Italy is “in.” People go crazy for all things Italian, and wine is no exception. Italy’s wines are inextricably linked to the country’s history, gastronomy, landscape, and lifestyle. Although the Boot is a renowned wine producer, many people are not aware of the history and diversity behind the winemaking tradition. Here to help us better understand the world of Italian wine are two new resources: a book, Italian Wine Unplugged Grape by Grape [2], and a podcast, the Italian Wine Podcast [3]. Both projects began with individuals who are passionate about wine and who wanted to inform others about the evolution of Italy’s grapes.

A Podcast Dedicated to Italian Wine

If you enjoy storytelling, the Italian Wine Podcast is the podcast for you. Hosted by wine writer Monty Waldin [4], the program explores the tradition of winemaking with individuals in the industry. The goal of the podcast is to “inform, educate, and entertain about Italian wine through engaging conversations with producers, experts, and personalities of the Italian wine scene.” Waldin entered the world of wine as a teenager when he went to Bordeaux as a teenager to improve his French. He was surprised that there were not a lot of organic wines at that time, so he traveled to several different countries, including Italy, to find and work on organic and biodynamic [5] vineyards.

Why create a Podcast? Walden feels that it is an effective and enjoyable way to inform his audience. He stated, “The Italian Wine Podcast aims to make Italian wine fun and accessible to listeners of any age group or level of expertise, more a window into the lives and activities of those who are involved in Italian wine, and their tips on how to get the most out of the Italian wine–and food–experience in easy to digest bite-sized chunks.” Guests on Waldin’s show include, but are not limited to, wine producers, experts, writers, journalists. He recently hosted Ian D’Agata [6], Scientific Director of Vinitaly International Academy [7] and award-winning writer of Native Grape Varieties [8]. The two spoke about the grape varietals Aglianico, Sangiovese, and Glera. Deborah Brenner [9], Founder and President of Women of the Vine and Spirits [10], also appeared on the program to speak about the achievements of women in the wine industry and the challenges they face. The program is now in its second series and releases two episodes per week. Be sure to check it out every Tuesday and Wednesday on SoundCloud, iTunes, or at www.italianwinepodcast.com [3].

An Italian Wine Study Guide

If this sounds appealing to you, you’ll also want to pick up a copy of the new book Italian Wine Unplugged Grape by Grape. Currently available as an ebook on Amazon [11], this unparalleled volume analyzes over 430 Italian native grape varieties. Best of all, you don’t have to be an expert to understand the information presented to you. The introductory chapters provide historical, cultural, geographical, and scientific information that will help you understand the various grapes and varieties. And there’s a lot to learn. Italy has 591 indigenous grape varieties, which is more than any country in the whole world! Don’t worry though–a series of flashcards, mind maps, photographs, and maps of Italian appellations will help you keep all of the information straight. The book has already received praise from personalities in the wine world. Adam Teeter [12], co-founder of Vine Pair [13] states, “Italy is one of the most fascinating wine countries in the world, but many people, including top wine professionals, are still confused about the plethora of indigenous grapes that make Italian wine so special. Italian Wine Unplugged Grape by Grape finally brings these grapes into the light in a way everyone can understand.”

Stevie Kim [14], Managing Director of Vinitaly International [15], is the driving force behind Italian Wine Unplugged. Kim and Ian D’Agata have coordinated a team of authors and Italian wine educators to contribute to the book including Geralyn Brostrom [16], co-founder and education director at Italian Wine Central [17] in Napa, California; Lingzi He [18], wine educator and journalist based in France and Hong Kong; and Michaela Morris [19], wine writer, educator, and presenter based in Vancouver, Canada. Some sections of the book were curated by Michele Longo [20], Italian wine writer, sommelier, and experienced wine-competition judge. The aforementioned mind maps are the contribution of JC Viens [21], Deputy Editor of Spirito di Vino Asia [22] and WSET [23] Educator. Finally, Monty Waldin from the Italian Wine Podcast wrote the preface.

The ebook on Amazon is currently a pilot version of the book. After receiving feedback from the Italian wine community, a definitive version will be released in both electronic and paperback versions. According to Kim, the beta version of the book “aims to foster connections and intellectual exchange to improve its content.” For more information, visit the official website. >>> [24]