Compare and contrast the wines of Italy and Spain
Question:
Compare and contrast the wines of Italy and Spain. Evaluate the history, analyze the growing regions and types of wines produced. Provide two labels exemplifying each country. Use the Wine Spectator Maps of Wine Regions as the basis of your research. https://www.winespectator.com/
History of Wine in Spain and Italy
Wine in Spain began far much earlier before history could really define. However we trace the first recorded wine history with the Phoenicians who arrived 3000 years ago. They founded the currently known cities Cadiz and Jerz where viticulture was founded encouraging the sale of Spanish wine throughout Mediterranean and North Africa. Later the romans conquered Spain and introduced new wine making techniques and it was not too long before this stagnated after their downfall. This was rekindled by the intervention of Visigoths who introduced new wine making methods (D’Agata, 2014). Things were going to well until the Arabs banned alcohol it was a struggle to the wine production thou they pushed on until the rise of Catholicism which was in the favor of wine making. In the 19 the century Spain wine was saved from phylloxer who were destroying all varieties of vines in North Europe. This was made possible by the introduction of new grape varieties and modern techniques of wine making by Further, in the first half of the 20th century Spain wine makers struggled with the war effects and economic disruptions at that period however, since the 1950s Spain wine makers consistently enhanced the production of quality. With their entry and membership in the European Union they benefit from new wine standards (Read, 2003). Today Spain is one of the best wine making countries in the front line in producing new generation wine in various varieties and taste. Wine still holds an important cultural value in Spain.
Similarly, in Italy the wine culture was far introduced 4000 years before the Greek came in. Wine was a common lifestyle in Italy with a good production of grapes. Later just like in the Spain Romans found their way in Italy with a good interest in wine making. This culture was more ignited by the rise of Catholicism (EVANS, 2018). Things were going fine until the phylloxera destroyed multiple Italy vineyard centrally to Spain. Consequently the replants focused more on quantity than quality this lowered the wine quality in Italy until 1960 where laws were passed to control the quality and labeling of modern era of wine production. Today it is evident Italy is one of the credible wine making country ranging from the red, white to sparkling wine in diverse styles from traditional to ultra-modern greatly enjoyed by consumers worldwide (Italy, 2004).
Regions and Wine produced
Wine production is common in various regions of Italy with each region specializing in different types. Veneto wine region produces wine recognized as appellation which is Prosecco (Rosso, 2015). Sparkling wine, Soave made from Garganega grapes and Valpolicella among other wine types.other wine making region in Italy include Piedmont, Tuscany, among others. Equally Spain has different wine making region each with its own taste of production. Rioja region makes Vina Ijalba Graciano wine type, Penedes region produces Albet I Noya Curios Xarel.lo wie, Priorat region majors in Barranc dels Comellars VI Ngre wine, and Valencia region produces Spartico Temporani Wine among others (Heckle, 2011).
Spain and Italy Wine Labels
The Italian wine label will include name of the wine, vineyard name, the year it was made and the category represented in abbreviation either DOC, DOCG OR phrase(Read, 2003). Similarly the Italian wine label is mostly characterized by the name of the winery, the appellation title e.g. Rioja, the vintage for example 2001, the ageing statement, producer name and location and finally the volume.
References
Clarke, O. (2015). The History of Wine in 100 Bottles: From Bacchus to Bordeaux and Beyond. London, England: Pavilion Books.
D’Agata, I. (2014). Native Wine Grapes of Italy. Oakland, CA: University of California Press.
EVANS, S. J. (2018). The Wines of Northern Spain: From Galicia to the Pyrenees and Rioja to the Basque Country.
Heckle, H. (2011). A Traveller’s Wine Guide to Spain. Interlink Books.
Italy, T. C. (2004). The Italian Wine Guide: The Definitive Guide to Touring, Sourcing and Tasting. Touring Editore.
Read, J. (2003). Wines of Spain. Mitchell Beazley.
Rosso, G. (2015). Italian Wines 2016. Gambero Rosso GRH.