Raise Your Wine IQ -Wines of Southern Italy

Southern Italy welcomes us to some of the most beautiful and popular sites in the world: the Amalfi Coast, Naples, the island of Capri, Pompeii, and the famous active volcano Mt. Etna. A land that is well-known for its cooking offers us some of the most interesting Italian varietals such as Primitivo, Aglianico, Vermentino, and Falanghina. The early Romans imported wine, and viticulture was a small part of their agriculture. Eventually grapes became a major economic crop. As the Roman Empire expanded, they took their wine with them and subsequently their vines, thus spreading the fine vitas vinifera grapes throughout the Mediterranean and beyond. We will discuss the historical role played by Italy while we taste some of the interesting wines from this rich cultural area. In 2024, 70% of the wine imported to the United States came from Italy and France, with Italy being the leader in volume and France in dollar value. Our interest in Italian wines continues to grow. Please Note: This class includes wine tastings. As the sense of smell is a major factor in tasting, please refrain from wearing any scented lotions, perfumes, aftershaves, etc.