Sangiovese wine and Napa Valley are some of the most important contributors to the wine industry today. They each have 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 such as herbs and tomatoes. It may also have a cherry or red plum flavor. (Wine Folly) Sangiovese grapes are used to produce wines such as Brunello di Montalcino and Chainte Classico. (The Grape) Napa Valley is known for its 815 different varieties of wine 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 their own staple in the wine economy today. The history of Italian winemaking is crucial to the importance and education of the Sangiovese variety. “The Italian wine economy has evolved as the wine market has matured. The culture of mass production has given way to the culture of craftsmanship and entrepreneurship.” Going back to ancient history, the Etruscans were the first to breed wild vines on trees in Italy. The Greeks then brought the seeds across the Adriatic Sea and helped create Italian viticulture. Both are credited with the beginning of Italian winemaking. Fast forward to 1855, when Italy was not a unified country. Winemaking was defined as estate, or when a farm (often controlled by a noble family) was looked after by sharecroppers. Sharecroppers were farmers who worked the fields of the estates to produce grapes and wine for their landowners. In exchange, sharecroppers could live on the estates and also keep part of the harvest for themselves. This is better known as the sharecropping system. The sharecropping system lasted until the 1950s. After the Second World War, Italy went from a monarchy to a republic. The new government then tried to redistribute the land to the peasant population. As a result, large holdings were broken up and the land became too small to be of use to any farmer. Italians left their homes in the 1950s to move to other countries. “In the 1960s only 30% of Italy was dedicated to agriculture. Today that figure is less than 10%." During the 1960s and 1970s, the Italian government and the European Union invested heavily in vineyards, resulting in huge surpluses of wine. The European Union then tried to get rid of the surplus by uprooting vines and planting other things, turning Italy into a wine welfare state. This, in turn, has given 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 Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Despite this, the 1980s and 1990s marked a change in Italian winemaking as the economy was technologically advanced. The Sangiovese grape is known as “the grape in the heart of Italy”. It is the leading variety in Italy. In Latin it is called Sanguis Jovis, which means “blood of Jupiter”. Originating from the lands of Tuscany, the Sangiovese grape can be described as “the border between an angel and a demon”. Thirty years ago it was an important component of the Tuscan Revolution. Seven years ago, he sparked the Brunellogate scandal, which nearly leveled the Italian wine industry. The variety is so delicate that it must be cared for perfectly to produce a good wine. Even the slightest climate change or poor handling ruins the true flavor of the Sangiovese grape. This variety acquires approximately 10% of all vineyards in Italy,located mainly in Tuscany but can be 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 pulp on the inside and is a beautiful red grape variety. In fact, it is so appreciated that some wineries prohibit the pairing of the grape with other grapes. In traditional Tuscan winemaking, Sangiovese is always mixed with other varieties, such as Mammolo or Colorino. Brunello di Montalcino, the maximum expression of Sangiovese, is composed of berries, cola and spices, and is released five years after the harvest. Other Sangiovese-based wines include Coastal Tuscany, Umbira, and Chianti Classico. (The Grapes) There are many qualities of Sangiovese that contribute to its fame. Sangiovese is known for its "strong backbone of acidity, while being complemented with soft tannins that allow the wine to mature and evolve over a long period of time." (Grapes) The variety includes fruit flavors, such as cherry, red plum, strawberry and fig, to darker, more savory flavors such as roasted pepper, tomato, leather, oregano and smoke. It is usually aged 4-7 years, but can also age 10-18 years (Brunello di Montalcino). Sangiovese occupies 155,000 acres of Tuscany and is well paired with foods that include herbs and tomatoes, lipids, and small amounts of sugar (slow-roasted pork with white bean puree). (Wine Folly)Napa Valley is also a staple in the wine industry today. It is known for the Carbernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Melot varieties. In 1839, George Calvert Yount was the first settler to test Napa soil for wine grapes. He planted grapes, which turned out to be a success. Then, in 1861, Charles Krug was credited with founding Napa Valley's first commercial winery. “By 1889 there were more than 140 wineries involved in the operation.” This includes Schramsberg (1862) and Inglenook (1879). During the 20th century, a louse called phylloxera ruined 80 percent of Napa Valley vineyards. Then, in 1920, Prohibition began and many of the remaining wineries were abandoned. Only a few remained open to produce sacramental wine. When Prohibition ended in 1933, the wine industry began a slow recovery. A new group of pioneers, such as John Daniel Jr. and Robert Mondavi, credited the rebirth of Napa Valley. These pioneers found that “they were more successful working together than alone.” So, in 1944, seven winemakers signed an agreement that formed the Napa Valley Vintners trade association. This association is now made up of 500 wineries. In 1968, “America's first agricultural reservation was established.” The Napa Valley industry is now considered the most regulated in the world. (Napa Vintners) The 1976 Paris tasting is what put Napa on the map today. California Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay were blind tasted against some of the best French Bordeaux and Burgundy wines. Judges gave the highest scores to California wines, giving Napa Valley its own stamp. In 1981, the Napa Valley Vintners held their first wine auction. The Napa Valley Auction, which takes place annually, is "the most celebrated charity wine event in the world." Since then, all proceeds, which total $145 million, have been donated to local health care, youth education and affordable housing programs. (Napa Vintners) “Today, the Napa Valley wine industry represents $50 billion to the American economy.” Napa Valley has 430 wineries representing 815 different wine brands. (Blog) Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa's first recognized wine, is known as the "king of red grapes." It represents 40% of Napa Valley's total production,.