Italy has such a strong food and wine heritage that I do not really know where to start. Like France, Italy possesses huge cultural diversity. From the Germanic Alto Adige to the sun-drenched Sicily, the range of wines produced is phenomenal. Similarly varied is Italy's gastronomy, and although clichés tend to make us think of pizza and tomato, the continental/mountain climate of the north offers very different, butter and cream-based fare as opposed to the Mediterranean olive oil cliché. Veal, Risotto, truffles and polenta are dominant in the rich Po Valley between Brescia and Venice. Herbs and fabulous seafood prevail in the south. The beauty of Italy is that for every single type of food produced, there is always a fantastic wine to match. Salute!
