Italy is one of the largest wine producing countries in the world, producing more wine in hectoliters than any other country in the world. The country is full of different regions, which produce high quality wines. Most vineyards in Italy boast a rich and diverse wine heritage. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In the northwestern corner of Italy, in the Po valley, lies one of Italy's most famous wine regions, Piedmont. Piedmont is known for its red wines rich in tannins. In addition to red wines, the region also produces white wines and sweet white sparkling wines such as Moscato d'Asti. The Piedmont region is divided into five different council areas and all these areas are known for different types of grape varieties and wines. Piedmont borders France, Switzerland and the coast of the warm Mediterranean. Its climate is influenced by the Alps and the Apennines and by the warm Mediterranean. Although the climate is usually hot and dry in the summer and cold and dry in the winter, there may be occasional rain and fog during the harvest period in autumn. Low fog has a positive effect on vineyards located on the hills. Areas located higher up in the hills are more likely to receive more sun, meaning that wines produced in those areas are more likely to taste better. Areas that don't receive much sun and where the climate is cooler produce wines with a lighter flavor and higher acidity. Due to the different combinations of environmental and climatic conditions, there are many differences between the wines of the Piedmont sub-regions. Due to the length of Italy, it is difficult to accurately describe soil conditions. The Piedmontese soil is variable and predominantly clayey. It usually contains many high levels of magnesium and manganese oxide. In some areas such as the Serralunga Valley, the soil is heavier and fuller and contains a lot of iron and phosphorus. The best-known Piedmontese grape is a red wine grape called Nebbiolo. It is a high tannin grape with flavors of rose, red cherry and tar. It is used to produce high quality wines with DOC and DOCG certifications. The most popular wines produced from Nebbiolo are the high-quality red wines Barolo and Barbaresco, both classified with DOCG. Keep in mind: this is just one example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay Other important red wine grapes from Piedmont are Barbera and Dolcetto. Wines made from Nebbiolo are more tannic than wines made from Barbera grapes. The taste is also often fruitier and more delicate. Dolcetto grapes are grown to produce dry red wines with some tannin and fresh taste. Although Piedmont is known as a red wine area, some white wines are also produced. The best known grapes for the production of white wine are Moscato, Cortese and Arneis.