This week, our virtual tour of Italian regions growing lesser-known grapes brings us to one seemingly forgotten (or avoided) by the Renaissance. Lacking the major architectural relics of other regions, or a history of fine art, this region is not a magnet for the typical tourist.

However, in my opinion, this region, more than any other, exemplifies Italian culture in its simplest, yet most evocative, embodiment. The sophistication here is in the personalities of its residents, in its cuisine and in its wines.