For years it has seemed that Italy kept the best of the best wines for themselves and shipped out great tasting but mostly generic wines globally. Times have changed however thanks to technology, growing practices and global demand for a more exclusive selection of Italian wine. While there are many nuances for wine from Italy, there are basically two different types of Italian wine – table wines and more expensive, exclusive wines.

Table Wines

Table wines are the perfect complement to hearty, down-home Italian food and can be found in most Italian restaurants and home tables. These wines are not as expensive as the higher end wines and are perfect for a more casual, convivial atmosphere among friends. The table Italian wine is likely in a large glass jug and mainly comes in red and white varieties, perfect for virtually any Italian dish. The majority of table wines from Italy are slightly fruity with a light sweetness and some being light bodied or even sparkling. Chianti is a popular type of table wine that is well revered by many wine enthusiasts as being tasty as well as affordable.

More Expensive Wines

Italy takes enormous pride in their Italian wine selections that are priced a bit higher than normal standards and as well they should.  The exclusivity of the wines is based on the type of native grapes they are derived from as well as the growing region. For this reason, you will see Tuscan wines that are from the province of Tuscany in Italy and other variations can be pinpointed to a specific region by not only the name of the wine but also the type of grapes used in its production.

There are approximately 2,000 types of grapes being grown in Italy today so you can imagine the variety of Italian wine available on the market. With the intermingling of the different varieties there are countless flavors from light to full-bodied with dry to fruity flavors to wines with smoky or oak undertones. The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to Italian wine and therefore is the reason why this type of wine is one of the most complex to shop for.

Choosing Your Wine

With thousands of different wines produced in Italy in a single year alone, it is really no wonder that choosing an Italian wine can often be so difficult. From Sangiovese to Trebbiano and everywhere in between, Italian wine has always been favorable, and there are a few things that you should be aware of before heading out to find your wine, so that you can make the most informed decision and choose the best wine.

One of the first issues you should deal with involves deciphering Italian wine terms. This is going to be necessary if you want to be able to read the Italian wine labels. Just a few of the many common terms that you may notice include anno, amabile, bianco, dolce, grappa, rossa, rosato, spumante, vino, and vigna.

You also want to be aware of the different Italian wine classifications, Vina Da Tavola is one of the most common, and this designates wines that reside firmly on what is known as the low end of the totem pole, meaning that they are the lesser quality wines. They will tend to be cheaper because of this but will have poorer taste as well. Most of these wines are not aged properly which is why they do not have as full a flavor as others.

Indicazione di Geografica Tipica is another of the more common classifications and refers to table wines that are often ubiquitous wines that are grown in a specific geographical growing region. Keep in mind however that there are still a few exceptions as some of Italy’s best wines do fall under this category solely for the purpose of avoiding more stringent regulations associated with DOC or DOCG.

Wine is always delicious and fun but more than anything Italian wine is classy and perfect when paired with a proper meal. Especially around the holidays, wine is flowing at parties and gatherings, and you just want to make sure that once you have the right wine you also have the proper wine accessories to go with it, namely wine glasses and wine charms.

Wine charms are particularly great at larger gatherings because they help you to distinguish your glass from others.