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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    Suvereto DOCG

    August 18, 2020 - By 

    Suvereto DOCG: This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Tuscany.Red Grape Varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese. The Minimum alcohol level is : 12.5% for Rosso and varietals; 13.0% for Riserva We are working on this Suvereto DOCG appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail if you are looking…

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    Sovana DOC

    August 18, 2020 - By 

    Sovana DOC: This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Tuscany.Red Grape are  Aleatico, Cabernet Sauvignon, Ciliegiolo, Merlot, Sangiovese. The Minimum alcohol level is 9.5% for Aleatico Superiore and Aleatico Riserva (12.0% potential); 11.0% for Rosato and Rosso; 12.0% for Rosso Superiore, Rosso Riserva, and all varietals except Aleatico; 12.5% for…

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    Sant’Antimo DOC

    August 18, 2020 - By 

    Sant’Antimo DOC: It is an appellation from Tuscany producing red, white, dessert, wines. White Grapes are Chardonnay, Malvasia, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbianoand Red Grapes are  Cabernet Sauvignon, Malvasia Nera, Merlot, Pinot Nero, Sangiovese. The minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Novello; 11.5% for Bianco and white varietals; 12.0% for Rosso and red varietals; 13.0% for Vin Santo amabile…

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    San Torpè DOC

    August 17, 2020 - By 

    San Torpè DOC: It is a very interesting appellation from Tuscany producing white ,rose’, dessert wines.White Grapes are  Chardonnay, Malvasia, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano, Vermentinoand Red Grape is Sangiovese. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Bianco, white varietals, and Rosato; 16.0% (potential) for Vin Santo We are working on this San Torpè DOC appellation description.Please…

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    San Gimignano DOC

    August 17, 2020 - By 

    San Gimignano DOC: It is a very interesting appellation from Tuscany producing red,rose’, dessert wines.White Grapes are  Malvasia, Trebbiano. Red are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Nero, Sangiovese, Syrah. Minimum alcohol level is 11.5% for Rosato; 12.0% for Rosso and red varietals; 12.5% for Riserva; 14.5% for Vin Santo and Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice (16.5% potential)…

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    Rosso di Montepulciano DOC

    August 17, 2020 - By 

    Rosso di Montepulciano DOC:  This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Tuscany. Red Grape is Sangiovese and Wine Composition isRosso (Rd): Minimum 70% Sangiovese (locally Prugnolo Gentile) + OAG (maximum 5% OAWG). Minimum alcohol level is 11.5% We are working on this Rosso di Montepulciano DOC appellation…

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    Rosso di Montalcino DOC

    August 17, 2020 - By 

    Rosso di Montalcino DOC: This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Tuscany. Red Grape is Sangiovese and Wine Composition is Rosso (Rd): 100% Sangiovese (locally Brunello). The Minimum alcohol level is 12.0% We are working on this Rosso di Montalcino DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send…

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    Pomino DOC

    August 17, 2020 - By 

    Pomino DOC: It is an appellation from Tuscany producing red, white, rose’, dessert wines. White Grapes are Ansonica, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, VermentinoPrincipal Red Grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese. Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Rosato; 11.5% for Bianco and Rosso; 12.0% for white varietals and Sangiovese; 12.5% for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Riserva; 16.0% (potential) for…

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    Parrina DOC

    August 17, 2020 - By 

    Parrina DOC: It is an appellation from Tuscany producing red, white, rose’, dessert wines. White Grapes are Ansonica, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino.Red Grapes are  Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Rosato; 11.5% for Bianco and Rosso; 12.0% for white varietals and Sangiovese; 12.5% for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Riserva; 16.0% (potential)…

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    Orcia DOC

    August 17, 2020 - By 

    Orcia DOC: It is an appellation from Tuscany producing red, white, rose’, dessert wines. White Grapes are Malvasia, Trebbiano and Red Grape is Sangiovese Wine Composition: Bianco (Wh): Minimum 50% Trebbiano Toscano + OANWG;Rosato (Ro): Minimum 60% Sangiovese + OANG (maximum 10% OANWG); Rosso (Rd): Minimum 60% Sangiovese + OANG (maximum 10%…