Italy is a land of both character and contrast, Ferrari or Fiat, Del Piero or Bergamasco, and this is reflected in their wines. Vines are grown the length and breadth of Italy with a plethora of varieties and styles of wine made. From the 1980s there has been an explosion of plantings of international varieties, particularly Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and the introduction of modern wine making techniques. This has led to many previously unfashionable wine regions coming to prominence producing exciting wines, especially Marche, Puglia and Sicily.