Lake Como, Italy has all the ingredients to make for the perfect holiday.

Italy is the largest wine-producing country in the world. Many Italian farmers produce wine just for their own consumption or for their relatives in "the big city." Although northern Italy is not normally noted for its wines it does have several good labels; Barolo and Barbaresco (reds) and Asti Spumante (sparkling white) all come from the Piedmont region, and from the Lombardy region; Moscato (white) and Sassella, Inferno and Grumello (reds), from Lake Garda (the most famous local wine-growing area); Valpolicella and Bardolino (reds), Soave (dry white).

The label will specify the quality of the wine:

• DS (Denominazione Semplice) - no quality standard
• DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) - wines meet the defined standards and come from officially recognized areas.
  
• DCG (Denominazione Controllata e Garanzia) – are wines of the highest standard.