If one feature defines and unifies northern Italy, it is Europe’s most famous mountain range: the Alps. Not only do these mountains stitch Italy together with France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia, but also they tower over seven of the eight regions that make up northern Italy, looming large in the lives of those who inhabit their valleys and foothills.
     While the clearest places to witness the Alps’ influence are in the high-elevation valleys nestled between mountain peaks of Alto Adige and Valle d’Aosta, the strikingly steep foothills of the Alps, in regions like Piemonte and the Veneto, also receive abundant sunshine, cleansing winds, and essential diurnal shifts that provide ideal conditions for grapes, keeping them healthy and refreshed. These inland regions are home to some of the country’s most exciting white and sparkling wines and exalted reds.
     Italy’s northwestern and northeastern corner, by contrast, enjoy the marriage of the Alps and the Mediterranean. Imagine vines climbing steep coastal hills alongside olive and lemon trees while receiving cool breezes blowing in from the sea and cold air currents moving down from the mountains. These are terroirs—and thrillingly distinctive and delicious wines—like you’ll find nowhere else.