Picking out some of Italy’s finest wines

In recent weeks, I have been praising Spain as a source of good value but this week I want to focus on Italy.

Italy is one of the most difficult wine producing countries to get a handle on, even for experienced wine drinkers. There are just too many unfamiliar grape varieties, wine regions and styles of wine, particularly to anyone who began their wine journey in Chile or Australia.

In famous regions such as Tuscany or Piedmont, the grape variety is often not on the label (just as in France), and in regions where the grape is mentioned, it is rarely one that is familiar.