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

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    Rubino di Cantavenna DOC

    Rubino di Cantavenna DOC: This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Piedmont. Red Grape is Barbera. Wine Composition for Rosso (Rd) is 75–90% Barbera; 10–25% Freisa and/or Grignolino. Minimum alcohol level is 11.5% We are working on this Rubino di Cantavenna 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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    Roero DOCG

    Roero DOCG: It is an appellation from Piedmont producing red, white, sparkling wines. White Grape is  Arneis and Red Grape isNebbiolo Wine Composition: Bianco (Wh): Minimum 95% Arneis + OANWG; Riserva (Bianco); Rosso (Rd): Minimum 95% Nebbiolo + OANRG; Riserva (Rosso); Spumante (WhSp, WhSpSw): Minimum 95% Arneis + OANWG. Minimum alcohol level is11.5% for Spumante; 12.0% for Bianco and Bianco Riserva; 12.5% for Rosso and Riserva We are working on this Roero DOCG 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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    Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore / Ovada DOCG

    Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore / Ovada DOCG: This red wine is produced in the Langhe area and it is made with 100% Dolcetto. It comes specifically from the vineyards around the town of  Ovada and other comunes, in the province of Alessandria. This Superiore version must have at least 12,5%. We are working on this Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore / Ovada DOCG 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…

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    Tintilia del Molise DOC

    Tintilia del Molise DOC: Red Grape is  TintiliaRosato (Ro): Minimum 95% Tintilia + OANRG; Rosso (Rd): Minimum 95% Tintilia + OANRG; Riserva (Rosso) The Minimum alcohol level is 11.5% for Rosato and Rosso; 13.0% for Riserva We are working on this Tintilia del Molise 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 discover the other wines…

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    Pentro di Isernia / Pentro DOC

    Pentro di Isernia / Pentro DOC: White  Grape is Falanghina and  Red Grape is MontepulcianoBianco (Wh): Minimum 80% Falanghina; 15–20% Trebbiano Toscano; maximum 5% OAWG; Rosato (Ro): 75–80% Montepulciano; 20–25% Tintilia; maximum 5% OANRG; Rosso (Rd): 75–80% Montepulciano; 20–25% Tintilia; maximum 5% OANRG; Riserva (Rosso)The Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for Bianco; 11.0% for Rosato and Rosso; 12.5% for Riserva We are working on this Pentro di Isernia / Pentro 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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    Molise DOC

    Molise DOC: White Grapes are Chardonnay, Falanghina, Fiano, Greco,  Malvasia,  Moscato, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano. Red Grape Varieties are Aglianico, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Montepulciano, Pinot Nero, Sangiovese. The Minimum alcohol level is 9.0% for Malvasia tranquillo; 10.0% for Pinot Grigio and Pinot Grigio Spumante; 10.5% for Chardonnay, Falanghina, Fiano frizzante, Malvasia frizzante, Moscato, Trebbiano, and all Spumante wines except Pinot Bianco and Pinot Grigio; 11.0% for Greco, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon, Rosso, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, Pinot Bianco Spumante, and Novello; 11.5% for Fiano tranquillo, Rosato, Aglianico, and Pinot Nero; 12.5% for Riserva; 13.0% for Moscato Passito (14.0% potential); 14.0% potential for Falanghina Passito We are working on this Molise DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail if you are…

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    IGP Rotae

    IGP Rotae: White Grapes are Bombino Bianco, Chardonnay,  Falanghina,  Fiano,  Garganega, Gewürztraminer, Greco, Malvasia, Moscato, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano, Verdicchio, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico)Red Grape Varieties are  Aglianico, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon,  Ciliegiolo, Malvasia Rosa, Merlot, Montepulciano, Moscato Nero, Negroamaro, Petit Verdot, Pinot Nero, Primitivo, Sagrantino, Sangiovese, Syrah, Tintilia. The Minimum alcohol level is 10.0% for most wines; 10.5% for varietal Rosato (tranquillo and frizzante) and varietal Rosso tranquillo; 11.0% for Novello; 14.0% potential for Passito We are working on this IGP Rotae 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…

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    IGP Osco / Terre degli Osci

    IGP Osco / Terre degli Osci: White Grape Varieties are Bombino Bianco, Chardonnay, Falanghina, Fiano, Garganega, Gewürztraminer, Greco, Malvasia, Moscato, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano,  Verdicchio, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico) Red Grapes are Aglianico, Barbera,  Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Ciliegiolo, Malvasia Rosa, Merlot,  Montepulciano,  Moscato Nero, Negroamaro, Petit Verdot, Pinot Nero, Primitivo,  Sagrantino, Sangiovese, Syrah, Tintilia We are working on this IGP Osco / Terre degli Osci 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 discover the other…

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    Biferno DOC

    Biferno DOC: White Grape is Trebbiano and Red Grape is Montepulciano.        Bianco (Wh): 70–80% Trebbiano Toscano + OAWG Rosato (Ro): 70–80% Montepulciano; 10–20% Aglianico; maximum 20% OANRG; Rosso (Rd): 70–80% Montepulciano; 10–20% Aglianico; maximum 20% OANRG; Superiore (Rosso)Riserva (Rosso). The Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for Bianco; 11.5% for Rosato and Rosso; 12.5% for Superiore; 13.0% for Riserva We are working on this xxx (post title) 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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    Vernaccia di Serrapetrona DOCG

    Vernaccia di Serrapetrona DOCG: This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Marche.Red Grape Varieties: Vernaccia Nera. Spumante (RdSp, RdSpSw): Minimum 85% Vernaccia Nera + OARG. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.5% We are working on this Vernaccia di Serrapetrona DOCG 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 discover the…