With hundreds of grape varietals to work with, Italian Wine can be fantastically diverse. Despite its role in spreading wine across Europe, Italian Wine was considered a rustic, country affair at the turn of the 20th century. Nothing could be further from the truth now as Italy produces some of the most sought after wines in the world. Nearly 50 million hl of wine is produced across every one of Italy's 20 regions from the Alps to just off the tip of Northern Africa. A connoisseur could spend a lifetime or two exploring all Italian wine has to offer. Legendary regions like Barolo and Tuscany have been carrying the Italian flag high since World War 2. Barolo, and it's sister Barbaresco have produced noble red wines from the Nebbiolo grape for centuries, gaining renewed reputation in modern times as some of the longest lived, and rarest wines in the world. In Tuscany, Brunello di Montalcino and the rising quality of Sangiovese has since elevated Tuscany's reputation. Bordeaux varietals thrive too and glowing reviews and high scores in the 1960s and 70s gave rise to the Super-Tuscan phenomenon. In the South, the Aglianico grape has come up in the world while Sicily makes delicious wines on the slopes of Mount Etna. Italy uses the French model to regulate the traditional origin and quality of their wine. IGT/IGP denotes a specific region but is relatively unrestricted. DOC and DOCG mandate certain standards in different wines. There are currently 332 DOC and 73 DOCG wines across Italy. The terms classico, superiore, and riserva are also regulated terms. Italian Wine is a rich cultural artifact with much to discover.