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

    Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale DOCG

    August 18, 2020 - By 

    Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale DOCG: Red Grape Varieties: PrimitivoRosso (RdSw): 100% Primitivo. The minimum alcohol level is 13.0% (16.0% potential) We are working on this Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale 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…

  • WINE

    Primitivo di Manduria DOC

    August 18, 2020 - By 

    Primitivo di Manduria DOC: Red Grape Varieties: PrimitivoRosso (Rd): Minimum 85% Primitivo + OANRG; Riserva (Rosso) The Minimum alcohol level is 13.5% for Rosso; 14.0% for Riserva We are working on this Primitivo di Manduria DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail if you are looking for more info atcheers@drinkitalian.com In the…

  • WINE

    Ostuni DOC

    August 18, 2020 - By 

    Ostuni DOC: White Grapes are  Francavidda, Impigno and Red is OttavianelloBianco (Wh): 50–85% Impigno; 15–50% Francavidda (locally Francavilla); maximum 10% Bianco di Alessano and/or Verdeca; Ottavianello (Rd): Minimum 85% Ottavianello; maximum 15% Malvasia Nera, Negroamaro, Notardomenico, and/or Susumaniello. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Bianco; 11.5% for Ottavianello We are working…

  • WINE

    Orta Nova DOC

    August 18, 2020 - By 

    Orta Nova DOC: Red Grape Varieties: SangioveseRosato (Ro): Minimum 60% Sangiovese; maximum 40% Lambrusco Maestri, Montepulciano, Trebbiano, and/or Uva di Troia (maximum 10% Lambrusco and/or Trebbiano);Rosso (Rd): Minimum 60% Sangiovese; maximum 40% Lambrusco Maestri, Montepulciano, Trebbiano, and/or Uva di Troia (maximum 10% Lambrusco and/or Trebbiano). The Minimum alcohol level: 11.5% for Rosato; 12.0%…

  • WINE

    Negroamaro di Terra d’Otranto DOC

    August 18, 2020 - By 

    Negroamaro di Terra d’Otranto DOC: Red Grape is NegroamaroRosato (Ro, RoFr): Minimum 90% Negroamaro + OANRG;Rosso (Rd): Minimum 90% Negroamaro + OANRG; Riserva (Rosso); Spumante Rosato (RoSp): 90% Negroamaro + OANRG. The Minimum alcohol level is11.5% for Rosato frizzante and Spumante; 12.0% for Rosato tranquillo; 12.5% for Rosso; 13.0% for Riserva…

  • WINE

    Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG

    August 18, 2020 - By 

    Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG: This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Tuscany. Red Grape is  Sangiovese  and Wine Composition:Vino Nobile (Rd): Minimum 70% Sangiovese (locally Prugnolo Gentile); maximum 30% OARG; maximum 5% OAWG; Riserva (Vino Nobile). The Minimum alcohol level is 12.5% for Vino…

  • WINE

    Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC

    August 18, 2020 - By 

    Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC: This is an appellation for only dessert wines in the region of Tuscany. White Grape are Grechetto, Malvasia, Trebbiano and Red Grape is SangioveseWine Composition:Vin Santo (Wh, WhSw): Minimum 70% Grechetto (locally Pulcinculo), Malvasia, and/or Trebbiano Toscano + OANWG; Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice (RoSw): Minimum 50% Sangiovese…

  • WINE

    Vin Santo di Carmignano DOC

    August 18, 2020 - By 

    Vin Santo di Carmignano DOC: This is an appellation for only dessert wines in the region of Tuscany. White Grape are Malvasia, Trebbiano and Red Grape isSangioveseStyles and Wine Composition: Vin Santo (Wh, WhSw): Minimum 75% Malvasia Bianca Lunga and/or Trebbiano Toscano; maximum 25% OAWG; Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice (RoSw): Minimum 50%…

  • WINE

    Vin Santo del Chianti DOC

    August 18, 2020 - By 

    Vin Santo del Chianti DOC: This is an appellation for only dessert wines in the region of Tuscany. Principal White Grapes are Malvasia, Trebbiano and Red are SangioveseStyles and Wine Composition: Vin Santo (Wh, WhSw): Minimum 70% Malvasia Bianca Lunga and/or Trebbiano Toscano + OAG; Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice (RoSw): Minimum…

  • WINE

    Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC

    August 18, 2020 - By 

    Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC: This is an appellation for only dessert wines in the region of Tuscany. White Grape are Malvasia, Trebbiano and  Red Grape are  SangioveseStyles and Wine Composition: Vin Santo (Wh, WhSw): Minimum 60% Malvasia Bianca Lunga (aka Malvasia del Chianti) and/or Trebbiano Toscano + OAG; Vin Santo…