for an Alpine zone. It is located on the sheltered side of the Western Alps, which leads to falling in a rain shadow and experiencing warm and dry summers. However, the warm, sunny days are followed by much cooler nights, which can affect the grapes adversely. To deal with this, the vintners use various techniques, one of which is training the vines into pergolas. This helps to distribute ground heat to the vines on cold nights.

Despite its small size, the region produces a wide range of red and white wines using native and introduced grape varieties. The most important grape variety is Picotendro, which is the local variant of Nebbiolo. Additionally, the region produces Pinot Noir rosé, Petit Rouge (a red wine), and Petite Arvine (a white wine).

2. Molise (~0.1% DOC production).

Molise wine region is the second smallest in Italy. Despite its small size, Molise produces some interesting red wines. Among red varieties, Aglianico, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Sauvignon are of great importance, while the most commonly used white grape varieties are Bombino Bianco, Greco, Fiano, and Malvasia.

3. Basilicata (~0.1% DOC production).

The Basilicata, in Southern Italy, is one of the smallest wine-growing regions and it is located almost exclusively around the extinct volcano Vulture in the northeast of the region. The region is home to just one DOCG and four DOCs, which collectively cover only two bottles in every hundred produced here.

Their main wine is made using Aglianico grapes cultivated on the Vulture volcano’s slopes. The vineyards on Vulture are among the highest in Europe, with some lying beyond 1,000 meters above sea level. It boasts an impressive and commanding flavor profile. The DOCG Aglianico del Vulture Superiore is the only wine widely recognized beyond the region’s borders and has gained. Furthermore, vineyards are located near the charming towns of Rionero in Vulture and Matera in the east, which was the European Capital of Culture 2019 and is always worth visiting.

4. Calabria (~0.17% DOC production).

The Calabria region in Southern Italy has a long history of wine production that dates back to ancient Greece. Calabrian wines were once renowned not only in Italy but also in other parts of Europe. However, in the late 19th century, the Phylloxera epidemic devastated the region’s vineyards, leading to a sharp decline in the wine industry.

The production of white wines in Calabria involves using a variety of Greco Bianco grapes. Additionally, when discussing Calabrian wines, it is worth mentioning Ciro, one of the region’s oldest wines. Ciro red wine is made from the indigenous Gaglioppo grapes and is a full-bodied, tannic wine with strong fruity flavors.

5. Liguria (~0.2% DOC production).

The Liguria region can be described as small but beautiful. It is characterized by steep slopes with dry-stone walls, which are difficult to machine. These slopes are home to a handful of ancient grape varieties in the Cinque Terre. Due to the laborious work involved, many farmers have abandoned viticulture in favor of greenhouses in recent decades. However, in recent years, viticulture has experienced a small renaissance thanks to some innovative winemakers.

Liguria is a famous wine region that produces light white wines, particularly from Bosco, Albarola, and Vermentino grapes – known locally as “Pigato” because of the pigmented colors that appear on the mature grapes. Vermentino is considered one of Italy’s great grape varieties because of its perfect blend for sipping on a beach, having as an aperitif, or pairing with seafood. Many people mistake Pigato for Vermentino, but Vermentino usually has more intense colors, while Pigato has less pronounced and more subdued fruity aromas. The primary areas in Liguria where Pigato grapes are grown are Savona, Imperia, and Genoa. Pigato wine is an excellent reflection of the Ligurian terroir, highlighting the minerality of the soil and the sea salt aromas. Liguria also produces two red grape varietals – Rossese and Ormeasco (similar to Piedmont’s Dolcetto). Rossesse wines from Piedmont are notably fruity and spicy.

6. Campania (~0.5% DOC production).

In the south of Italy, we find Campania, the most visited Southern Italian region. This should not be surprising: the region’s capital is Naples, the spiritual home of Pizza. This region produces unique indigenous wines, many of which are grown in the same volcanic soils that buried Pompeii. Grapes such as Pallagrello, Biancolella, Coda di Volpe, and Tintore make intriguing wines. Wines from Falanghina, Greco di Tufa, and Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio are particularly noteworthy.

Aglianico is the star of Campania’s wine scene. It is a powerful wine that can be compared to a mythical creature. It’s not for the faint of heart, as only the most passionate wine enthusiasts who enjoy a challenge would appreciate its harsh tannins, lack of fruitiness, and intense minerality. However, researchers believe that Aglianico was the primary grape variety used in Falernum, one of the most well-known wines of the Roman Empire. Aglianico is a highly tannic and rustic red wine, traditionally requiring about a decade of aging to become drinkable. Recently, Aglianico wines have gained popularity as winemakers have learned how to soften their robust, meaty tannins.

7. Sardinia (~1% DOC production).

Sardinia may appear similar to Sicily, an Italian island of similar size, but it boasts a unique wine portfolio. It is the only region in Italy that produces and consumes more beer than wine, yet it boasts some exceptional and rare varieties, such as Torbato, Nasco, Monica, Semidano, and Vermentino. The vast terroir of this region has contributed to the development of quality grapes that are slowly gaining international recognition.

Among the many excellent wines produced in Sardinia are those made from Cannonau and Vermentino grapes. It was later discovered that the grape Cannonau, a source of pride for Sardinians, is Grenache. The wine made from this grape in Sardinia has a rustic taste with notes of dried fruit. The wines produced in Sardinia are highly aromatic and are usually available at a great value.

8. Sicily (~1% DOC production).

Sicily is a beautiful and ancient place. Its rich soils, high altitude, and dry winds allow the island’s vineyards to produce a large tonnage of grapes per acre. Historically, winemakers focused on meeting market demands and prioritized quantity over quality. Consequently, only a few wines were considered good enough to bottle, resulting in mediocre quality and a poor reputation for Sicilian wines. However, with the help of renowned winemakers such as Giusto Occhipinti, Sicily has transformed its reputation from poor quality to luxury in just a few decades.

Today, they produce beautiful and magical wines from Frappato, Nerelo Mascalese, and Nero d’Avola. They also are making beguiling white wines from Moscato Bianco and Grillo. The greatest wines are fresh and delicate despite the hot African winds and the Mediterranean climate. The red wines from Sicily are dark, rich, and fruit-forward because of the warm climate. Nero d’Avola is a splendid red wine grape variety that deserves to be considered one of the best in the country.

9. Lazio (~2% DOC production).

It is unsurprising that vine growing was prevalent in Rome, the Roman Empire’s center. However, even before the Romans, the Etruscans already practiced winemaking in Lazio. The Etruscans were an early tribe that spread agriculture and winemaking practices throughout central Italy.

Lazio is known for producing primarily white wines, mostly from the Malvasia and Trebbiano grape families. Additionally, Lazio is home to refreshing and zesty Grechetto. While the region’s primary red wine is Merlot, its signature red wine is Cesanese.

10. Puglia (~3% DOC production).

Located at the Southern heel, this region has a geographical variety like no other. This is the hottest of the major Italian regions, and the wines are typically heavy and tannic. In the south, vines are grown on sandy but nutrient-rich flat vineyards. These differences in the soil greatly affect the wine produced there.

Sangiovese and Montepulciano – the classical central Italian grapes – are predominantly grown in the north, where vineyards can be found in hillier terroirs. The south is known for its Primitivo and Negroamaro varieties.

It’s interesting to note that Primitivo is not actually an Italian grape but originated in Croatia and was brought to Italy from across the Adriatic. In Croatia, the grape is called Crljenak Kaštelanski and is still grown there. In America, initially, it was cultivated in a greenhouse in Boston, Massachusetts, before being transplanted in Northern California and named Zinfandel.

11. Marche (~3% DOC production).

The Marche is situated in the Eastern part of Italy, between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennine Mountains. The region produces an equal amount of white and red wines. The white wine made from Verdicchio is the most famous wine in the region due to its refreshing and aromatic qualities. Pecorino is another special white wine grape that is grown in Marche.

The southern areas of the Marche region are renowned for producing some of the finest red wines. One such wine is the Rosso Piceno, which deserves more attention. This wine must contain a minimum of 60% Sangiovese. Another noteworthy red wine is the Rosso Cònero, which is required to have at least 85% Montepulciano, and the winemaker has the option of adding 15% Sangiovese. Lacrima is a dark-skinned grape variety native to Italy’s Marche region. Once much more widespread, it is now used almost exclusively in the Lacrima di Morro d’Alba DOC wines, which are usually varietal.

12. Friuli-Venezia Giulia (~6% DOC production).

Until the early 20th century, Friuli-Venezia Giulia was not considered part of Italy but a southern part of the Austrian Hapsburg empire. This rich region provided the Austro-Hungarian population with fruit, food, and wine. It is located in the far Northeastern corner of Italy. In total the region boasts four DOCGs, twelve DOCs, and three IGPs and is best known for its white wine production, some of them shared with neighboring regions (Veneto, Trentino).

Friuli-Venezia Giulia’s biggest wine export is Pinot Grigio, but its signature white grape is Friulano. The region produces a range of unique and intensely flavored Pinot Grigio styles, including Ramato, and is also responsible for a large quantity of Prosecco. Additionally, it is home to several other indigenous grape varieties such as Ribolla Gialla, and Picolit.

13. Trentino Alto-Adige (~6% DOC production).

This beautiful and lesser-known Italian region is located near the Alps in the Northern part of Italy and produces excellent white wines. Reflecting its complex geopolitical history, Trentino-Alto Adige is composed of two autonomous provinces. Trentino is almost entirely Italian speaking, while Alto Adige has a predominantly German-speaking population, who call their province Südtirol (South Tyrol), and also was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1919. Due to its proximity to neighboring countries, you may come across wine labels printed in different languages besides Italian, such as German and Ladino.

The primary grape varieties are the indigenous Schiava, Lagrein, and Germanic varieties Gewurztraminer, and Müller-Thurgau (the latter two are sweeter). Increasing quantities of Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir are grown here, as well as the red Bordeaux varieties.

The region has a cool climate with plenty of sunshine and alpine soils, which makes it an ideal place for growing grapes. Despite the region’s infrequent rainfall, it is perfect for producing white and sparkling wines. Pinot Grigio is a popular choice because of its zippy and mineral-driven taste. In Trento, they produce a sparkling wine made with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that can easily rival the best Champagne.

14. Abruzzo (~7% DOC production).

Abruzzo is an Italian region on the east Adriatic coast and has one of Italy’s most contested identities. This region is highly mountainous and lush along the coastline, with most of it being nature reserves and forests. Yet, many publications and wine critics dismiss the region as insignificant; it has produced fine wine on a small scale for decades.

Abruzzo is home to two DOCG as well as seven DOC wine designations and is believed to be the birthplace of several grape varieties that thrive in Northern Italy and France. The primary grape varieties in Abruzzo are the white Trebbiano and red grape Montepulciano. The wines made from this red grape are known as Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. However, it can be a bit confusing as there is also a Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which is a wine from Tuscany made with Sangiovese. Montepulciano produces a dark, rich wine with high tannins and an herbaceous character, similar to Cabernet Sauvignon. Also, the classic Italian rosé Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo stands out and is worth trying.

15. Umbria (~7% DOC production).

If Tuscany lacked highways and supermarkets, it would resemble Umbria. While competing regions produce more wine, Umbria’s wine is highly regarded by sommeliers. The region is landlocked and located east of Tuscany. The region comprises 13 DOCs and two DOCGs. Like Marche and Lazio, Umbria is best known for its white wine production, though its two top level DOCG designations are for fuller-bodied red wines that age exceptionally well: Montefalco’s Sagrantino grape, which is an outstanding example of a grape with massive tannic strength and complexity; and Torgiano Rosso Riserva based on Sangiovese.  Grechetto and Trebbiano are also among the signature grapes grown in this area.

Grechetto is the next most prominent white variety. It plays a supporting role in Orvieto and various other white wines in the region. Its minerally and zesty qualities resemble Pinot Grigio, with a distinct green almond flavor.

16. Lombardy (~7% DOC production).

Lombardy is a region in North-Central Italy, widely known for being the country’s industrial hub. The regional capital, Milan, is the second-largest city in Italy. But the region is also home to vast areas of unspoiled countryside, which host many small-scale wineries that produce a significant amount of the region’s wine output. A large and geographically complex region, Lombardy offers a wide range of high-quality and refined wine styles, and is home to five DOCG, 21 DOC and 15 IGP titles.

The region is famous for its Nebbiolo-based red and for sparkling wines (two sparking DOCGs). It is particularly renowned for its Sparkling wine, which is made using Pinot Nero, Chardonnay, and Pinot Blanc grapes in the same way as Champagne, especially in the Oltrepo Pavese area. Lombardy also produces red wines from Nebbiolo grapes in the Valtellina, called here Chiavennasca, which is a lighter and more delicate version of Nebbiolo, akin to Pinot Noir, and rosé wines in the regions surrounding Lake Garda.

17. Emilia-Romagna (~9% DOC production).

Emilia-Romagna is a rich, fertile region of Northern Italy. Its viticultural heritage dates back to the seventh century BC, ranking it among the oldest of Italy’s wine regions. The Etruscans introduced vines here that later were adopted by the Romans, who used the Via Aemilia Road (after which the region is named) to transport wine between its cities. About 15% of wine produced in Emilia-Romagna falls under the region’s 19 DOC denominations and only a tiny fraction under its two DOCGs (Albana di Romagna and Colli Bolognesi Pignoletto).

Emilia-Romagna’s famous Lambruscos come from five DOCs and match perfectly with Parma’s delicious cheeses. Lambrusco has long been considered a cheap, sweet, fruity wine. Now, there are several outstanding off-dry to totally dry Lambruscos from Emilia-Romagna.

18. Piedmont (~11% DOC production).

Situated on the border of France and Switzerland is Piedmont, Italy’s western Alpine region, which is renowned for producing some of the finest Italian wine varietals. Although alpine in nature, grapes ripen well in the summertime warmth. The evenings are cold due to the diurnal nature of the high altitudes. Piedmont is home more DOCs and DOCGs than any other Italian region, among them the well-known Barolo (the king of wines), Barbaresco, and Barbera d’Asti.

Nebbiolo is a grape with high tannins and a pale color that has long been famous for its bristling acidity and high tannin, while Barbera, from the Monferrato hills, is Piedmont’s workhorse grape and the region’s most widely planted variety. Besides the great Nebbiolo wines of Barolo and Barbaresco, another success story in the past decade has been the region’s sweet white Moscato d’Asti (sometimes not appreciated) and the underdog red varietal Dolcetto, which has several DOCs and three DOCGs dedicated to it. Other native grape varietals that are grown here include Brachetto, Bonarda, Pelaverga, Malvasia, and Arneis.

19. Tuscany (~17% DOC production).

Situated in Central Italy, Tuscany’s neighbors are Liguria and Emilia-Romagna to the north, Umbria and Marche to the east and Lazio to the south. Tuscany is a mesmerizing place and Italy’s oldest wine-growing region.  Before the rise of Rome, Tuscany was the home of the Etruscans, an ancient winemaking culture with connections to the Phoenicians. The region’s top wines are officially recognized and protected by 41 DOC and 11 DOCG titles. There are also six more flexible IGP/IGT designations, with the pan-regional Toscana IGP representing nearly a quarter of total output.

At the center of Tuscany wine production is the dry red Sangiovese, the most important of all Italian wine grapes, which has been cultivated here for so many centuries that it has adapted to nearly every microclimate in the region. These include Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The Chianti wine district is the most famous for Sangiovese. When Sangiovese became the required major grape in Chianti during the 1970s, the other noble non-native grapes (Cab and Merlot) ended up creating a new style of wine: Super Tuscan.

As Sangiovese is to the classics, Super-Tuscan is to the modern. Tuscan winemakers discovered they could make exceptional wines with Cabernet Sauvignon. The problem was that the grape was not allowed in classic Tuscan wines like Chianti, which has to be at least 80% Sangiovese. The laws eventually changed, but the die was set. After that, super-Tuscans were the rock stars of the Italian coast.

For white wines in this region, Trebbiano (Ugni Blanc) is the region’s most-planted white grape, followed by Malvasia and Vermentino, which has similarities to Sauvignon Blanc.Veneto (~18% DOC production).

The Veneto wine region is situated in the northeast corner of Italy, just to the west of Friuli Venezia Giulia. This region is renowned for growing grapes that are unique and not commonly found in other parts of Italy. Most grapes grown here are indigenous to Italy, with Garganega, Glera, Corvina and Rondinella being the most prevalent. In recent times, Pinot Grigio has also been introduced and has become very popular amongst wine lovers.

The climate is a rare balance of Mediterranean and Alpine influences, making it possible to grow grapes with minimal effort. Besides the great red blends of Valpolicella made with Corvina, Corvinone (a distinct variety) Rondinella and Molinara, there are also several fine Merlot wines in this area. The most famous wine of Veneto is Amarone della Valpolicella, a decadently rich dry wine made from partially dried grapes (passito). Garganega and Trebbiano are the white grape varieties here. Today, 25% of the region’s wine is made and sold under 27 DOC/DOCG titles.

Wine Tasting Program for 2024

Based on the previous information, the proposed Tasting Program for 2024 can be titled “Rediscovering the Wines of Italy,” It focuses on selected wines from these producing regions and grapes varieties from Italy.

Each selected region and wine variety would be introduced by the presenters with the aim of giving greater context to the topic that will be analyzed and the wines that will be tasted. Members will be able to choose among these suggested topics:

• Introducing less-known grape varieties.
• Presenting wines from specific regions, especially focused on less-known regions.
• Analyzing the differences between wines that have distinct quality designations.Showcasing wines that require unique conditions for growth, harvesting, or production.
• Discovering wines made from the oldest and most ancient grape varieties.
• Discussing wines made from the same grapes but different regions and climates of the country.
• Introducing Italian spumante wines.
• Presenting various types of wines produced by a single winery.
• Introducing small wineries from various regions aiming to showcase their unique qualities and the distinct flavors of their wines.
• Presenting the premium selection of white wines from the country.
• Presenting the finest red wine selection from the country.
• In addition, members may wish to propose a wine tasting from a small/medium producing country not presented in the last few years (2019-2023) in order to complete the calendar year.

 
Good Selection and Better Tasting!

References:

1. MasterClass: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-doc-and-docg-wine-differences-between-doc-docg-igt-and-vdt-on-italian-wine-labels
2. Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_wine
3. Winefolly: https://winefolly.com/wine-regions/italy/
4. https://winefolly.com/tips/super-tuscan-wines/
5. LIbiamo: https://libiamowines.co.uk/en/how-many-italian-grape-varieties-are-there
6. The Wine School: https://www.vinology.com/italian-wine-regions/
7. Decanter: https://www.decanter.com/wine/wine-regions/friuli-venezia-giulia/
8. https://italysfinestwines.it/en/news/

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