Special feature on wine producing regions: Italy

About Italian Wine

Located in southern Europe, Italy has a warm climate and has been producing wine since ancient times. For this reason, it was also called "Enotoria Tellus" (Land of Wine) in ancient Greek.

The characteristic of Italian wine is that it is very unique and diverse, thanks to the country's long north-south land area, various climates influenced by mountains and the sea, and a wide variety of grapes. In Italy, wine is produced in all 20 regions . Unlike France, which classifies wines by region such as Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Languedoc-Roussillon, wines are classified by state, such as "wine from a certain region."

Italian wine also has a rich variety of indigenous varieties unique to each region, with over 500 varieties in total. In recent years, an increasing number of producers are making wines that make use of local indigenous varieties rather than internationally popular varieties.

Mavi currently offers wines from Piedmont (Asti) , Veneto (Rison Pramaggiore) , Tuscany , Marche and Sicily . Although this is only a small part of the many wines in Italy, you can experience the charm of Italian wine from north to south.

• Italian wine highlights
• Mavi Italian Wine Producers
• Enjoy Italian wine and gourmet food

Italian wine highlights

1. Complex history and various wine styles

Italy has a warm climate that is suitable for grape cultivation , and winemaking has been practiced in the country since ancient Roman times . At the same time, it is a place where various styles of wine have been produced due to its complex history.

2. A wide variety of indigenous varieties

It is said that there are more than 500 indigenous varieties unique to Italy. In recent years, an increasing number of producers are becoming attracted to minor varieties that have been overshadowed by low productivity and popular international varieties, and are making original wines.

3. A wide variety of products made in 20 states across the country

Wine is produced in all 20 regions of Italy. Italy is long from north to south, and you can enjoy wines that reflect the characteristics of various climates and grape varieties .

1. Complex history and various wine styles

Italy is a southern European country that juts out into the Mediterranean Sea. With its warm climate, winemaking has been popular in Italy since ancient Roman times. At the same time, during the complex history of Italy, when various countries intermingled and the country was divided into many small states, each region produced its own unique wine .

2. A wide variety of indigenous varieties

Italy is said to have more than 500 indigenous grape varieties, including Sangiovese, Barbera, and Nebbiolo for red wine, and Glera and Pinot Grigio for white wine.

With the rise of Super Tuscans and other varieties, many internationally popular varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are now being cultivated.

However, in recent years, more and more winemakers are becoming attracted to the local varieties of the land they live in and making more original wines. In particular, Moretti in Tuscany grows Canaiolo, Punitello, Malvasia Nera, Folia Tonda, Vermentino, and Malvasia Bianca.

3. A wide variety of products made in 20 states across the country

Since wine is produced in all 20 regions of Italy, you can enjoy wines that reflect the characteristics of a variety of climates and varieties.

MAVI Italian wine producer regions and characteristics

Piedmont

Piedmont means "foot of the mountains" in Italian, and as its name suggests, it is a region that stretches to the southwest at the foot of the Alps . This region is home to Barolo , famous for its rich, fine red wine known as the "king of wines," Asti, which produces sweet sparkling wines ( Asti Spumante and Moscato d'Asti ) that are also popular in Japan, Alba, a famous producer of white truffles, and Bra, the birthplace of the Slow Food movement , and these regions play a role in promoting local production and consumption and the preservation and passing on of traditional foods.

This is a gourmet region that even those with a sweet tooth cannot miss, with treats such as "Gianduiotto," a chocolate made with hazelnuts, a Piedmont specialty , as well as espresso, hot chocolate, and "Bicerin," made with milk.

The Rovero family, producers of Mavi, are wine farmers who have been in Asti, Piedmont since the 17th century. It is a large family business run by three brothers, but now Enrico, the eldest son, is at the center of the winery. They also run an agritourism facility (agricultural bed and breakfast), and in their restaurant, run by Slow Food members, you can enjoy dishes made with local ingredients and wine.

The extensive lineup ranges from the rich flavor of "Louvé" to casual types with a slight fizz that are pleasant to the palate, to sweet types and brandy (grappa), all of which are highly refined masterpieces.

When you think of Italy, you think of olive oil, but in Northern Italy, like in France, there are many dishes that use butter. We recommend pairing them with a full-bodied wine.

>> Go to the Rovero family wine list

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Veneto

Northeastern Italy. Facing the Adriatic Sea, the Veneto region is home to the water city of Venice and Verona, the setting for Romeo and Juliet ("Romeo et Julietta" in Italian). A romantic atmosphere permeates the air.

The specialty dishes of Veneto are rice, corn (polenta), and seafood from the Adriatic Sea (such as squid ink risotto). In addition, there is a lot of flat land, and it boasts the largest wine production in all of Italy .

Mavi's producers, the Musarragno family, make wine in Lison Pramaggiore, a small region in the northeast of the state.

Their passionate love for the earth and grapes, and their stubborn commitment to quality led them to the decision to go organic. Because the region is humid, it is difficult to make wine organically, and the yield is about 55% to 60% lower than with conventional farming. However, based on the reactions of customers who have tried the wine and the difference they themselves have noticed in the finished wine, they are determined to continue making wine organically, even though it is difficult.

The wines made by this Veneto giant, who, like Mavi, declares that "organic is a lifestyle," have a gentle flavor that complements Japanese food. All of the wines are attractive for their casual finish that goes well with everyday meals and their high cost performance.

>> List of Musarranyo family wines

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Tuscany

Tuscany is located in the mid-west of the Italian peninsula, and is a place visited by many tourists seeking the beautiful scenery of the hills and ancient cities of Florence , Pisa, and Siena, which became the center of Renaissance art. It is also famous as a producer of high-quality wines, rivaling Piedmont, producing wines such as Chianti Classico .

Mavi carries organic wines from two producers: the Magnoni family, overlooking the towering city of San Gimignano, and the unique Moretti family, a surgeon and farmer. Please enjoy these wonderful wines, which are made with great care.

>> Go to the list of Magnoni family wines

>> See the list of Moretti family wines

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Marche

Marche is a region on the Adriatic coast of the Italian peninsula, located just about at the calf's length.

The seaside resorts are crowded with tourists in the summer. Although it is not as well known as other states, Marche is blessed with organic agriculture and is rich in both seafood and mountain produce , and in recent years it has begun to attract attention as a gourmet destination.

The Capriotti family has been a grape farmer for many years in Offida, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, but under Paolo's current leadership, they began to make full-scale organic wine. The wines, made using grapes grown in scenic fields, are well-balanced and enhance the flavor of a variety of dishes.

>> See Capriotti family wine list

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Sicily

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, located southwest of the Italian peninsula, and its capital is Palermo. As a strategic point in the Mediterranean Sea, various powers have competed for hegemony , and it is also a place that has a strong history and cultural complexity. It is also a popular tourist destination, as there are many ruins from the Greek and Roman eras, such as the temple ruins of Agrigento.

Sicily has a blessed climate and wine has been produced there since ancient times, but in modern times, it has become dominated by mass-produced industrial wines using easy-to-sell varieties such as Merlot and Syrah, giving the region an image of cheap table wine . However, in recent years, producers like the Cucurullo family have appeared who are particular about using grape varieties that are rooted in the region , and the region is now beginning to attract attention among Italian wine producers.

>> See the list of Cucurullo family wines

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Mavi Italian Wine Producers

Rovero family/Piedmont, Italy

Rovero Fratelli

The Rovero family's Domaine, which produces wines that combine power and refinement, is located in San Marzanotto, a small town of 1,000 inhabitants in the Asti province of Piedmont in northern Italy.

In 1985, the Domaine was certified organic by AIAB (Italian certification body) in order to "live and work in a place free of synthetic chemicals and to save and protect our beautiful land." Currently, the Domaine is led by the three Rovero brothers.

In the past, the three brothers and their son Enrico ran the winery together, and they also ran an agritourism (farm-run guesthouse) that served highly acclaimed dishes made with local ingredients and was a restaurant that was Slow Food member -approved. Enrico is now the center of the winery.

In addition to wine, they also produce distilled spirits such as organic grappa.

>>Go to the Rovero family wine list

The Musaragno Family/Veneto, Italy

Terra Musa

Pramaggiore, where the Musaragno family lives, is a small village in the eastern Veneto region, the heart of the region producing authentic Venetian wines with a respect for the environment. The Musaragno family produces wines in the "Lison-Pramaggiore" DOC, an area perfectly suited to many high-quality grape varieties, and where the passion and culture of winemaking has existed since ancient times.

In 1999, Moreno started by adopting techniques that followed standards equivalent to "special cultivation" in Japan, and has now switched to organic farming with strict regulations. He uses the latest technology, such as a constant temperature control system that can continuously monitor the temperature during fermentation, and a filter press that removes air from computer-controlled stainless steel tanks to prevent oxidation, and he works closely with agricultural research experts to carefully select grape varieties, with the highest priority being placed on working with the land while being completely considerate of the natural environment.

They produce a variety of reasonably priced wines , including Merlot, Pedunco Rosso, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay.

>> List of Musarranyo family wines

Cucurullo Family/Sicily, Italy

Masseria del Feudo

The Cucurullo family has been farming in the heart of Sicily for four generations. Francesco's father was an agricultural manager who established five businesses, including a food company, and was one of the earliest farmers to adopt organic farming in the 1990s.

In Sicily, where the mainstream is mass-produced, industrial, and cheap wine using easy-to-sell varieties such as Merlot and Syrah, Francesco and his family inherited his father's philosophy of organic farming and aimed to make high-quality wine using local indigenous varieties and careful home brewing . They now convey the appeal of organic wine to guests who visit their facility, which was restored from an old farmhouse.

>> See the list of Cucurullo family wines

Capriotti Family/Marche, Italy

Poderi San Lazzaro

For generations, the Capriotti family has been producing their own wine from organic grapes in Offida, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, in the Marche region of central Italy.

The Capriotti family's wines have won major awards from Gambero Rosso, Italy's best-selling food and wine guide, Slowine, and the Italian Sommelier Association , and they make wines that take advantage of the characteristics of the land and climate of their beloved local region of Southern Marche.

>>See Capriotti family wine list

Magnoni Family/Tuscany, Italy

Fattoria Magnoni Guicciardini

The Magnoni family is located in the historic village of Vico d'Elsa, on the outskirts of Florence, in the heart of Tuscany. They practice traditional organic farming methods and make organic wines.

The Magnoni family produces the famous red wine "Chianti" among Italian wines. It is popular for its simple and easy-to-drink taste that can be enjoyed with a wide variety of foods, and goes well with pasta, steamed vegetables, cheese, etc. It also goes well with both red and white meat.

In addition to wine, they also sell organic grape juice made from Sangiovese, the same grapes used in their wine.

>>Go to the list of Magnoni family wines

Moretti Family/Tuscany, Italy

Podere Casascia

Roberto Moretti, the head of the Moretti family, is a surgeon. However, in 1999, during a time when he was extremely busy, he bought a farm in Scandicci, a small town near Florence, and in 2003, he began growing grapes using biodynamic farming methods and producing organic wine.

Roberto practices organic farming, believing that organic is a lifestyle for him . He has a strong desire to stop polluting the earth, to eat healthy and delicious food, and to leave a better world for future generations.

We work exclusively with indigenous grape varieties such as Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Punitello, Malvasia Nera, Folia Tonda, Vermentino, Malvasia Bianca and Trebbiano, and in most cases we brew each variety individually.

>>See the list of Moretti family wines

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Enjoy Italian wine and gourmet food

Italian cuisine is also registered as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.

In Japan, the general image of Southern Italian cuisine is that it uses tomatoes and olive oil , but in Northern Italy, there are many dishes that use butter and cream, just like in neighboring France and Switzerland .

The country has many simple dishes that make the most of the flavor of the ingredients, and is highly conscious of valuing local food culture, including the slow food movement .

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Italian Wine

Recommended popular wines

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