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The real strength of Italian wines is the
sheer diversity of choice - there is something for everybody's taste.
In our vineyards at Casa della Fontana we grow
Barbera, Chardonnay and Moscato grapes.
Casa della Fontana is being refurbished to enable us
to offer guest accommodation.
A
swimming pool will be installed.
More information ?
If you would like more information
about
or
please call
me, Kerrie Barker, on:-
0039 0141 851 154
or send me an email,
(link at bottom of page)
If you would like us to
keep in touch, please fill in and
send us the form on the Registration page.
We look forward to hearing from you.
© Kerrie Barker 2007
|
 In
the Piedmont hills where we live, the conditions for growing grapes are
generally so favourable that vineyards adorn every horizon.
In Italian culture, where food is afforded
such high importance, wine is considered to be an essential part of a meal.
These pages, as they develop, will introduce you to the world
of Piedmontese wines, and we hope you will want to come and find out more
for yourself.
Join us on a voyage of discovery into the world of
Piedmont wines by following any of the blue links in the green side bar on the left.
These pages will be developed progressively.
Introduction
Italy is the world's second largest producer
of wine, and the largest exporter.
International markets were first opened up by
emigration, particularly in the Americas, and Italian wine is brought to
other consumers by Italian restaurants everywhere.
Quality Regulation and Branding
The advent of quality
regulation and the wider emergence of corporate brands in the second half of
the 20th century has added the continuing impetus of marketing and
advertising to market expansion. You can read more about this on the
wine label.
Nevertheless, the production
of wine in Italy is highly fragmented. Over two-thirds of wine producers own
less than 1 hectare of vineyard (that puts Casa
della Fontana in the top third !).
Many of the smallest producers
no longer find the economics of grape production (except for their own
table) viable, and lifestyle changes cause a continual flight from the land
by the younger generation.
Viniculture
There can be no doubt about it,
growing grapes is hard and, year
on year, speculative work. As a result, the area of land devoted to the
grape is diminishing. But all across Piedmont, and at
Casa della Fontana, new vineyards are still
being planted to guarantee future harvests
Strength in diversity
UK supermarkets do a great deal to promote
the wine trade generally with their special £4.99 offers, and if this is how
you prefer to buy (or limit your spend on) wine there is absolutely nothing
wrong with that.
 Italian supermarkets sell wine too, although
of course in Southern Piedmont we can show you how to save money by buying direct from
producers, which will give you excellent value for money.
Nevertheless, the real strength of Italian
wine is the sheer diversity of choice, whether between grape varieties (many
only found here),
style of wine or individual wine producer.
Southern Piedmont produces white, rosé,
red, still, sparkling, dry, sweet, dessert and aromatic wines - as well as
grappa distilled from grape pomace - so there is something for everybody's
taste.
An
Italian Adventure of discovery
A result of the Italian wine
trade's fragmentation is that many of these 'brands' are under-promoted
internationally and hence little known, so here you can embark on a real
Italian Adventure of discovery. We
hope that these wine pages, as they develop, will give you just a hint of
what is available.
Let us be your guide.
E mail:
kerrie@anitalianadventure.co.uk
0039 0141 851 154
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