Like Italian culture itself, the grapes overflow with complex and delicious variety, from the fresh, exhilarating Pinot Grigio to the deeply delectable reds of Barolo.

Italy is home to some of the worlds oldest wine producing regions; even before the Romans built their vineyards two hundred years BC, Greek settlers produced and stored wine on a large scale. The ancients also pioneered techniques of barrel-making and bottling wine for presentation. Italy is responsible for approximately one fifth of the worlds wine production and with over two thousand years experience and grapes growing in almost every region, the Mediterranean nations wine roots are as deeply entrenched as its millions of acres of vines.

Like Italian culture itself, the grapes overflow with complex and delicious variety, from the fresh, exhilarating Pinot Grigio to the deeply delectable reds of Barolo. Its twenty wine regions produce over five billion litres of classic table and fine wines annually, keeping Italy at the top of the wine making table. The regions of Tuscany and Sicily are blessed with a classic peninsula shoreline, assuring the most favourable geographical characteristics needed for high quality white wine production. Favourites include the tangy Pinot Grigio 'Bacaro' 2008/2009 IGT Pavia; initially encapsulating delicate floral aromas, the crisp white wine laces the taste buds with hints of appetising citrus flavours, perfect to accompany a classic Italian pasta dish.

Tucked away in the north westerly corner of Italy, Piedmont is famous for its well-aged reds. The Barolo 2004 Ciabot Berton is one such example of the regions fine wines, left to lovingly mature at a small family run estate. A powerful red, each glass emits seductive aromas of rose petals, contrasted with hints of tar, elegant palate and long finish.

One of Italys most important wine-growing areas, Veneto offers Italys famous and oldest sparkling wine, Prosecco. Rumoured to be initially produced in the Roman era, the grape is ranked the thirtieth most important grape of the two-thousand strong varieties around Italy. The sparkling or lightly sparkling speciality uses stainless steel tanks for the secondary fermentation. Wine Merchant Majestic Wine are currently offering the classic Prosecco di Conegliano Valdobbiadene Extra Dry NV Italy at twenty-five percent off the RRP.

In 1716, an area near the villages of Gaiole, Castellina and Radda came to be known as the Provincia del Chianti, and over the past three hundred years one of Italys most popular wines Chianti has been created and developed to cater to every taste bud. Commonly associated with the straw basket flask design, this red wine is a complex and delicious blend of grapes accented with strong, spicy berry flavours.

As part of their early summer offers, Majestic Wine has twenty percent off Chianti and all other Italian wines (excluding sparkling and wines under £4.50 or over £19.99) when you buy two or more bottles. This offer includes the classic Chianti Classico San Leonino 2007 Tenimenti Angelini sourced from the south east of Italy. The San Leonino has a traditional ninety-five percent Sangiovese blend, with an added dash of vibrant acidity to finish the red cherry characters. Suzie Harrison, Buyer at Majestic says, The traditional flavours, blend and preparation of this exquisite Chianti make it the perfect accessory for a fine dining experience, suiting an Italian menu of rich tomato pasta dishes and spicy meats alike.

As well as discounts on a selection of favourite wines from Italy, Majestic Wine are also offering great deals on bottles from Australia and New Zealand. With such a huge choice, the firms mixed wine cases offer an ideal opportunity to try a few bottles from each region. Visit www.majestic.co.uk for more information. About Majestic Wine UK

Majestic Wine Warehouses is the UK's biggest and best retailer specialising in sales of wine by the mixed case, with 153 stores throughout the UK. Majestic offers an extensive range of superb wines in large quantities, giving real choice and value.

Majestics staff is passionate about wine and are always on hand to give advice on what to buy. Majestic are also the only wine retailer to operate a FREE delivery service for cases of 12 bottles throughout mainland UK. For gifts of less than 12 bottles Majestic operates a Gift Solutions service at

Majestic Wine are also different from mail order and internet wine merchants, who may try to tempt you with artificial savings on a mixed case of indifferent wines. Their promotions often last several months at a time and boast hundreds of multibuy offers, which represent genuine savings. They are famous for their 'one-off' special parcels, which are worth looking out for!