Italian Wine Regions
Italy has many thousand years of wine production history, and it is one of the largest and most famous wine producing country in the world.
The most famous Italian wine regions are Toscana, Piemonte, and Veneto:
Toscana (Tuscany)
Toscana is famous for the city of Firenze, and red wines made from Sangiovese.
Red Wines:
Chianti
Chianti Classico
Rosso di Montalcino
Brunello di Montalcino
Rosso di Montepulciano
Nobile di Montepulciano
Montecucco Sangiovese
Morellino di Scansano
Super Tuscan:
Super Tuscan
Bolgheri Rosso
Carmignano Rosso
Suvereto Rosso
Val di Cornia Rosso
White Wines:
Rosé Wines:
Sweet Wines:
Toscana
Toscana is most famous for the majestetic city of Firenze.
On the wine side, the region is best known for the Sangiovese based red wines:
- Chianti Classico
- Brunello di Montalcino
- Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
A copy of the Bordeaux Blend, named Super Tuscan, is also popular all over the world.
Vermentino is the best known white wine from the coastline, and Vernaccia is an internationally recognised white wine from the medieval town of San Gimignano.
On the sweet side, Vin Santo ("Holy Wine") is the national drink in Tuscany.
Toscana has 11 DOCGs:
Sangiovese:
Chianti DOCG (70% Sangiovese)
Chianti Classico DOCG (80% Sangiovese)
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG (100% Sangiovese)
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG (70% Sangiovese)
Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG (90% Sangiovese)
Morellino di Scansano DOCG (85% Sangiovese)
Super Tuscan:
Carmignano DOCG (Sangiovese, Cab Sauvignon/Franc, Merlot)
Suvereto Rosso DOCG (Cab Sauvignon, Merlot)
Val di Cornia Rosso DOCG (Sangiovese, Cab Sauvignon, Merlot)
White:
Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG (85% Vernatcha)
Passito:
Piemonte (Piedmont)
Piemonte has been an important wine province since Roman times. The area is influenced both culturally and climatically by the Alps in the north, and the Ligurian coast in the south.
Red Wines:
Barbaresco
Barbera
Barbera Superiore
Barolo
Brachetto
Dolcetto
Dolcetto Dogliani
Nebbiolo
Nizza
Gattinara
Ruchè
Terre Alfieri
Vespolina
White Wines:
Arneis
Cortese di Gavi
Favorita
Langhe Rossese
Roero Arneis
Terre Alfieri Arneis
Timorasso
Rosé Wines:
Sparkling:
Piemonte
Nebbiolo (the power of the Barolo and Barbaresco) is the most famous grape of Piemonte, followed by the red grapes Barbera and Dolcetto.
For whites, Cortese and Arneis are the most popular grapes.
For dessert, the off-dry, sparkling Moscato d'Asti is the queen.
The most important wine regions are:
- Asti (Barbera d'Asti)
- Langhe (Nebbiolo, Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera di Alba, Dolcetto, Roero)
- Monferrato (Barbera del Monferrat, Nizza, Cortese di Gavi)
- North (Gattinara, Ghemme)
Piemonte's DOCG regions:
- Alta Langa (Metodo Classico)
- Asti (100% Moscato)
- Barbaresco (100 %Nebbiolo)
- Barbera d'Asti (Min. 90% Barbera)
- Barbera del Monferrato Superiore (Min. 14 months storage)
- Barolo (100% Nebbiolo)
- Brachetto d'Acqui (100% Brachetto)
- Gavi (100% Cortese)
- Dogliani Superiore (100% Dolcetto)
- Ovada Superiore (100% Dolcetto)
- Diano d'Alba (100% Dolcetto)
- Erbaluce di Caluso (aka Caluso)
- Gattinara (Min 90% Nebbiolo)
- Ghemme (Min 85% Nebbiolo)
- Nizza (100% Barbera)
- Roero (100% Arneis)
- Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato (90% Ruchè)
- Terre Alfieri (Arneis and Nebbiolo))
Veneto
Veneto is famous for its capital Venezia, and the wines Prosecco, Soave, and Amarone.
Red Wines:
Valpolicella
Bardolino
Colli Euganei Rosso
Friularo di Bagnoli
Merlot
Montello Rosso
Piave Malanotte
Tai Rosso
White Wines:
Soave
Cortese
Custoza
Durello
Garganega
Glera
Lison
Lugana
Pinot Grigio
Fior d'Arancio
Sparkling Wines:
Ripasso Wines:
Rosé Wines:
Dessert Wines:
Aperol
Campari
Fior d' Arancio Passito
Martini Red
Martini White
Recioto
Primary Grapes:
25% Glera (Prosecco)
15% Garganega (Soave)
11% Corvina (Amarone)
11% Merlot
10% Pinot Grigio
Italian Grapes Varieties
Sangiovese Montepulciano Glera Pinot Grigio Merlot Trebbiano Chardonnay BarberaSource: OIV Note de conjoncture mondiale 2017.
Trentino-Alto Adige
Trentino-Alto Adige is located in northern Italy. The capital is Trento.
Red Wines:
Schiava
St. Magdalener
Lagrein
Pinot Nero
Teroldego
Merlot
White Wines:
Pinot Grigio
Gewürztraminer
Chardonnay
Pinot Bianco
Sauvignon Blanc
Kerner
Müller-Thurgau
Silvaner
Rosé Wines:
Primary Grapes:
15% Pinot Grigio
10% Chardonnay
8% Pinot Nero
7% Lagrein
6% Gewürztraminer
6% Pinot Bianco
6% Sauvignon Blanc
Alto Adige is also called Südtirol (South Tyrol).
Italian and German are official languages, but the locals also speak Ladin.
Before 1918, Südtirol was part of the Austrian-Hungarian empire, but was annexed to Italy after the first World War.
Early wine production was dominated by Austrian red wines like Lagrein and Vernatch (Schiava).
Today white wines are more important, mostly Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Bianco, and Chardonnay.
Upcoming wines are Savignon Blanc and Pinot Nero.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Friuli-Venezia Giulia is located in Nort East Italy. The capital is Trieste.
The region is best known for its white wines like Friulano, Pinot Grigio, and Prosecco.
White Wines:
Chardonnay
Friulano
Lison DOCG
Malvasia Secco
Pinot Bianco
Pinot Grigio
Ribolla Gialla
Rosazzo DOCG
Sauvignon Blanc
Sparkling Wines:
Red Wines:
A Perfect Wine Growing Climate
The climate in Friuli-Venezia Giulia is influenced by both the Alps and the Sea.
The Julian Alps in the north provide shelter from the cold winds, while both hot sommers and cold winters are tempered by the Adreatic Sea.
This even climate allows the grapes to develop balanced acidity and strong flavors.
Best Nown Regions
Carso DOC, Collio Goriziano DOC, Friuli Annia DOC, Friuli Aquileia DOC, Friuli Colli Orientali DOC, Friuli Grave DOC, Friuli Isonzo DOC, Friuli Latisana DOC, Lison-Pramaggiore DOC.
Collio Goriziano DOC
Collio Goriziano (or simply Collio DOC) is situated in the Province of Gorizia, in the Gorizia Hills by the Slovenian border.
Friulano DOC, Pinot Grigio DOC, and Sauvignon DOC are the primary white wines here, followed by Ribolla Gialla DOC, Malvasia Bianca DOC, Chardonnay DOC, and Pinot Bianco DOC.
The red DOCs are Merlot DOC, Cabernet Sauvignon DOC, Cabernet Franc DOC, Pinot Nero DOC.
Friuli Colli Orientali DOC
Colli Orientali del Friuli is situated in the Julian Alps by the Slovanian border.
The quality of the wines here comes from a chalky sandstone ground, lots of sun, and a cold climat 400m altitude.
Friulano DOC, Ribolla Gialla DOC, and Sauvignon Black DOC are the primary white wines, and the best reds are Merlot DOC, Refosco DOC, and Pignolo DOC.
Friuli Izonso DOC
Savignon DOC and Chardonnay DOC, and the most prominent white wines, and the best red is Merlot DOC.
Friuli Grave DOC
Pinot Grigio is the most prominent white wine, and the best reds are made from the Bordeaux grapes Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Lombardia (Lombardy)
Lombardia, in the north of Italy, is one of the richest regions in Europe.
The capital Milano is the largest metropolitan area in Italy with about 10 million inhabitants.
Lombardia is blessed with spectacular lakes: Como, Maggiore, Garda, and Iseo.
Lombardia has 5 DOCG Regions.
Red Wines:
Moscato di Scanzo
Oltrepò Pavese
Sforzato di Valtellina
Valtellina
Valtellina Superiore
White Wines:
Lugana
Oltrepò Pavese
Pinot Grigio
Turbiana
Rosé Wines:
Sparkling Wines:
Valle d'Aosta
Valle d'Aosta has a population of less than 130.000.
Italian and French are official languages, but the population also speak Valdôtain.
The Capital is Aosta.
Liguria
Tourists know Liguria as the Italian Riviera. The Capital is Genova.
Listed White Wines:
Albarola
Cinque Terre Bianco
Pigato
Rossese Bianco
Vermentino
Listed Red Wines:
Primary Grapes:
45% Vermentino
10% Rossese
Emilia Romagna
Bologna (the capital) and the other big cities, Parma, and Modena are known as the mecca of food.
In the wine world, Emilia Romagna is best known for Lambrusco.
Red Wines:
White Wines:
Sparkling Wines:
Pignoletto Frizzante
Pignoletto Spumante
Primary Grapes:
30% Trebbiano
20% Lambrusco
15% Sangiovese
Marche
Marche is located on the Adriatic coast. The Capital is Ancona.
Red Wines:
White Wines:
Passerina
Pecorino
Verdicchio
Verdicchio di Matelica
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi
Primary Grapes:
20% Montepulciano
20% Sangiovese
15% Verdicchio
Umbria
Umbria is located in the center of Italy. The Capital is Perugia.
Red Wines:
Montefalco
Sangiovese
Sagrantino
Torgiano Riserva
White Wines:
Primary Grapes:
22% Sangiovese
17% Trebbiano
13% Grechetto
Abruzzo
Abruzzo is located in central Italy. The capital is L'Aquila. The lagest city is Pescara.
The region is best known for the Montepulciano grape.
Red Wines:
Colline Teramane
Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Terre Tollesi - Tullum
Villamagna
White Wines:
Rosé Wines:
Primary Grapes:
60% Montepulciano
30% Trebbiano
Lazio
Lazio is located is located between the Apennines and the Mediterranean Sea.
The capital is Roma.
Molise
Molise is located on the Adriatic coast. It is Italy’s second smallest region after Aosta.
The capital is Campobasso.
Red Wines:
Biferno
Montepulciano
Sangiovese
Tintilia
White Wines:
Primary Grapes:
50% Montepulciano
10% Trebbiano
Basilicata
Basilicata is known for the Unesco city of Matera. The Capital is Potenza.
Calabria
Calabria, on the Italian "toe", is separated from Sicilia by the Strait of Messina.
The Capital is Catanzaro.
Campania
Campania is one of the oldest wine regions in Italy. The capital is Napoli.
The grapes in Campania were introduced by the Greeks and cultivated by the Romans.
The name "Campania" derives from "Campania Felix" ("Happy Land").
Red Wines:
Aglianico
Aglianico del Taburno
Taurasi
White Wines:
Fiano
Falanghina
Greco di Tufo
Primary Grape:
35% Aglianico
Puglia (Apulia)
Puglia is not very famous in the wine world, but the interest is growing.
The capital is Bari.
Red Wines:
Aglianico
Negroamaro
Nero di Troia
Primitivo
Primitivo Passitivo
Sangiovese
Uva di Troia
White Wines:
Rosé Wines:
Sardegna (Sardinia)
Sardegna is best known for vacation and beaches. The capital is Cagliari.
In the wine world, Sardegna is best known for the white Vermentino and the red Cannonau.
This said, Sardegna is a magical place for wine lovers. Their native grapes, cultivated and kept in existence with real earnestness, are now producing some of the most delicate Italian wines.
Red Wines:
Bovale
Cannonau (Garnacha)
Carignano
Muristellu
Turriga
White Wines:
Moscato Bianco
Vermentino di Gallura
Vermentino di Sardegna
Primary Grapes:
35% Cannonau
30% Vermentino
Sicilia (Sicily)
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean. The capital is Palermo.
It is known for old ruins, sandy beaches, seafood, and the Marsala dessert wine.
Sicily is also well respected for the dry wines of Etna and Vittoria.
Red Wines:
Cerasuolo
Etna Rosso
Frappato
Nerello Mascalese
Nero d'Avola
White Wines:
Carricante
Cataratto
Etna Bianco
Fiano
Grillo
Inzolia
Malvasia Secco
Sicilia Bianco
Rosé Wines:
Cerasuolo di Vittoria
Nero d'Avola Rosato
