Golfo del Tigullio–Portofino / Portofino DOC: White Grapes are Bianchetta Genovese, Moscato, Scimiscià, Vermentino and Red areCiliegiolo, DolcettoThis is an appellation for Bianco (Wh, WhFr): Minimum 60% Bianchetta Genovese and/or Vermentino + OANWG; Bianchetta Genovese (Wh, WhFr): Minimum 85% Bianchetta Genovese + OAWG; Moscato (Wh): 100% Moscato Bianco; Scimiscià or Cimixà (Wh): Minimum 85% Scimiscià…
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
-
-
Rosazzo DOCG
Rosazzo DOCG: White Grape is FriulanoBianco (Wh): 50–60% Friulano; 20–30% Sauvignon Blanc; 20–30% Chardonnay and/or Pinot Bianco; maximum 10% Ribolla Gialla; maximum 5% OAWG. The minimum alcohol level is 12.0% We are working on this Rosazzo DOCG appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail if you are looking for more…
-
Ramandolo DOCG
Ramandolo DOCG: White Grape Varieties: VerduzzoBianco (WhSw): 100% Verduzzo Friulano (locally Verduzzo Giallo)The Minimum alcohol level is 14.0% (potential) We are working on this Ramandolo 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…
-
IGP Venezia Giulia
IGP Venezia Giulia: White Grapes are Chardonnay, Friulano, Gewürztraminer, Glera, Malvasia, Manzoni Bianco, Moscato, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Ribolla Gialla, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Verduzzo, Vitovska, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico)Red Grape Varieties are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Franconia, Merlot, Pinot Nero, Refosco, Schioppettino, Terrano. The Minimum alcohol level is 9.0% for all wines except 10.5% for all frizzante wines and 11.0% for Novello We are working on this IGP Venezia…
-
Friuli Latisana DOC
Friuli Latisana DOC: White Grapes are Chardonnay, Friulano, Gewürztraminer, Malvasia, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, VerduzzoRed are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Franconia, Merlot, Pinot Nero, Refosco. The Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for all wines except Novello, Superiore, and Riserva (14.0% potential for Passito); 11.0% for Novello; 11.5% for Superiore and Riserva We are working on this Friuli Latisana DOC appellation…
-
Friuli Annia DOC
Friuli Annia DOC: White Grapes are Chardonnay, Friulano, Gewürztraminer, Malvasia, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, VerduzzoPrincipal Red Grape are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Refosco. Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for Bianco, Rosato, and Rosso; 11.0% for all varietals and Spumante; 13.0% for Riserva We are working on this Friuli Annia DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an…
-
Friuli / Friuli Venezia Giulia DOC
Friuli / Friuli Venezia Giulia DOC: White Grapes are Chardonnay, Friulano, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Ribolla Gialla, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Verduzzo and Red Grapes are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Merlot, Pinot Nero, Refosco. Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for all still wines; 11.0% for all sparkling wines We are working on this Friuli / Friuli Venezia Giulia DOC appellation description.Please…
-
Collio Goriziano / Collio DOC
Collio Goriziano / Collio DOC: White Grapes are Chardonnay, Friulano, Gewürztraminer, Malvasia, Müller-Thurgau, Picolit, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Ribolla Gialla, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico)Red Grape Varieties are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Merlot, Pinot Nero. The Minimum alcohol level is11.5%, except 14.0% (potential) for Picolit We are working on this Collio Goriziano / Collio DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send…
-
Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit DOCG
Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit DOCG:White Grape is PicolitBianco (WhSw): Minimum 85% Picolit + OANWG; Bianco from subzone Cialla only (WhSw): 100% Picolit; Riserva (subzone Cialla only. The Minimum alcohol level is 15.0% (potential) for Bianco; 16.0% (potential) for Cialla and Cialla Riserva We are working on this Colli Orientali…
-
Terre dell’Alta Val d’Agri DOC
Terre dell’Alta Val d’Agri DOC:Red Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot. Rosato (Ro): Minimum 50% Merlot; minimum 20% Cabernet Sauvignon; minimum 10% Malvasia Nera di Basilicata; maximum 20% OANRG. Rosso (Rd): Minimum 50% Merlot; minimum 30% Cabernet Sauvignon; maximum 20% OARG. Riserva (Rosso) Minimum alcohol level is 11.5% for Rosato; 12.0% for Rosso;…