ITALY
Italian wine is wine produced in Italy, a country which is home to some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. Italy is one of the world's foremost producers, responsible for approximately one-fifth of world wine production in 2005.[1] Italy is the second largest wineproducer after France and in 2008, the country bested France for the title of world's biggest producer for the first time in a decade, at nearly six billion liters.[2][3]. Italian wine is exported largely around the world and have market share of over 10% in most Asian countries like India.[4] Wine is extremely popular in Italy. Italians lead the world in wine consumption by volume with 70 literes per capita consumption, compared to 25 litres in the US, 20 litres in Australia, 40 millilitres in China and 9 millilitres in India.[4] Grapes are grown in almost every region of the country. More than 1 million vineyards are under cultivation.
Etruscans and Greek settlers produced wine in the country long before the Romans started developing their own vineyards in the 2nd century BC. Roman grape-growing and wine-making was prolific and well-organized, pioneering large-scale production and storage techniques like barrel-making and bottling.[5]
Etruscans and Greek settlers produced wine in the country long before the Romans started developing their own vineyards in the 2nd century BC. Roman grape-growing and wine-making was prolific and well-organized, pioneering large-scale production and storage techniques like barrel-making and bottling.[5]
History
Although vines had been cultivated from the wild Vitis vinifera grape for millennia, it wasn't until the Greek colonization that wine-making flourished. Viticulture was introduced into Sicily and southern Italy by the Mycenaean Greeks,[6] and was well established when the extensive Greek colonization transpired around 800 BC.[7][8] It was during the Roman defeat of the Carthaginians (acknowledged masters of wine-making) in the 2nd century BC that Italian wine production began to further flourish. Large-scale, slave-run plantations sprang up in many coastal areas and spread to such an extent that, in AD 92, emperor Domitian was forced to destroy a great number of vineyards in order to free up fertile land for food production.
During this time, viticulture outside of Italy was prohibited under Roman law. Exports to the provinces were reciprocated in exchange for more slaves, especially from Gaul where trade was intense, according to Pliny, due to the inhabitants being besotted with Italian wine, drinking it unmixed and without restraint.[9] It was customary to mix wine with a good proportion of water which may otherwise have been unpalatable, making wine drinking a fundamental part of early Italian life.
As the laws on provincial viticulture were relaxed, vast vineyards began to flourish in the rest of Europe, especially Gaul (present day France) and Hispania. This coincided with the cultivation of new vines, like biturica (ancestor of the Cabernet's). These vineyards became hugely successful, to the point that Italy ultimately became an import centre for provincial wines.[5]
Depending on the vintage, modern Italy is the world's largest or second largest wine producer. In 2005, production was about 20% of the global total, second only to France, which produced 26%. In the same year, Italy's share in dollar value of table wine imports into the U.S. was 32%, Australia's was 24%, and France's was 20%. Along with Australia, Italy's market share has rapidly increased in recent years.[10]
References
During this time, viticulture outside of Italy was prohibited under Roman law. Exports to the provinces were reciprocated in exchange for more slaves, especially from Gaul where trade was intense, according to Pliny, due to the inhabitants being besotted with Italian wine, drinking it unmixed and without restraint.[9] It was customary to mix wine with a good proportion of water which may otherwise have been unpalatable, making wine drinking a fundamental part of early Italian life.
As the laws on provincial viticulture were relaxed, vast vineyards began to flourish in the rest of Europe, especially Gaul (present day France) and Hispania. This coincided with the cultivation of new vines, like biturica (ancestor of the Cabernet's). These vineyards became hugely successful, to the point that Italy ultimately became an import centre for provincial wines.[5]
Depending on the vintage, modern Italy is the world's largest or second largest wine producer. In 2005, production was about 20% of the global total, second only to France, which produced 26%. In the same year, Italy's share in dollar value of table wine imports into the U.S. was 32%, Australia's was 24%, and France's was 20%. Along with Australia, Italy's market share has rapidly increased in recent years.[10]
References
- ^ Mulligan, Mary Ewing and McCarthy, Ed. Italy: A passion for wine. , 2006, 62(7), 21-27
- ^ Guardian.co.uk
- ^ [http://www.skynews.com.au/businessnews/article.aspx?id=563239&vId= Skynews.com, accessed 28 February 2011
- ^ a b "Wine Industry India". Imagin Mor Pty Ltd.
- ^ a b UNRV.com
- ^ The Oxford Companion to Archaeology, Brian Murray Fagan, 1996 Oxford Univ Pr, p.757
- ^ Wine: A Scientific Exploration, Merton Sandler, Roger Pinder, CRC Press, p.66
- ^ Introduction to Wine Laboratory Practices and Procedures, Jean L. Jacobson, Springer, p.84
- ^ Uchicago.edu, "Encyclopaedia Romana"
- ^ Mulligan, Mary Ewing and McCarthy, Ed. Italy: A pasion for wine. Indiana Beverage Journal, 2006.