While Italian wine might sound intimidating and a bit hard to get into, it can be incredibly simple to drink and enjoy.
At Basta Pasta, there is only one thing that we love as much as Italian cuisine—Italian wine! While Italian wine might sound intimidating and a bit hard to get into, it can be incredibly simple to drink and enjoy. Here is a brief guide to Italian wine that will go perfectly with all of your Italian cuisine.
Look at the Label
Start with the label on the bottle of Italian wine. Sometimes, they show the place that the wine came from and other times they will include both the place name and the type of grape that was used to make the wine. There are many different levels of classification when it comes to Italian wine, and as they go up the places become more and more specific. Vino is the most basic classification. Wines labeled vino are simply table wine, or the white or red blend served at a certain restaurant. One step above this is IGT or Indicazione Geografica Tipica wine. These wines have broad rules about what grapes can be used and the production methods that can be used. DOC is the next step. The only step beyond that is DOCG, and that designation is used to mark the finest and highest quality wines in all of Italy.
Sparkling Wines
Sparkling Italian wines typically come from Franciacorta made with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, just like the most famous sparkling wine, Champagne. These sparkling Italian wines are labeled based on their style with terms like non-vintage, rose, Saten, or millesimato. These sparkling wines earn their sparkle from a second fermentation period in the bottle that you take home with you. Prosecco is another very common sparkling Italian wine that is fermented in a big tank instead of the bottle itself. Prosecco is typically priced at a lower price point and used as an after-dinner drink or sweet dessert wine.
The Most Common White Grapes
Many grapes are common in Italian wine, but the most popular white wine grapes include:
- Pinot Grigio
- Garganega
- Trebbiano
- Vermentino
- Verdiccho
All of these grapes make delicious wines on their own or when included in a white wine blend.
Enjoy Authentic Italian Cuisine at Basta Pasta
For over 12 years, Basta Pasta has been providing Marylanders with delicious Italian specials cooked from fresh, delicious, high-quality ingredients. Enjoy a taste of classic Italian food with spectacular pasta dishes, unlimited salad and breadsticks, and sumptuous fine Italian wines. To make a reservation at our Timonium location, contact us online or give us a call at (410) 308-0838. To make a reservation at our Fallston location, contact us online or give us a call at (410) 692-5200. To find out more about our menu, follow us on Facebook and Twitter!