California and Italian wines

[JCD]

Can anyone help me with a question I have to find an answer to? Can you describe the stylistic differences between Californian and Italian wines? Thanks a lot.

[wondersofwine]

Seems to be too broad a question. California wines are made in a variety of styles. Probably Italian wines are too. Some people do refer to New World wines and Old World (European) wines but I would not be bold enough to speak in generalities on the subject. At one time it may have had inferences to European wine spending time in wood vats and oak barrels and California wines going into stainless steel vats, but now many (perhaps too many) CA wines are aged in new oak barrels. California vintners may have been more inclined to filter wine in the past, but now some, like Robert Mondavi, do less filtering.

[Botafogo]

Italian wines are "probably" made in differing styles?!?!? Try over 200 varietals gowing in climates ranging from Alpine slopes with snow on top to semi-tropical vineyards with sand dunes in Puglia. Fold in the anarchistic temperment of the winemakers of over 30,000 wineries. Add a glaze of Aussie / California technology and grill to taste. Eco la! Thousands of differing styles ranging from nearly prehistoric Montepulciano or Sagrantino based funk bombs to slicker than Gallo and KJ combined Merlot meets Chemistry fruit punch aimed straight at your mother in law in Omaha.....

Any generalization about Italian wines is as flawed as one about African music or Indian food, there is just too much information (and constantly changing at that) to make sweeping statements.

Diversity is a wonderful thing, Roberto

[This message has been edited by Botafogo (edited 02-25-2002).]