One of the thrills of living in Italy is being immersed in a nationwide passion for wine. This is a country that — with a massive 400-plus grape varieties and a string of constantly emerging globally-acclaimed wines — inevitably hovers close to the top of the list for wine aficionados. 

Wine is enmeshed in the very fabric of Italy. Viniculture had already been established in Italy by the time the Phoenicians landed in Sicily some 2,000 years ago. And while traditional winemaking continues in most Italian regions, some incredibly exciting innovations are also taking place.