Benvenuto a Tutto
Italiano
To many,
Italy is synonymous with wine. Along with pasta, tomatoes, and cheese (and many
other products), the distinctive traits of the people of Italy greatly
influenced the culture and horticulture of
grapes.
The
connection between Italy and wine dates back to ancient times. Some note that
when the Greeks settled in southern Italy, they called it Oenotria, a word
derived from oinos, the Greek word for wine. They say the land was
named for the ease in which the grapevines grew; but in Roman
Antiquities, written by Dionysius of Halicarnassus (c.60-7
BC), the land was named for Oenotrus (paragraph 12), a possible
descendent of Zeus. Oenotrus left Greece and settled in Italy.
Others
claim that Enotria (land of wine) was the name given first to the “toe” of the
boot (region of Calabria), and then to much of Italy when the land was ruled by
Greece. The wines of Italy were superior to the wines of Greece – one variety
was used to toast athletes during the Olympics.
Another
account is that the Enotrians migrated from the North and inhabited the land
before the Greeks arrived in around 700 BC; and Italus, King of the Enotrians,
gave his name to Italy. Some note that Italus was the brother of Oenotrus.
A Tribute to
Italian Wine
Italy’s
history to viniculture prominence may have some ambiguity, but there’s no doubt
today that it’s a leader in the wine industry – in 2010 it was the world’s top
producer and exporter of wine.
Each
year, numerous festivals praise the grapes produced by local vineyards. One of
the largest events, with more than 1,000 wine cellars participating is Cantine
Aperte (Open Cellars), held on the last Sunday in May.
Started
in 1993 by Movimento Turismo del Vino (Wine
Tourism Movement) to “see what you drink,” Cantine Aperte offers tourists an
opportunity to visit wineries, sample local wines and food, and meet the
vintners. The organization also sponsors several other annual wine events
including Calici di Stella (Goblet of
Stars), where celebrations and wine tastings are held in piazzas throughout
Italy, so visitors can see San Lorenzo’s tears – the falling
stars of the meteor Perseids; and Natale
in Cantina, where visitors have the opportunity to visit wine cellars during
the Christmas season.
A popular
event and the world’s largest for the trade is Vinitaly, now in its 46th year. Held
in Verona (region of Veneto), this year Vinitaly featured close to 4,200
exhibitors.
What’s
in A Name? (Fra Noi)
What’s in a
Name?
A primer
on the names of wines can be quite useful; and just as there’s a logical reason
for the name on a bottle of wine, there’s a logical reason for Italian (and
Italian American) surnames.
Find your
name, or any other Italian surname, and learn its meaning at Italian Surnames: Etymology and Origin. (Click on letter at top of column on right.)
Italian
Travel Tips
Portovenere, Liguria
(Exquisite Photographs)
Buon anno, buon tutto, buona
vita,
Janice
Therese Mancuso
Author of Con Amore
Support
Italian American History in America's Schools
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©2012 by
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