Wines of Northern Italy
Episode One: Trentino is located in Italy's central alpine,  near the border of Switzerland and Austria. This mountainous, rugged area  is generally unsuited for viniculture. Wine production is centered  principally in the valley of the Adige, which is most famous for the five  million bottles of Chardonnay-based Spumante it produces annually.Episode Two: Friuli, in the northeastern-most region of Italy, has long  been characterized as a hybrid between Italian, Austrian, and Slavic wine  traditions. It is primarily famous for its production of light, fruity  white wines.Episode Three: The Veneto is the most important wine region of northeastern  Italy, with an annual production of over 200 million gallons. Among its  more famous wines are the incredibly concentrated Amarone and Recioto, as  well as the lighter, fruitier, and better known Soave and Valpolicella.Episode Four: Piedmont is arguably one of Italy's most distinguished and  important wine regions. Wine production centers around the Nebbiolo,  Piedmont's most noble grape. Along with Tuscany's Sangiovese, it is the  grape that has given the largest number of distinguished wines to Italy.  The region's legendary red wines include Barolo, Barbaresco, and Gattinara,  but equally famous is its Asti Spumante.Episode Five: Lombardy, in north-central Italy, is the country's largest  and most populous region. Although no single grape or varietal style  predominates, excellent wine is nonetheless produced in the regions of  Valtellina, Oltrepo Pavese, and Franciacorta.Episode Six: Emilia Romagna stretches across north-central Italy from the  Adriatic Sea in the east to Liguria. Among the regions best-known varietal  wines is the Lambrusco, a light sparkling red that is often a perfect  accompaniment to a summer meal.Apprx: 2 hrs, color.