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:
Vermentino
Vernaccia di San Gimignano
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
Barolo
Brachetto
Dolcetto
Nebbiolo
Gattinara
Ruchè
Vespolina
White Wines:
Arneis
Cortese di Gavi
Favorita
Timorasso
Rossese
Rosé Wines:
Sparkling:
Primary Grapes:
Barbera (30%)
Moscato (20%)
Dolcetto (15%)
Nebbiolo (10%)
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 has 17 DOCG regions:
- Alta Langa (Metodo Classico)
- Asti (100% Moscato)
- Barbaresco (100 %Nebbiolo)
- Barbera d'Asti (Min 90% Barbera)
- Barbera del Monferrato (Min 85% Barbera)
- 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)
- Castagnole Monferrato (90% Ruchè)
Veneto
Veneto is famous for its capital Venezia, and the wines Prosecco, Soave, and Amarone.
Red Wines:
Valpolicella
Friularo di Bagnoli
Bardolino
Merlot
Tai Rosso
Colli Euganei Rosso
White Wines:
Soave
Prosecco
Pinot Grigio
Glera
Garganega
Ripasso Wines:
Rosé Wines:
Dessert Wines:
Primary Grapes:
Glera 25% (Prosecco)
Garganega 15% (Soave)
Corvina 11% (Amarone)
Merlot 11%
Pinot Grigio 10%
Italian Grapes (2017)
Sangiovese Montepulciano Glera Pinot Grigio Merlot Trebbiano Chardonnay BarberaTrentino-Alto Adige
Trentino-Alto Adige is located in northern Italy.
The capial is Trento.
Red Wines:
Schiava
Lagrein
Pinot Nero
Teroldego
Merlot
White Wines:
Pinot Grigio
Gewürztraminer
Chardonnay
Pinot Bianco
Sauvignon Blanc
Kerner
Müller-Thurgau
Silvaner
Rosé Wines:
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 best known for its capital Trieste.
White Wines:
Pinot Grigio
Chardonnay
Friulano
Ribolla
Malvasia Secco
Sparkling Wines:
Red Wines:
Primary Grapes:
Pinot Grigio (25%)
Merlot (15%)
Friulano (10%)
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:
Valtellina Superiore
Sforzato di Valtellina
Moscato di Scanzo
Red Oltrepò Pavese
White Wines:
Lugana
Pinot Grigio
Turbiana
Oltrepò Pavese
Rosé Wines:
Sparkling Wines:
Primary Grapes:
Croatina (17%)
Pinot Nero (15%)
Chardonnay (13%)
Barbera (12%)
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:
Pigato
Rossese Bianco
Vermentino
Listed Red Wines:
Primary Grapes:
Vermentino (45%)
Rossese (10%)
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:
Primary Grapes:
Trebbiano (30%)
Lambrusco (20%)
Sangiovese (15%)
Marche
Marche is located on the Adriatic coast. The Capital is Ancona.
Red Wines:
White Wines:
Primary Grapes:
Montepulciano (20%)
Sangiovese (20%)
Verdicchio (15%)
Umbria
Umbria is located in the center of Italy. The Capital is Perugia.
Red Wines:
Montefalco
Sangiovese
Sagrantino
White Wines:
Primary Grapes:
Sangiovese (22%)
Trebbiano (17%)
Grechetto (13%)
Abruzzo
Abruzzo is located in central Italy. The capital is L'Aquila.
Red Wines:
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo
White Wines:
Rosé Wines:
Primary Grapes:
Montepulciano (60%)
Trebbiano (30%)
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.
The capital is Campobasso.
Red Wines:
White Wines:
Primary Grapes:
Montepulciano (50%)
Trebbiano (10%)
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").
Puglia (Apulia)
Puglia is not very famous in the wine world, but the interest is growing.
The capital is Bari.
Red Wines:
Negroamaro
Primitivo
Primitivo Passitivo
Sangiovese
Nero di Troia
Aglianico
White Wines:
Rosé Wines:
Primary Grapes:
Primitivo (15%)
Negromamro (15%)
Sangiovese (15%)
Trebbiano (13%)
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.
Red Wines:
White Wines:
Primary Grapes:
Cannonau (35%)
Vermentino (30%)
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
Dessert Wines:
Primary Grapes:
Catarratto (35%)
Nero d’Avola (15%)