A New York Times and Food & Wine Best Wine Book of 2019
Italy’s Native Wine Grape Terroirs is the definitive reference book on the myriad crus and the grand cru wine production areas of Italy’s native wine grapes. Ian D’Agata’s approach to discussing wine, both scientific and discursive, provides an easy-to-read, enjoyable guide to Italy’s best terroirs. Descriptions are enriched with geologic data, biotype and clonal information, producer anecdotes and interviews, and facts and figures compiled over fifteen years of research devoted to wine terroirs. In-depth analysis is provided for the terroirs that produce both the well-known wines (Barolo, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino) and those not as well-known (Grignolino d’Asti, Friuli Colli Orientali Picolit, Ischia). Everyday wine lovers, beginners, and professionals alike will find this new book to be the perfect complement to D’Agata’s previous award-winning Native Wine Grapes of Italy.
"Part walking Wikipedia, part philosopher, Ian D'Agata supplies a wealth of information on Italian wine—both fact and lore—and his latest book is a must-have and a compelling read for all lovers of Italy, Italian culture, and Italian wine. Ian's unique voice and unparalleled access to Italy's most famous, most infamous, and those not-yet-discovered winemakers and vignerons tells a fascinating story of Italy's history through the lens of agriculture and winemaking."––Laura DePasquale, Master Sommelier
"D’Agata’s prose is as noteworthy as its scholarly content. Anyone interested in delving deeply into Italian wine needs a copy of this book"—Michael Apstein, James Beard Award–winning wine writer and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
"I get asked all the time, which wine writers do I most admire? Ian D'Agata is always at the top of my list. He is that rarest of creatures, a once-in-a-generation great wine writer, and a benchmark for writing beautifully, engagingly, and with compelling insight. Really, nobody today does it better."––Matt Kramer, author of True Taste: The Seven Essential Wine Words
"For the Italian wine obsessive, there could be no better gift this season than Ian D’Agata’s extraordinarily comprehensive look into Italy’s wine grape varieties, where they grow, and how they express the character of that place. He is as thorough with noble varieties like Nebbiolo, the signature grape of Barolo and Barbaresco, as he is with obscurities such as Mayolet and Dorona, delving into history, specific terroirs, subzones, and top producers."
