In Italy wine is often taken for granted

Italy and France are the two biggest wine producers in the world, and Italy has more land under the vine than any other country in the world, with the exception of Spain.

Unlike either France or Spain, the Italians cultivate grapes almost everywhere on the Italian peninsula, from the Alps in the north to the islands that are closer to the north coast of Africa than the Italian mainland. The Danzante Pinot Grigio we review this week is a light, fresh wine made from grapes grown in North East Italy.

The three northeastern areas where the fruit is sourced are Trentino Alto Adige, Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia. Together they form a region known as Tre Venezie. The land is at high altitude and subject to cool summers, while warm winds blow in from the Adriatic Sea.