Italian Wine: The History, Regions, and Grapes of an Iconic Wine Country

Region by region, this authoritative book teaches you to understand the rich and complex world of Italian wines. Shelly Lindgren, owner and wine director of the San Francisco restaurant A16, working with her longtime collaborator, the food writer Kate Leahy, addresses each of Italy’s twenty regions. That means coverage for Basilicata and Molise as well as more famous regions like Tuscany and Piedmont. For each region they describe: The local culture The region’s history The geography and its effects on local wines The commonly used grapes Typical regional foods Noteworthy producers Other sections explain topics such Italian wine labeling laws, the noticeable effects of climate change on viticulture and winemaking, the varying Italian philosophies on how wine should be served and drunk. Although the authors are systematic in their approach, Italian Wine does not read like a textbook. It’s rich in anecdotes which help characterize each region, and frank in addressing palpable differenc