"A must-have book for anyone who is serious about Italian wines."
Lidia Bastianich, host of PBS?s Lidia's Italian Table
"I have yet to encounter more knowledgeable guides to...Italian wine."
Piero Antinori, President, Antinori Wines
"Bravo to Ed and Mary! This book shows their love for Italy, the Italian producers, and the great marriage of local foods with local wines. Here is a great book that presents the information without intimidation."
Piero Selvaggio, VALENTINO Restaurant
Right now, Italy is the most exciting wine country on earth. The quality of Italian wines has never been higher and the range of wines has never been broader. Even better, the types of Italian wines available outside of Italy have never been greater. But with all these new Italian wines and wine zones not to mention all the obscure grape varieties, complicate blends, strange names and restrictive wine laws. Italian wines are also about he most challenging of all to master. The time has come for comprehensive, up-to-date guides to Italian wines.
Authored by certified wine educators and authors Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan,Italian Wine For Dummies introduces you to the delectable world of fine Italian wine. It shows you how to:
Translate wine labelsIdentify great wine bargainsDevelop your own wine tastesMatch Italian wines with foods
Here's everything you need to know to enjoy the best Tuscans, Sicilians, Abruzzese and other delicious Italian wines. This lighthearted and informative guide explores:
The styles of wine made in Italy and the major grape varieties used to make themHow the Italian name their wines, the complicated laws governing how names are given and the meanings of common label terminologyItaly's important wine regions including a region-by-region survey of the best vineyards and their productsA guide to pronouncing Italian wine terms and names and how to order Italian wines in restaurants
For Italians, wine (vino) is food (alimentari) and food is love (amore). And you can never have enough love in your life. So, order a copy ofItalian Wine For Dummies, today and get ready to share the love!
Introduction 1
Part I: The Big Picture of Italian Wine 7
Chapter 1: Born to Make Wine 9
Chapter 2: Grapes from Near and Far 15
Chapter 3: The Language of the Label 27
Part II: The Wine Regions of Northern Italy 35
Chapter 4: The Wines of Piedmont 37
Chapter 5: Other Northwest Regions 77
Chapter 6: North-Central Italy 89
Chapter 7: Northeastern Italy 109
Part III: The Wine Regions of Central Italy 141
Chapter 8: The Wines of Tuscany 143
Chapter 9: The Wines of Central Italy 175
Part IV: The Wine Regions of Southern Italy 203
Chapter 10: The Wines of Southern Italy 205
Chapter 11: Sicily and Sardinia 233
Part V: The Part of Tens 251
Chapter 12: Ten Commonly-Asked Questions about Italian Wines 253
Chapter 13: Ten Common Italian Wine Myths Exposed 259
Part VI: Appendixes 265
Appendix A: Pronunciation Guide to Italian Wine Names and Terms 267
Appendix B: Italian Wine Vintage Chart: 1980 to 1999 271
Index 273
