Sampling a country’s wine, region by region, is a brilliant way to understand the culture and can be as interesting as seeing landscapes, tasting cuisines, hearing the language or perusing art.

Fair Verona is a major town in the Veneto region. Not only is it the setting of Shakespeare’s famed Romeo and Juliet, but, of similar signifi cance, it is also the home of fresh, dry and crisp white Soave wines and the rich amarone della Valpolicella red wines – used commonly to infuse the local risotto.

In Italy’s northwest is the exquisite Piedmont region, where rolling hills of vineyards are folded and tucked in over each other and dotted with small wineries and medieval villages. Piedmont wines have increased in quality, production and popularity in recent years with three varieties particularly taking the wine world by storm: the light, blossom-scented and sparkling moscato d’Asti; the bright, young and vibrant red dolcetto wine; and the most lauded – the perfumed, alluring and complex Barolo made from the red grape nebbiolo. These wines are like a crisp autumn day, brimming with savoury notes and aromas of wet earth, spice, fennel and freshly brewed tea.

And then there’s Tuscany, where I am writing from now, with its beautiful sunny and savoury sangiovese in its various forms, perhaps best known as Chianti Classico. Brunello di Montalcino is one of my new favourite wines from this area. It is a unique clone of sangiovese from a particularly beautiful part of Tuscany. At their best, these wines are medium-bodied, and blend the right portions of savoury, spice and red fruits for an intriguing, complex and seductive red.

What I’ve also noticed is that unlike wine from some newer wine-producing countries, Italian wine is infused into every aspect of the country; its history, culture, traditions, icons and lore. There is no beginning to the industry nor are there defi nitive boundaries. It’s not so easy to look at Italian wine without looking at the whole of Italy itself; which is a wonderful, beautiful and glorious distraction.

So many times during my travels (when I was supposed to be working) I planned to step out for a quick espresso – only to return hours later after being drawn gently in by the alluring streets of Italy. Whether it was exploring the Renaissance art of Florence, or a visit to a town in Tuscany that landed me in a 1000-bottle wine cellar, or a wine tasting with one of the many generous producers that evolved into a half-day experience tracking the evolution of the country’s wine industry – I’ve started with a plan, and ended up doing something far more spectacular.

What I’ve come to realise is Italy is not a place to be learnt, it is a place to be experienced and engaged with – and the same can be said of its wine. It’s also making it very hard to leave.

Be sure to check out Mike Bennie’s top wines from Italy too, here.