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The Italian Abroad Wine Blog is a wine blog and diary where I share my thoughts, primarily about Italian wine and food, but also on wine, food, and travel in general. I founded Italyabroad.com in 2003 and have been living abroad for over 20 years. Coming from an Italian winemaking family, I was introduced to wine at a very early age. While my roots are in Italian wine, I appreciate and enjoy good wine from all over the world, alongside great food and the joys of travel. My posts often weave these passions together.
To help you better understand Italian wines, we've created a series of Italian wine regions maps that show DOC and DOCG wines, their origins and the grapes they are made of, including your favorite Italian wines. I’ve also written a post on the Italian wine appellation system explaining and demystifying the Italian wine classification system and what it really means for wine lovers and enthusiasts.
Additionally, I host a YouTube channel , where you can watch me taste some of our wines and answer your questions about Italian wines and grapes. From the meaning of DOC to what makes an orange wine, we cover it all.
I hope you enjoy reading this wine blog! Feel free to reach out with any questions.
Salute
Andrea
Back in 2020, I wrote about the non-commercial logic behind creating creating subappellations or crus - as some prefer to call them. Now, five years later, the Piedmont region is set to introduce the "Extended Geographical Mention" (Menzione Geografica Allargata, EGM), ensuring that the word Piemonte appears on any wine produced within the region.
The decline of major trade fairs raises important questions about their future. Can they adapt to changing industry dynamics, or will they continue to lose relevance? While some will inevitably survive by evolving, others may struggle to remain viable. What is clear is that the traditional model of wine fairs is no longer as indispensable as it once was. Producers, importers, and buyers now have multiple ways to connect, and if fairs cannot deliver tangible business opportunities, their role in the industry will continue to diminish. As we move forward, the fair organizers must reconsider how these events fit into a modern, digitally connected world. The question is not just whether fairs will survive, but how they will need to transform in order to remain relevant in an evolving landscape
In many ways, olive oil is like our engine oil, an essential fuel that keeps us running smoothly, energized, and strong. Yet, while we meticulously research and compare options when selecting the best engine oil for our cars, we often make our olive oil choices based primarily on price. Shouldn't we give the same careful consideration to what fuels our bodies as we do to what fuels our vehicles? After all, if a car breaks down, it can be repaired or even replaced. But when it comes to our health, there are no spare parts—once we break down, recovery, if possible, is far more difficult. Investing in the right fuel for our bodies today means ensuring a healthier, stronger future and happier life
Gen Z drinks less, but expecting them to consume alcohol the way people did 30 years ago is unrealistic. The world has changed. Decades ago, Italy, Spain, and France only to mention the main consuming countries, will stop for lunch, and lunch meant food and wine. Now, even in those countries, lunch is often a quick sandwich and a soft drink. Wine has become a weekend indulgence or, at most, a single glass with dinner. The quantities will never be what they once were, and future generations will likely follow the same trend
A few days ago, the Italian government passed a law allowing wine producers to produce no and low alcohol wines – before they could be produced but could not be called wine. However, the law currently excludes IGT, DOC, and DOCG appellations, for now, there’s no chance of finding a low-alcohol Amarone or Chianti, restricting it to table wines. While producers could, in theory, make plenty of no and low alcohol wines, they will get lost amongst the other wines. As a result, I’m not sure this change will have much of an impact.
2024 was our busiest year yet, and for that, we extend a heartfelt thank you to all of you who trusted us with your Italian shopping needs. On this positive note, let's bid farewell to 2024 and embrace 2025 with open arms. May the year ahead bring joy, health, and success to all, however you define it!
Recently I read an article about olive oil in The Times with the title “Why is olive oil so expensive? The liquid gold that took over the world” by a journalist called Lucy Denyer. As you all know, I love olive oil just as much as I love wine. So, when I noticed several inaccurate and incorrect information, I couldn’t just ignore it. I tweeted the journalist, pointing out some of the mistakes, and to my surprise, she replied. Unfortunately, her responses felt more like excuses than genuine efforts to address the issues. I even offered to help rewrite the article, but she declined. I also tweeted The Times and the journalist again - no response from either.
I had never been to the Merano wine festival before so in my mind it was made up of what I had been told over the years by the many people and wineries that attended it. Merano is not an easy to reach destination and also the period of the year doesn’t help, close to Christmas however, I was very pleased when I was invited. It was probably the one wine fair I had yet to attend. The only thing I knew about the Merano Wine Festival was that wineries could only attend if invited; they couldn’t buy a stall or table as they would at other wine fair. With that in mind, I went with an open mind, ready to make the most of it
We’re all familiar with the saying, “too much of a good thing,” and wine is no exception. While I’m not a physician, it’s clear that whether it’s wine, banana, chocolate, just any type of food, abuse or overconsumption can turn something enjoyable into a health problem. When we consume too much, not only do we stop enjoying it, but it can lead to various health issues.
Every day, I come across articles discussing how Gen Z is drinking less wine and alcohol in general compared to previous generations. These reports are often backed by various statistics and surveys, claiming that Gen Z is drinking less and driving the demand for alternative beverages, especially no and low alcohol. But is this really an accurate depiction of what's happening? Or are big brands merely adapting to a perceived trend by expanding their range of no and low alcohol drinks to make up for declining numbers in traditional alcoholic beverages?
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