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:Â 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 mergersThe 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-
Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC
Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC: This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Tuscany. Red Grape is Cabernet Sauvignon. Styles and Wine Composition: Rosso (Rd): Minimum 80% Cabernet Sauvignon + OARG. The Minimum alcohol level is 12.0% We are working on this Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail if you are looking for more info atcheers@drinkitalian.com In the meantime, if you are in the mood for a good book, you can try:– The Modern History of Italian Wine by Walter Filipputti– Hidden Gems of Italy: An Insider’s Secret Formula To Find Top-Class Italian Wines At Value Prices And Taste La Dolce Vita by Tony Margiotta Additionally, you can…
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Bolgheri DOC
Bolgheri DOC: It is an apellation from Tuscany producing red, white, rose’, wines. White Grapes are Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino. Red Grapes are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, Syrah. Wine Composition:Bianco (Wh): Maximum 70% Vermentino; maximum 40% Sauvignon Blanc; maximum 40% Trebbiano; maximum 30% OAWG Sauvignon (Wh): Minimum 85% Sauvignon Blanc + OAWG;Vermentino (Wh): Minimum 85% Vermentino + OAWG; Rosato (Ro): Any proportions of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and/or Merlot; maximum 50% Sangiovese; maximum 50% Syrah; maximum 30% OARG; Rosso (Rd): Any proportions of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and/or Merlot; maximum 50% Sangiovese; maximum 50% Syrah; maximum 30% OARG; Superiore (Rosso). The Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for Sauvignon; 11.0% for Bianco and Vermentino; 11.5% for…
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Bianco di Pitigliano DOC
Bianco di Pitigliano DOC : This is an appellation for only white wines in the region of Tuscany. White Grape Varieties are Ansonica, Chardonnay, Grechetto, Greco, Malvasia, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano, Verdello, Viognier, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico) and Wine Composition is Bianco (Wh): Minimum 40% Trebbiano Toscano; maximum 60% Ansonica, Chardonnay, Grechetto, Greco, Malvasia Bianca Lunga, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdello, Viognier, and/or Welschriesling (aka Riesling Italico); maximum 15% OAWG; Superiore (Bianco); Spumante (WhSp): Same as Bianco; Vin Santo (Wh, WhSw): Same as Bianco. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Bianco; 11.5% for Spumante; 12.0% for Superiore; 12.0% for Vin Santo (16.0% potential) We are working on this Bianco di Pitigliano DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an…
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Bianco dell’Empolese DOC
Bianco dell’Empolese DOC: This is an appellation for only white wines in the region of Tuscany. White Grapes are Trebbiano and Wine Composition is Bianco (Wh): Minimum 60% Trebbiano Toscano + OAWG; Vin Santo (Wh, WhSw): Minimum 60% Trebbiano + OAWG. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Bianco; 14.0% for Vin Santo amabile (17.0% potential); 16.0% for Vin Santo secco (17.0% potential. We are working on this Bianco dell’Empolese DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail if you are looking for more info atcheers@drinkitalian.com In the meantime, if you are in the mood for a good book, you can try:– The Modern History of Italian Wine by Walter Filipputti– Hidden…
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Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC
Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC: This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Tuscany. Red Grape is Sangiovese and Wine Composition:Rosato, also known as Vin Ruspo (Ro): Minimum 50% Sangiovese; 10–20% Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon; maximum 20% Canaiolo Nero; maximum 10% Canaiolo Bianco, Malvasia, and/or Trebbiano Toscano; maximum 10% OARG; Barco Reale (Rd): Minimum 50% Sangiovese; 10–20% Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon; maximum 20% Canaiolo Nero; maximum 10% Canaiolo Bianco, Malvasia, and/or Trebbiano Toscano; maximum 10% OARG. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% We are working on this Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail if you are looking…
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Ansonica Costa dell’Argentario DOC
Ansonica Costa dell’Argentario DOC: This is an appellation for only white wines in the region of Tuscany. White Grape is Ansonica and Wine Composition for bianco (Wh) is Minimum 85% Ansonica + OAWG. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.5% We are working on this Ansonica Costa dell’Argentario DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail if you are looking for more info atcheers@drinkitalian.com In the meantime, if you are in the mood for a good book, you can try:– The Modern History of Italian Wine by Walter Filipputti– Hidden Gems of Italy: An Insider’s Secret Formula To Find Top-Class Italian Wines At Value Prices And Taste La Dolce Vita by Tony Margiotta Additionally, you…
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Zagarolo DOC
Zagarolo DOC: This is an appellation for only white wines in the region of Lazio. White Grapes are Malvasia, Trebbiano. Bianco (Wh, WhSw): Minimum 30% Trebbiano (Giallo, Toscano, and/or Verde); maximum 70% Malvasia Bianca di Candia and/or Malvasia del Lazio (locally Malvasia Puntinata); maximum 10% Bellone and/or Bombino Bianco; Superiore (Bianco) The Minimum alcohol level is 11.5% for Bianco; 12.5% for Superiore We are working on this Zagarolo DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail if you are looking for more info atcheers@drinkitalian.com In the meantime, if you are in the mood for a good book, you can try:– The Modern History of Italian Wine by Walter Filipputti– Hidden Gems of Italy:…
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Vignanello DOC
Vignanello DOC: It is an appellation from Lazio producing red, white wines.White Grapes are Greco, Trebbiano and Red areSangiovese. Bianco (Wh, WhSw): Minimum 70% Trebbiano (Giallo and/or Toscano); maximum 30% Malvasia (Bianca di Candia and/or del Chianti); maximum 15% OAG; Greco (Wh): Minimum 85% Greco + OAWG; Superiore (Bianco); Rosso (Rd): Minimum 50% Sangiovese; maximum 40% Ciliegiolo; maximum 20% OAG; Novello (Rosso); Riserva (Rosso); Greco Spumante (WhSp): Minimum 85% Greco + OAWG. The Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for Bianco; 11.0% for Rosso and Novello; 11.5% for Greco, Superiore, and Spumante; 12.0% for Riserva; 12.0% for Vendemmia Tardiva (15.0% potential) We are working on this Vignanello DOC appellation description.Please come back…
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Velletri DOC
Velletri DOC: It is an appellation from Lazio producing red, white, sparkling wines. White Grapes are Malvasia, Trebbiano and Red are Cesanese, Montepulciano. Bianco (Wh, WhSw): Minimum 30% Trebbiano (Giallo, Toscano, and/or Verde); maximum 70% Malvasia Bianca di Candia and/or Malvasia del Lazio (locally Malvasia Puntinata); maximum 20% OAWG; Superiore (Bianco); Rosso (Rd, RdSw): 10–45% Sangiovese; 30–50% Montepulciano; minimum 10% Cesanese (Comune or di Affile); maximum 30% OARG; Riserva (Rosso); Spumante (WhSp): Minimum 30% Trebbiano; maximum 70% Malvasia; maximum 20% OAWG. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Bianco and Spumante; 11.5% for Superiore and Rosso; 12.5% for Riserva We are working on this Velletri DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us…
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Terracina / Moscato di Terracina DOC
Terracina / Moscato di Terracina DOC: This is an appellation for only white wines in the region of Lazio. White Grape is Moscato. Bianco (Wh, WhSw): Minimum 85% Moscato di Terracina + OAWG; Spumante (WhSp, WhSpSw): 100% Moscato di Terracina; Passito (WhSw): Minimum 85% Moscato di Terracina + OAWG. The Minimum alcohol level: 9.0% for Spumante dolce (11.0% potential); 10.5% for Spumante secco (11.0% potential); 11.0% for Bianco (11.5% potential); 12.0% for Passito (15.5% potential) We are working on this Terracina / Moscato di Terracina DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail if you are looking for more info atcheers@drinkitalian.com In the meantime, if you are in the mood for…
