WINE

Learn about Italian Wines!

This page is an essential guide to Italian Wines and collects all the articles about wines, appellations, and grape varieties.
Italian Wines are classified into 526 Denominations, spread in 20 regions: 75 DOCGs, 333 DOCs, and 118 IGPs. Everybody has heard of Barolo, Brunello, Chianti, and Amarone. If you are an intermediate taster, you may know about Cortese, Vermentino, Aglianico, maybe Orvieto, and Verdicchio.

But who knows about Vitoska, Vespolina, Biancolella, and Tintilia? You will, if you want, by reading this guide.

Facts and figures

— The Italian wine scene is composed of about 310,000 farms, an average of 2 hectares cultivated per farm, and just over 45,000 wine-making companies

— AGEA (Agency for Agriculture Subsidy) data: in 2015, 76% of the wineries produced less than 100 hectoliters of wine per year, 17% between 101 and 1,000 hectoliters, 5% between 1,001 and 10,000 hectoliters, and 1% between 10,001 and 100,000 hectoliters

— This confirms the tendency towards fragmentation and the prevalence of small and medium-sized entities

— The vast majority comes from the larger companies: in 2015, 77.5% was produced by companies that vinified more than 10,001 hectoliters per year

— Three fundamental categories:  Family-run wineries, widespread in the areas with the greatest winemaking traditions; Cooperatives, that cover 60% of wine production in Italy; Large estates and industries, historic Tuscan, Venetian, and Piedmontese wine families, grown considerably through acquisitions and mergers

The Essential Guide to Italian Wines

You will see the most recent articles on the top of the page. However, you can find the topic that you would like to learn about by:

–> using the search tool

–> using the tags: they are by region, by type, and by grape variety

  • WINE

    Valdadige Terradeiforti DOC

    Valdadige Terradeiforti / Terradeiforti DOC is a wine appellation from Trentino Alto Adige and Veneto. White Grape is Pinot Grigioand Red Grapes are Casetta and Lambrusco. Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Pinot Grigio; 12.0% for Superiore, Casetta, and Enantio; 12.5% for Riserva We are working on this Valdadige Terradeiforti /…

  • WINE

    Vittoria DOC

    Vittoria DOC is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Sicilia. Red Grapes are Frappato, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese). Rosso (Rd): 50–70% Nero d’Avola (aka Calabrese); 30–50% Frappato; Classico.  Minimum alcohol level is 12.5% We are working on this Vittoria DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail if…

  • WINE

    Valle d’Aosta DOC

    Valle d’Aosta / Vallée d’Aoste DOC is a wine appellation, with both whites and reds. It runs through 3 valleys (North, Central and Lower) crossed by the Dora Baltea river. Valle d’Aosta has some of the highest vineyards of Europe in term of altitude: they exceed 1,000 meters above sea…

  • WINE

    Orvieto DOC

    Orvieto DOC:  This is an appellation for only white wines in the region of Umbria and Lazio. White Grapes are Grechetto, Trebbiano. The Minimum alcohol level is 10.0% for Vendemmia Tardiva (13.0% potential); 10.5% for Muffa Nobile; 11.5% for Bianco; 12.0% for Superiore We are working on this Orvieto DOC appellation…

  • WINE

    San Martino della Battaglia DOC

    San Martino della Battaglia DOC is a wine appellation based in Lombardy. The principal white grape is Friulano The variety Bianco (Wh) is Minimum 80% Friulano + OANWG and Liquoroso for dessert (WhFoSw) is Minimum 80% Friulano + OANWG can be made by fortification of juice, partially fermented must, or wine…

  • WINE

    Aglianico del Vulture Wine Guide: Basilicata’s Volcanic “Barolo of the South”

    Discover Aglianico del Vulture, the legendary “Barolo of the South” from Italy’s Basilicata region – our comprehensive guide covers everything from traditional producers and best vintages to expert food pairings and proper serving techniques for this prestigious Aglianico-based wine. What is Aglianico del Vulture DOC? Aglianico del Vulture DOC is…