With vineyards in just about every corner of the country, Italy has a huge variety of terroir and styles of wine. The most popular regions are Piemonte (Piedmont) and Toscana (Tuscany)

Piemonte is in the north of Italy (Piemonte or Piedmonte means "foothills" - of the Alps) just below Switzerland. Home to Barolo and Barbaresco, some of Italy's most famous (and expensive) wines are produced here. The region is also famous for truffles, especially the hard to find and ultra-expensive white Alba Truffle, named for the town that is at the heart of this wine country.

Toscana, which lies south and west of the city of Florence, is a hugely popular tourist destination. Between the beautiful hills of Chianti, the coastal region of Maremma and the historic and art centers of Florence and Siena, there is plenty to keep you occupied. Each region has its own wine; the Chianti Classico is perhaps best known, but the most revered is the Brunello of Montalcino, a small village about 40 minutes south of Siena. Maremma is the new "in" region, one of the most exciting in Europe as top winemakers buy up land to make traditional and "Super Tuscan" blends.