Wine - help!

I assume you will also be asking all your wine-drinking friends as well, right? As for what's available in the US, all the various types of Italian wine are available here with the possible exception of some really rare types. I suggest you go to a wine bar in San Francisco and ask to try some Italian wines.

It is hard to give a wine education in 2000 characters or less. A good start would be to goggle Italian wines and spend some time understanding what is available. Obviously every wine type made in Italian is available in the US so go to a wine store and buy some Italian wines. If in the Tuscany area the principle wine is Chianti from the Sangiovese grape. Each area will produce different grapes that will made different types of wines from white to red. A lot of the wineries, visit one or two, have wine tastings of their wines. Find some you like.

Kim, That might be a bit difficult to answer, as tastes in wine differ widely. As you don't have a preference, I'm not sure what to recommend? A few thoughts....... > Cinque Terre - there is one unique wine to that area - Sciacchetra. It' a sweet dessert wine, similar to ice wine. They also have some good white wines in that area. Wines from Corniglia were reportedly found in the ruins of Pompeii. You might also try Prosecco in the afternoon before dinner. > Pisa, Lucca - both cities are in Bella Toscana, so there are lots of wines to choose from. You could try Chianti, Brunello di Monatlcino, Cabernet Sauvignon, etc. (many made with Sangiovese grapes). I typically drink Chardonnay in white wine and believe they offer that in that area. Another you could consider is Orvieto Classico from Umbria. > Rome - I'm not as familiar with the wines of Lazio. Perhaps Trebbiano or Merlot? Ask your server for recommendations. > Venice - The Veneto has some good wines. Some wines to try from that area are Valpolicella or Pinot Grigio. I usually just go with the Vino Rossa della Casa, as it's cheaper and the quality has always been good. You might have a look in specialty wine stores in your area, as you'll probably find lots of good Italian wines there that you can try. You'll also have lots from the Napa / Sonoma area. I live in a wine producing region so that's my beverage of choice, especially with Italian food. I just finished a fine hot meal at my local Italian restaurant and had several glasses of Nero d'Avola (Sicily) with dinner tonight. Both the meal and the wine was excellent! I'm sure you'll get lots of opinions on the subject, but that's my two cents worth. Salute!

Thanks - those are helpful! Especially the wines of the region, that is sort of what I was wondering. :) I appreciate it! Kim

In Rome especially you'll find a wide variety of Italian wines at restaurants and cafes. The other areas will focus more on regional wines. A few additions to the lists provided: I find Chianti to be a bit dry and tannic for my general taste. The Montapulciano d'Abruzzo wines are a bit lighter and easier to drink, especially without food. Pinot Grigio based wines are a light, crisp white wine that are typically easy to drink on their own. It is a grape variety so you might have to ask for a regional wine using that grape. My favorite white Italian wine is Vernaccia, found in Tuscany. It has more body than Pinot Grigio but isn't heavy or too dry. If you see it, I recommend trying it. What's known as house wine in Italy will almost always be very drinkable and less expensive. If you're not all that picky, just trying the house wine is usually a good bet. Don't be afraid to ask your waiter to recommend a pairing with your meal. Unlike most waiters in this country, they will know their wine and their menu and the best pairings. The more you can steer them to your tastes (dry/sweet, red/white, heavy/light) the better they can help you.

Consider buying wine by the glass, if available, or in a quarter-liter carafe if you are drinking alone. You can always order more if you like it. House wines are usually very good. In Tuscany or elsewhere I would spring for the Brunello di Montalcino. A sweet wine that I love is Passito di Pantelleria. Before your trip, see if your local gourmet grocery store has wine tasting events, and concentrate on the Italian wines. Even in Toledo, Ohio, one of the regional chain stores has wine tastings. Also, you can find other beers besides Peroni in Italy, mostly German or Belgian. Just in case, for emergencies only - otherwise try the wines!

You know what? Just ask for "Vino della casa" i.e., house wine, in each city and you will be amazed at the great wine you will drink. You can ask for rosso (red) or bianco (white) depending on your tastes. You can get beer in Italy, and beer goes well with pasta too. You aren't going to become a wine expert in a short time. Each region in Italy does have a special wine, do asking for house wine will get you just that in most cases. you can order wine by the glass or quarter liter or half or full liter, or by the bottle. House wine is usually served in liter pitchers, not by the bottle. I'm not a big wine drinker at home, but for some reason the wine in Italy is easier to drink and tastes better than the bottled wines we buy. Also, if you are looking at bottles, the DOCG should be some of the best.

Zoe and Ellen already wrote exactly what I was going to suggest. I've found the house wines in Italy (and Paris) to be almost invariably good. If you aren't sure, you can ask for a taste first. Then, your waiter will be happy to advise you if you want something bottled. And if you find that you prefer white to red, just ask for it. Ignore the rules about which wine goes with which food. If you don't like the wine, why drink it? With 11 months to go, you have 30 or 40 weekends to go wine-tasting in one of the best places on earth for it. One of my faves is Viansa on Route 121. It's a fun place to visit (and taste) and besides their own wines they import a lot of Italian ones.

Go to K&L in SoMa (4th st) and you will find all the Italian wines you need, even the most unknown to Americans. I usually go to their store in Redwood City near my office, but the SF one is probably even better.

Kim, I found this trip that in several places I got complimentary sparkling wine as I sat down. That was fun. I also found that they are happy to cork a bottle that you can't finish, saving money and improving picnics. Once you learn the main names for sweet, dry, et cetera, you'll be all set. I personally think that Limoncello tastes like cough syrup; I had to have one. Don't forget to write down what you like and don't like during this period of intense study!!
Salute!