Sangiovese wine and Napa Valley are among the most important factors in the wine industry today. Each has an incredible and influential story that helped them become so popular and well-known. The Sangiovese variety is known for its savory taste, acidity, and earthy, rustic flavors like herbs and tomatoes. It may even have a cherry or red plum flavor. (Wine Folly) Sangiovese grapes are used to make wines such as Brunello di Montalcino and Chainte Classico. (The Grape) Napa Valley is known for its 815 different grape varieties and its contribution to the American economy. (Facts) The valley is particularly recognized for its ability to produce wines such as Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. (Napa Vintners) Each represents its own basic element in the wine economy today. The history of Italian winemaking is crucial to the importance and education of the Sangiovese grape variety. “The Italian wine economy has evolved as the wine market has matured. A culture of mass production has given way to a culture of craftsmanship and entrepreneurship.” Dating back to ancient history, the Etruscans were the first to plant wild vines on trees in Italy. The Greeks then brought seeds across the Adriatic Sea and helped create Italian viticulture. Both are accredited for the beginning of Italian winemaking. Fast forward to 1855, when Italy was not a unified country. Winemaking was defined by tenuta, or when an agricultural estate (often controlled by a noble family) was maintained by sharecroppers. Sharecroppers were peasants who worked the tenutas' fields to produce grapes and wine for their owners. In exchange, sharecroppers were allowed to live on the tenutas and even keep part of the crops for themselves. This is better known as the mezzadria system. The mezzadria system lasted until the 1950s. After World War II, Italy transitioned from a monarchy to a republic. The new government then attempted to redistribute land to the peasant population. As a result, large estates were broken up and land was too small to do any good for farmers. Italians left their homes in the 1950s to settle in other countries. “In the 1960s, only 30% of Italian territory was involved in agriculture. Today, this figure is less than 10%. During the 1960s and 1970s, the Italian government and the European Union invested heavily in vineyards, generating huge wine surpluses. The European Union then tried to get rid of the surpluses by pulling out the vines and planting other things, making Italy a wine welfare state. This gave Italy a bad reputation among other wine producers. (Lynch, 5-7)Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Despite this, the 1980s and 1990s marked a shift in Italian winemaking as the economy advanced technologically. The Sangiovese grape variety is known as “the grape variety in the heart of Italy.” It is the leading grape variety in Italy. In Latin, it is called Sanguis Jovis, which means “the blood of Jupiter”. Originating from the lands of Tuscany, the Sangiovese grape variety can be described as “the line between an angel and a demon”. Thirty years ago, it was a major part of the Tuscan revolution. Seven years ago, this sparked the Brunellogate scandal, which nearly brought the Italian wine industry to its knees. This grape variety is sodelicate that it must be mastered perfectly to produce good wine. The slightest change in weather or mishandling ruins the true flavor of the Sangiovese grape. This grape variety accounts for around 10% of all Italian vineyards, located mainly in Tuscany, but it is also found in the far north and south of Italy. This is because the territory is absolutely perfect for variety. The grape has a thick skin on the outside, but delicate flesh on the inside and is a beautiful red grape variety. In fact, it is so highly valued that some wineries prohibit the combination of this grape with other grapes. In traditional Tuscan winemaking, Sangiovese is always blended with other grape varieties, such as Mammolo or Colorino. Brunello di Montalcino, the highest expression of Sangiovese, is composed of forest fruits, cola and spices, and is marketed after five years of harvest. Other wines made from Sangiovese include Coastal Tuscany, Umbira and Chianti Classico. (The Grape) There are many qualities of Sangiovese that contribute to its fame. Sangiovese is known for its “strong acidity structure, while being integrated with soft tannins that allow the wine to mature and evolve over an extended period of time.” (Grape) The variety includes fruit flavors, such as cherry, red plum, strawberry and fig, to darker, savory flavors like roasted pepper, tomato, leather, oregano and smoke. It is generally aged between 4 and 7 years, but can be aged between 10 and 18 years (Brunello di Montalcino). Sangiovese occupies 155,000 acres of Tuscany and pairs well with foods including herbs and tomatoes, fat and small amounts of sugar (slow-roasted pork with white bean puree). (Wine Folly) Napa Valley is also a staple of the wine industry today. It is known for its Carbernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Melot grape varieties. In 1839, George Calvert Yount was the first settler to test Napa wine grapes. He planted the grapes, which proved to be a success. Then, in 1861, Charles Krug was credited with establishing the first commercial winery in Napa Valley. “In 1889, there were over 140 wineries operating. » This includes Schramsberg (1862) and Inglenook (1879). In the 20th century, a root louse called Phylloxera destroyed 80% of Napa Valley's vineyards. Then, in 1920, Prohibition began and most of the remaining wineries were abandoned. Only a few remained open for the production of sacramental wine. When Prohibition ended in 1933, the wine industry then began to slowly recover. A new group of pioneers, such as John Daniel Jr. and Robert Mondavi, credit the rebirth of the Napa Valley. These pioneers discovered that they “worked better together than alone.” So in 1944, seven winemakers signed an agreement that formed the Napa Valley Vintners trade association. This association today brings together 500 wine estates. In 1968, “America’s first agricultural reserve was established.” The Napa Valley industry is now considered the most regulated in the world. (Napa Vintners) The 1976 Paris Tasting is what really put Napa on the map today. Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay from California were tasted blind against some of the best Bordeaux and Burgundy wines from France. Judges gave the highest scores to California wines, giving Napa Valley their score. In 1981, Napa Valley Vintners held its first wine auction. The Napa Valley Auction, held annually, is "the world's most famous wine charity event." All the.