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The Italian wine bible for a new generation—a superstar sommelier and restaurateur explores the dynamic world of contemporary Italian wine.

“Joe gives us the gift of learning about the ever-evolving landscape of the world’s most soulful (and might I say favorite?) wine region.”—Danny Meyer

ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times

Acclaimed Italian wine expert, sommelier, winemaker, and restaurateur, Joe Campanale presents a comprehensive guide that is as transportive as it is deeply educational. Vino dives into the dynamic landscape of Italian wine today, where a new generation of winemakers is eschewing popular international styles, championing long-forgotten indigenous grapes, and adopting sustainable approaches best suited for their local climates.
 
In an epic quest through Italy’s 20 regions that takes readers from the steep hills of Valle d’Aosta to the near-tropical climates of Sicily, Campanale uncovers and profiles the diversity of real Italian wine and the most exciting, game-changing producers in each area. Readers will leave with countless recommendations for exceptional winemakers and be armed with Campanale’s empowering new rubric of quality (say goodbye to the Italian wine pyramid). Full of colorful stories, in-depth explorations of the modern craft, and stunning photography, Vino proves there's never been a better time to drink Italian wine.

From the Publisher

Lunch overlooking seaside vineyards in Liguria

Winemakers Emidio and granddaughter Chiara Pepe in Abruzzo

Villa on Mount Etna

Winemaker Arianna Occhipinti in Sicily

Trebbiano Spoletino grapes in Umbria at Paolo Bea's Estate

Winemaker Ermes Pavese and son Nathan in Valle D’Aosta

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Clarkson Potter (April 26, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593136144
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593136140
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.71 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.37 x 1.32 x 10.29 inches
Reviewer: Browner
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great Tour of Italian Wine and a Fresh Look at Wine Classification
Review: With a history that dates back many centuries, it might be reasonable to assume that everything that could—or should—be written about Italian winemaking had already happened. The reality, though, is that consumer tastes, environmental conditions, production methods, and regulatory mandates change so much from year to year that it is virtually impossible to write a single treatment that captures the essence of the topic for all time. So, a book such as Vino: The Essential Guide to Real Italian Wine that provides a fresh look at viniculture across the entire peninsula, along with stories of the men and women devoted producing wine the right way, is a welcome addition to the countless existing works. Co-author Joe Campanale, a celebrated New York-based sommelier and restauranteur, has spent his career developing an expertise in this area and that joy, passion, and knowledge comes through on every page of this impressive volume.The book is divided into three distinct parts, beginning with a potentially controversial discussion of how the highly regulated DOC appellation system that has been used to classify Italian wines for more than a half century can be a highly misleading guide to the quality of what ends up in the glass. As an alternative, Campanale suggests the use of the Vino Vero Venn (VVV) diagram, which triangulates wine quality on three dimensions: the use of grapes native to a region, the quality of the terroir, and the talents of artisan winemakers. If nothing else, the VVV system reveals the author’s underlying bias that only those bottles produced with native grapes using natural methods can be considered as "real" wines, or vino vero. I found this to be an interesting way to look at wine production and one that has the benefit of focusing on the characteristics of the product itself instead of classifications dictated by government regulation. A second section of the book then provides a quick synopsis of new styles—such as orange wines—that have emerged using VVV-friendly production methods.The third section, which is by far the longest and most detailed, offers a region-by-region breakdown of what wine is being made right now throughout Italy, a discussion that goes far beyond the Chianti, Barolo, and Prosecco we are already familiar with. For each of the twenty regions—from Valle D’Aosta in the north to Sicily in the south—the authors provide an exhaustive overview of the history and growing conditions in the area, which grapes are considered native, and profiles of many of the current and recent past producers who have defined the industry. Much of this information was highly informative and did a great job of highlighting the diversity that exists across the country, including why producing wine with grapes native to an area is so important. The only real negative thing I can say about this material is the excessive amount of space spent on the growers’ biographies; although these were uniformly thoughtful and well-written, the people profiled will mean little to anyone who is not intimately connected to the business.Overall, Vino is a thoroughly researched and passionately rendered look at a topic that will certainly resonate with a lot of readers. The authors bring a new point of view to a very old topic and their ability to communicate both their expertise and their enthusiasm was quite striking. I suspect that this volume will be a welcome addition to the bookshelves of all of us who love everything about Italian wine.

Reviewer: BRK212
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Remarkably informative, yet interesting and personal reference on Italian wine
Review: There's a lot to love about this book!As others mentioned, I think it strikes a great balance on material between comprehensive reference and the author's personal point of view on what's interesting and exciting to drink.There's a lot of factual information here to learn about the various regions with maps, overviews of major and minor grapes you'll find, and intricate details on how wine is actually made. I came away feeling like this had all the information and more I'd want on the technical context but didn't really read those parts cover to cover. There's a ton of information that I think I'd come back to when drinking something new, but it's also not a 1000 page encyclopedia for professionals; it's written for the enthusiast.What I really loved was how it focused on the winemakers as craftspeople, and centered on artisanal wine specifically. The author adds his opinion on the subject, and the book is full of personal stories, pictures of all these winemakers he has a personal relationship with, and gorgeous landscape photos. You really get a sense of where the wines come from and who makes them.This book focuses on the kind of wine I think most people want to drink - authentic stuff, made by skilled craftspeople, that feels special to open, and doesn't cost a fortune. There's a long list of great finds in this book that aren't going to be for sale at your corner liquor store or grocery, but aren't impossible to find or wildly expensive either. I felt like I was constantly searching new names online and building a list of things I wanted to try.Anyone with an interest in Italian or artisan wine should definitely get this book!

Reviewer: Howard Lorsch
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great!
Review: Truly informative, wonderfully and beautifully written! This book doesn't just teach you about the vast wonders of the various aspects of Italian wines, their origins and wine making, Joe's words actually transport you to where it all happens and the resulting outcomes. What is apparent is the passion he developed from his research and experience that makes him a great sommelier. You can feel this passion jump off the pages! If you could close your eyes while reading you will imagine being in the hills of Tuscany, feeling the soft breezes and inhaling the earth as well as the bouquets of what you are learning about.If this book doesn't motivate you to book your trip to Italy it will certainly send you to your favorite wine store a more educated and enthusiastic consumer, maybe even (or eventually?) a connoisseur.

Reviewer: Sdmarciano
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: ESSENTIAL, the BEST and ONLY resource you need for real Italian wine
Review: This book is THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE for anyone who loves Italian wine. I love wine, and Italian wine in particular, but I have always found it difficult to wade through all the local grape varieties, countless producers, and unhelpful Italian wine denominations to find truly memorable wines. This book changed all that. The authors take you through each region in Italy (even the less famous ones), detailing the important, often lesser-known grapes and introducing the winemakers who are letting these grapes shine (native yeast, organic/biodynamic practices, everything-by-hand, limited oak, etc.). I don't enter a wine shop anymore without this book in hand and have a list as long as my leg of new regions, grapes, and producers to explore. Case in point - I had to jump through a lot of hoops to find a wine by the guys in the photo I posted, but when I did, it was worth every ounce of effort. And now I can wax poetic about wines from Valle d'Aosta! It's strange to say that a book on wine changed my life, but here we are.

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Very beautifully illustrated!!
Review: Vino, vino, vino!! How beautifully illustrated! Very nicely done, shows varieties of Italian wines for connoisseurs and those who are learning about quality wines. A great gift!!!

Reviewer: Daniel Clark
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A very readable deep dive into Italian wine
Review: Amazing encyclopedia of native grapes and progressive wine makers. Goes a long way to clear the fog of complexity surrounding the ancient history and exciting new future that is Italian wine.

Reviewer: Sabrina
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Not a wine expert by any account but just returned from a trip to Italy and this was very enjoyable to look through! More than just a beautiful coffee book

Reviewer: Kate Gray
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Useful read

Reviewer: Ivan Stoev
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Great book, shame on Amazon for the cheap packaging and damaging this fine book.

Reviewer: Nelsy Cedeño
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Buen libro

Reviewer: Diane B Kim
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: As a non-professional wine aficionado, I loved this book. The photos, anecdotes and producer profiles give great context to a dynamic and diverse wine country. Not just focusing on the well known, top tier producers, Joe uses his experience as a somm and beverage director in NY to help us all find what we're looking for - wines with a story we love to consume!