Overview
The Story of Italian Wine
The history of the vine in Italy is inextricably tied to the story of Italian civilization. Vines were cultivated by indigenous populations throughout Italy prior to 1000 BCE, including the Rhaeti, Salassi, and Liguri in the northwest; the Veneti in the northeast; the Piceni in central Italy; the Samnites in the south; and the Nuragic people of Sardegna.
Key Historical Periods
| Period | Dates | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Indigenous Tribes | Pre-1000 BCE | First vine cultivation |
| Etruscan Era | 8th-6th c. BCE | Alberata training, wine trade |
| Greek Colonization | 8th-6th c. BCE | Magna Graecia, bush vines |
| Roman Republic/Empire | 4th c. BCE - 476 CE | First grands crus, expansion |
| Middle Ages | 476 - 1400s | Monks preserve wine culture |
| Renaissance | 1300s - 1600s | Maritime Republics, trade |
| Risorgimento | 1815 - 1870 | Unification of Italy |
| Modern Era | 1963 - Present | DOC system, quality revolution |
Ancient Era
The Etruscan civilization developed in modern-day Toscana and Umbria prior to the 8th century BCE. At their peak, they occupied central/southern Italy and northern areas along the Po River (parts of Lombardia, Veneto, Piemonte, Emilia-Romagna).
Key Contributions
- Most advanced civilization of their time within Italian territory
- Learned from Phoenicians, then taught northern/central tribes
- Domesticated wild vines and trained them high using trees (alberata or vite maritata all'albero)
- Developed flourishing wine trade as early as 7th century BCE
- Exported wines to southern France and Spain
Greek settlers arrived on southern Italian coasts and founded important cities in modern-day Sicilia, Campania, Calabria, Basilicata, and Puglia. Romans called these territories Magna Graecia (Greater Greece).
Key Contributions
- Brought grape varieties from Greece
- Introduced head training (bush vines) - unfamiliar to locals
- Advanced viticulture and winemaking in the south
- Wine acquired cult status linked to Dionysus (later Bacchus)
- Turned wine into essential economic commodity
Division of Influence
Etruscans = Northern and Central Italy advancement
Greeks = Southern Italy advancement (Magna Graecia)
Roman Era
Rise of Rome
Beginning in the 4th century BCE, the Roman Republic became the major power on the Italian Peninsula. By the 3rd century BCE, Roma dominated almost all of it. In 42 BCE, the entire territory was granted Roman citizenship—for the first time, Italy was united.
Roman Viticultural Advances
- Adopted best techniques from both Etruscans and Greeks
- Refined vine training and pruning to levels that remained in use for centuries
- Wines were sweet, alcoholic, diluted with water
- Flavored with sea water, resin, herbs, spices, honey
Important Roman Authors
| Author | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Columella | De re rustica - recommended ideal soils and areas for each variety |
| Cato the Elder | Agricultural treatises on viticulture |
| Pliny the Elder | Natural history including wine descriptions |
| Horace & Virgilius | Literary accounts of wines and practices |
Famous Roman Wines (First "Grands Crus")
- Caecubum — Lazio (white)
- Falernum — Campania (white)
- Mamertinum — Sicilia (white)
- Rhaeticum (Retico) — Veneto around Verona (modern Valpolicella)
- Pucinum — Friuli Venezia Giulia
Assumed power as dictator, ending 500-year Roman Republic.
Octavius became first Emperor. Roma was largest city in world.
Forbade planting new vines in Italy due to overproduction and wheat scarcity.
Roman Empire at greatest extent under Trajan.
Constantine established new capital, weakening Roma's importance.
Western and Eastern Roman Empires after Theodosius's death.
Germanic invasions ended Western Roman Empire.
Monte Testaccio
Roma's famous trash heap—115 ft/35 m high, covering nearly 4.9 ac/2 ha—contains remains of over 50 million amphoras. These were discarded because olive oil residue made them unsuitable for refilling or recycling.
Medieval Era
The Dark Ages
The fall of the Western Roman Empire (476 CE) marked the beginning of the Dark Ages. Wine production continued but the drive for quality faded with Roman society. Monks became shepherds of the vine, preserving wine culture for sacramental, medicinal purposes and as a caloric source.
Emperor Justinian conquered Italy but wars left country devastated.
Lombards settled and sought to rule entire peninsula.
Franks defended pope; Lazio, Marche, Umbria, part of Emilia-Romagna became Papal States.
Defeated Lombards, absorbed their northern territories.
Pope crowned Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor at St. Peter's Basilica.
Normans united southern peninsula as expanded Kingdom of Sicily.
Rise of the Comuni
After Charlemagne's death (814 CE), towns and cities in northern/central Italy acquired increasing independence. The comuni (municipalities) became the typical form of governmental power, evolving into city-states.
Important City-States
- Milano, Bologna, Parma, Firenze — Extended power beyond city limits
- Venezia, Genova, Pisa — Maritime Republics controlling Mediterranean trade
First Important Documents
- 14th century: Pier de Crescenzi wrote first important post-Roman text on vines and wine
- 14th century: First mentions of Nebbiolo and Garganega
- 15th century: Records of Cinque Terre, Aglianico, Aleatico, Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Sangiovese di Romagna
Renaissance & Early Modern
The Rinascimento
For more than 200 years (late 13th to 16th century), Italy was the center of the Rinascimento (Italian Renaissance)—the cultural movement that preceded the European Renaissance. It began in Firenze, expanded throughout Italy, then spread to Europe.
The Signorie
The comuni gradually fell under control of powerful families, morphing into signorie (lordships).
| Family | City |
|---|---|
| Medici | Firenze (Florence) |
| Sforza | Milano (Milan) |
| Gonzaga | Mantova (Mantua) |
| Visconti | Milano (earlier) |
Maritime Republics
Throughout the 14th century, coastal cities became important trade and military centers. Venezia eventually obtained supremacy over the others.
- Venezia (Venice) — Ultimate victor, controlled Mediterranean trade
- Genova (Genoa) — Major competitor
- Pisa — Earlier power
Economic Decline
When trade with the Americas began in 1492, Mediterranean routes lost importance. The entire peninsula entered deep economic crisis, particularly severe in the south.
Corks and glass bottles became common in France and Germany during 17th-18th centuries, but not widespread in Italy (except Piemonte) until the 19th century—no incentive to improve with minimal exports.
Modern Era
Il Risorgimento (1815-1870)
Italy's political and civil rebirth led to unification. Key figures:
- Vittorio Emanuele II — King of Sardinia
- Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour — Prime Minister
- Giuseppe Garibaldi — General
- Cristina di Belgiojosa — Journalist/activist
Duchy of Savoy obtained Sardegna, becoming major political power.
Most of peninsula unified under Vittorio Emanuele II.
Only Trentino-Alto Adige and part of Friuli Venezia Giulia remained outside.
Vineyard Devastation
- Oidium (powdery mildew) — Late 19th century
- Phylloxera — First noticed in Lombardia 1875, identified 1879
- Peronospora (downy mildew) — Early 20th century
20th Century
Italy joined Allies; gained Trentino, Alto Adige, remaining FVG from Austria-Hungary.
Italy declared republic after war; rapid reconstruction and economic boom (1950s-60s).
Denominazione di Origine Controllata approved to protect wine origins.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano became first approved DOC.
12 growers arrested for adulterating wines; led to tighter laws and quality shift.
Wine Revolution Pioneers
- Giacomo Tachis — Shaped modern red winemaking in Toscana
- Mario Schiopetto — Innovative white wines in FVG
- Giorgio Lungarotti — Modern viticulture in Umbria
- Antonio Mastroberardino — Foundation for Campania
Italy Today
#1 in wine production (49.8M hl, 19.3% world)
#1 in export volume (21.9M hl, 20.5% world)
#2 in export value (€7.8B, 20.8% world)
#4 in vineyard area (718,000 ha, 9.9% world)
G7 member, 4th largest European economy, EU founding member.
Exam Flags
Key facts for the Italian Wine Scholar examination: