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Malts of Campbeltown

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CAMPBELTOWN MALTS
Campbeltown Region is nestled between the Highlands and the Island regions on the northwest coast of Scotland. A century ago Campbeltown was the heartland of the whisky industry and famous as 'the capital of the whisky world' with more than thirty active distilleries in the area but now has only three operational distilleries.
Characteristics include a defined dryness with a pungency, smoke and a solid salinity and tend to be big-bodied, heavy with peaty beasts.
The tastes have both the fruitiness of Lowland whisky and the salty brine flavour found in Island whiskies. 

The following are operational distilleries in the region:
Glengyle(Kilkerran Single Malt)
Glenscotia
Springbank(Produces Springbank, Hazelbuen and Longrow Malts)










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Malts of Lowland

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LOWLAND MALTS
The Lowlands produces gentle, light whiskies, often very dry and devoid of peat. Traditionally Lowland single malts are triple distilled often giving them a lighter taste.These whiskies, which hail from southern Scotland, typically have a floral freshness, a light body and a short finish.
For a decade there were only two operating Lowland distilleries: Auchentoshan and Glenkinchie but three lowland distilleries have started up, including Bladnoch and the tiny Daftmill Distillery.

The following distilleries are operational in the region:

There are some other popular single malts like Ladyburn, Inverleven, Littlemill and Rosebank from Lowlands available but not produced any more.

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Single Malts of Islay

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ISLAY MALTS
Islay whiskies are known for their peatiness as Islay is very largely composed of peat and the water available on Islay is also brown. Some of the Islay Single Malt Whiskies are the strongest flavoured of all malt whiskies, a property which endears them to some and is less appreciated by others and there are few which produce less Smokey whiskies.
Distilleries along the southeastern coast of the island, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and Ardbeg, have a smoky character derived from peat, Caol Ila, on the northern side of the island also produces a strongly peated whisky. The other distilleries on the island make whisky in a variety of styles. Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdich make much lighter whiskies which are generally lightly peated and Bowmore produces a well balanced whisky.

The following distilleries are operational in the region:

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Italian Wine Region - Piedmont

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PIEDMONT
PIEDMONT
Piedmont is one of the most famous wine regions in the world and a “must do” for true wine lovers and collectors. With 46 different DOC and four DOCG areas, Piedmont is the region that produces the largest number of best known, noble, and world-appreciated prize-winning wines, such as Barbera, Barolo, Barbaresco, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo, Grignolino, Malvasia and Asti Spumante among others.

Another distinguished characteristic of Piedmont is that most of its wines are produced on family estates made up of relatively small parcels of land. The main grape grown here is the distinguished Nebbiolo, which is the base for the famed Barolo, Barbaresco and Gattinara among others. 
Barolo is regarded as THE premium Italian wine. It is named after the village at the centre of the sub region.
Barbaresco is the other noted Nebbiolo based wine in Piedmont. It is grown around the village of that name in a zone to the north and east of the city of Alba.
The most widely grown red wine grape is Barbera, known for its role in producing everyday drinking wines, but also for making Barbera d'Alba and Barbera d'Asti.
A third red variety, Dolcetto, makes up the card for the major local varieties. It is used in blends and in its own DOCs of Dolcetto d'Alba, Dolcetto di Diano d'Alba, Dolcetto di Dogliani and Dolcetto della Langhe Monregalesi.
Other wines include many more red wines, from everyday drinking to richer wines which reward long aging. As well as the traditional local grapes some wineries are now using international varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.
The Arneis white wine variety, grown on the slopes of Roera is catching up popularity in Australia and many other countries. The rich dry white wines of Gavi made from the Cortese variety have already made a mark for themselves.

PIEDMONT APELLATIONS:
Like all other Italian wine regions, DOC and DOCG are the appellations used and respected.

DOCG:
Ø  Asti
Ø  Barbaresco
Ø  Barolo
Ø  Brachetto d’Acqui
Ø  Gavi
Ø  Gattinara
Ø  Ghemme

DOC:
Ø  Albugnano
Ø  Barbera d’Alba
Ø  Barbera d’Asti
Ø  Barbera del Monferrato
Ø  Boca
Ø  Bramaterra
Ø  Canavese
Ø  Carema
Ø  Cisterna d’Asti
Ø  Colli Tortonesi
Ø  Collina Torinese
Ø  Colline Novaresi
Ø  Colline Saluzzesi
Ø  Cortese dell Alto Monferrato
Ø  Coste del Sesia
Ø  Dolcetto d’Acqui
Ø  Dolcetto d’Alba
Ø  Dolcetto d’Asti
Ø  Dolcetto delle Langhe Monregalesi
Ø  Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba
Ø  Dolcetto di Dogliani
Ø  Dolcetto di Ovada
Ø  Erbaluce di Caluso
Ø  Fara
Ø  Freisa d’Asti
Ø  Freisa di Chieri
Ø  Gabiano
Ø  Grignolino d’Asti
Ø  Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese
Ø  Langhe
Ø  Lessona
Ø  Loazzolo
Ø  Malvasia di Casorzo d’Asti
Ø  Malvasia di Castelnuovo Don Bosco
Ø  Monferrato
Ø  Nebbiolo d’Alba
Ø  Piemonte
Ø  Pinerolese
Ø  Roera
Ø  Bubino di Cantavenna
Ø  Ruche di Castagnole
Ø  Sizzano
Ø  Valusa
Ø  Verduno


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Italian Wine Region - Tuscany

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TUSCANY

Tuscany is the most important Italian Wine Region and among the most important in the world. It is widely known for the great Reds and few others.
Tuscany is extremely varied in landscapes and wine styles and boasts some of the most well-known and superb wines made in Italy today. The hilly soil and the weather conditions of Tuscany are ideal for grape growing and, with the passing centuries, the numerous types of grapes grown gave rise to some rare and much loved varieties.
Tuscany produces the third highest volume of DOCG quality wines. Tuscany is Italy's third most planted region (behind Sicily and Apulia) but it is eighth in production volume. This is partly because the soil of Tuscany is very poor, and producers emphasize low yields and higher quality levels in their wine. More than 80% of the regions' production is in red wine.
Apart from the world renowned Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile de Montepulciano, Tuscany produces another variety of wines called “Super Tuscan” that has found admirers all around the globe. These wines haven’t obtained DOCG as they blend French Varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with Sangiovese. These high quality wines are often IGT recognized generally try and produce Bordeaux style wines with Sassicaia, Ornellaia and Lupicaia among the top ones.
Other wines of note in Tuscany include Vernaccia di San Gimignano, made in the outskirts of the gorgeous town of San Gimignano and Vin Santo, or “Holy Wine”, a dessert delicacy usually made from Trebbiano grapes that have been left to dry in an airy place until the start of Holy Week before being made into wine.
Nowadays, the most grown variety is the noble Sangiovese, which is often combined with small amounts of locally grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo and other grapes into wonderful blends such as the Brunello di Montalcino, Morellino di Scansano, Carmignano and, of course, the signature Tuscan wines, the Chianti and Chianti Classico, which probably are the best known Italian wines in the world. Other grapes grown here are the Mammolo, Malvasia, Colorino, Raspirosso, Gamay, Grand Noir, Barbera, Moscatello, Aleatico and Vernaccia, among others

TUSCAN WINE APELLATIONS:
The appellation system applies to all the wines in all of the regions in Italy, including Tuscany.
DOC and DOCG stand for Denominazione di Origine Controllata (e Garantita) which translates to Designation of Controlled Origin (and Guaranteed).
An area can be granted a DOC by a government commission, and the DOC normally has to do with an area's tradition or if it is particularly suitable for a specific wine. When the DOC is given, it is usually given a trial of 10-20 yrs after which it might be given the extra classy "Garantita".
Once a wine is DOCG it practically cannot be declassified. The DOCGs are therefore the types of wine that have been around for a longer time, are well known and give that extra "Quality" guarantee to us wine drinkers. Sometimes the classification system is a little misleading as it is different from the French.
It is to be noted that a wine with a DOCG status has to be made according to a restrictive recipe, it must pass the chemical exam and a tasting by an expert panel, and what is guaranteed is that the wine meets the minimal expectations. In fact, a DOCG wine is not necessarily better than a DOC or IGT wine. The real quality or should we say greatness of the wine is really up to each individual producer.
Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) - Denotes wine from a more specific region within Italy. This appellation was created in 1992 for wines that were considered to be of higher quality than simple table wines, but which did not conform to the strict wine laws for their region. Before the IGT was created, "Super Tuscan" wines such as Tignanello were labeled Vino da Tavola.

DOCG:
Aleatico passito dell’Elba DOCG
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 
Carmignano DOCG 
Chianti DOCG 
Chianti Classico DOCG 
 Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG 
Morellino di Scansano DOCG 
Suvereto DOCG 
Val di Cornia Rosso DOCG 
Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG 
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG 
Suvereto DOCG 
  

DOC:
Ansonica Costa dell’Argentario DOC
Barco Reale di Carmignano 
Bianco dell’Empolese DOC
Bianco di Pitigliano DOC
Bolgheri DOC
Candia dei Colli Apuani DOC 
Capalbio DOC 
Colli dell’Etruria Centrale DOC 
Colli di Luni DOC 
Colline Lucchesi DOC 
Cortona DOC 
Elba DOC 
Grance Senesi DOC 
Maremma Toscana DOC 
Montecarlo DOC 
Montecucco DOC 
Monteregio di Massa Marittima DOC 
Montescudaio DOC 
Moscadello di Montalcino DOC 
Orcia DOC 
Parrina DOC 
Pietraviva DOC 
Pomino DOC 
Rosso di Montalcino DOC 
Rosso di Montepulciano DOC 
San Gimignano DOC 
San Torpè DOC 
Sant’Antimo DOC 
Sassicaia DOC 
Sovana DOC 
Terratico di Bibbona DOC 
Terre di Casole DOC 
Val d’Arbia DOC 
Val d’Arno di Sopra DOC 
Valdichiana DOC 
Val di Cornia DOC 
Valdinievole DOC 
Vin Ruspo DOC 
Vin Santo del Chianti DOC 
Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC 
Vin Santo di Carmignano DOC 
Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC 

IGT:
Alta Valle della Greve
Colli della Toscana Centrale
Costa Etrusca
Montecastelli
Toscano o Toscana
Val di Magra



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