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The Everyday Guide to Wines of Italy

Season 1
Experience the dynamism of Italian wine for yourself and become your own expert in the tastes, traditions, and innovations from history’s definitive wine-making regions. Embark on a delicious, interactive, and unforgettable tasting tour through a country that is equal parts picturesque, romantic, and mysterious.
20236 episodesTV-PG
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Episodes

  1. S1 E1 - Wines from Julius Caesar’s Day to Today
    October 31, 2023
    36min
    TV-PG
    Get the tools you need to embark on this unforgettable journey through the world of Italian wines. First, get a brief overview of Italy’s history of winemaking and its important grape varieties. Then, use the five S’s to compare ancient and modern wines. Finally, take a closer look at the art of pairing wine with food, and make sense of wine labels and terminology.
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  2. S1 E2 - Northeast Italy - Beloved Whites to Rich Reds
    October 31, 2023
    38min
    TV-PG
    Continue your tour with a visit to Venice and other areas in the northeastern corner of the country—a region famed for light-bodied white wines and deep reds. You’ll compare and contrast Champagne and Prosecco; learn how to make the perfect Bellini; compare and contrast large-volume and boutique Pinot Grigios; and more.
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  3. S1 E3 - Northwest Italy - Sophisticated Wines
    October 31, 2023
    37min
    TV-PG
    Venture to the Piemonte, which rests right at the foot of the Alps. Some of the intriguing wines you’ll encounter here: a Franciacorta (whose floral hints pair surprisingly well with fried foods); a Cinque Terre Blanco (Liguria’s most renowned wine); and a Barolo (often described as a “masculine” wine due to its burly tannins).
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  4. S1 E4 - Tuscan Stars - Chianti to Super Tuscans
    October 31, 2023
    35min
    TV-PG
    Discover why Tuscan wines are famous all over the world with this lecture devoted to some of the greats that this region has to offer. You’ll sample some of the tastes from this breathtaking part of the country, including a lemony Vermentino, a light-bodied Barbera, a savory Chianti Classico, and a tannic Super Tuscan (considered the most controversial red in all of Italy).
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  5. S1 E5 - Central Italy - Secret Gems
    October 31, 2023
    31min
    TV-PG
    Explore the exciting complexities of red and white wines from central Italy, a region that is only just now beginning to make a name for itself internationally. You’ll get delicious introductions to wines such as an Orvieto and a Sagrantino from Umbria, and a Lambrusco from Emilia-Romagna—all the while comparing and contrasting them to see what subtleties make each wine unique.
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  6. S1 E6 - Southern Italy - Juicy Reds and Pizza Pairings
    October 31, 2023
    32min
    TV-PG
    Conclude with a stop in southern Italy and its surrounding islands—a sunny and exotic region known for robust, juicy wines. The wines you’ll learn about in this lecture: a Fiano di Avellino, a Greco di Tufo, a Nero d’Avola, a Primitivo, and an Aglianico. As a fun end to the course, you’ll see how some of these wines pair with three versions of Italy’s most popular dish: pizza.
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Subtitles
None available
Producers
The Great Courses
Cast
Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan
Studio
The Great Courses
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