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-
Siracusa DOC
Siracusa DOC: It is a very interesting apellation from Sicilia producing red, white, dessert and sparkling wines. White Grape is Moscato and Red Grapes are Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Syrah. Composition: Bianco (Wh): Minimum 40% Moscato Bianco + OAWG; Moscato (Wh, WhSw): Minimum 85% Moscato Bianco + OAWG;Rosso (Rd): Minimum 65% Nero d’Avola (aka Calabrese) + OARG; Nero d’Avola (Rd): Minimum 85% Nero d’Avola + OARG; Syrah (Rd): Minimum 85% Syrah + OARG; Spumante (WhSp, WhSpSw): Minimum 85% Moscato Bianco + other authorized aromatic white grapes; Passito (WhSw): Minimum 85% Moscato Bianco + OAWG. The Minimum alcohol level is 9.5% for Moscato and Spumante (11.5% potential); 11.0% for Bianco; 11.5% for Rosso;…
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Sicilia DOC
Sicilia DOC: It is a very interesting apellation from Sicilia producing red, white, rose’, dessert and sparkling wines. White Grapes are Ansonica, Carricante, Catarratto, Chardonnay, Damaschino, Fiano, Grecanico Dorato, Grillo, Moscato, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino, Viognier, Zibibbo. Red Grapes are Alicante, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignano, Frappato, Merlot, Mondeuse, Nerello Cappuccio, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Nocera, Perricone, Petit Verdot, Pinot Nero, Sangiovese, Syrah. The Minimum alcohol level is 6.0% for Zibibbo Spumante (10.5% potential); 6.0% for Moscato Bianco Spumante (11.0% potential); 11.0% for Vendemmia Tardiva (13.0% potential); 11.0% for white Passito (potential: 14.0% for varietals, 16.0% for Bianco); 11.5% for Bianco, most white varietals (except Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon), and tank-method Spumante (except Moscato Bianco and Zibibbo) and Spumante Rosato; 12.0% for Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, all Superiore wines, Rosato, rosato…
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Sciacca DOC
Sciacca DOC:It is an apellation from Sicilia producing red, white, rose’, wines. White Grapes are Ansonica, Catarratto, Chardonnay, Grecanico Dorato and Red are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Sangiovese. Minimum alcohol level is 10.0% for Grecanico; 10.5% for Bianco, Inzolia, and Rosato; 11.5% for Chardonnay, Rosso, Nero d’Avola, and Sangiovese; 12.0% for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot; 12.5% for Rosso Riserva; 13.5% for Rayana Riserva We are working on this Sciacca 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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Santa Margherita di Belice DOC
Santa Margherita di Belice DOC: It is an apellation from Sicilia producing red, white wines. White Grapes are Ansonica, Catarratto, Grecanico Dorato and Red are Cabernet Sauvignon, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Sangiovese Composition: Bianco (Wh): 50–70% Catarratto Bianco Lucido and/or Grecanico Dorato; 30–50% Ansonica; maximum 15% OAWG;Ansonica (Wh): Minimum 85% Ansonica + OAWG; Catarratto (Wh): Minimum 85% Catarratto + OAWG; Grecanico (Wh): Minimum 85% Grecanico Dorato + OAWG; Rosso (Rd): 50–80% Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Sangiovese; 20%–50% Nero d’Avola (aka Calabrese); maximum 15% OARG; Nero d’Avola (Rd): Minimum 85% Nero d’Avola + OARG;Sangiovese (Rd): Minimum 85% Sangiovese + OARG The Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for Bianco and white varietals; 11.5% for Rosso and red varietals…
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Sambuca di Sicilia DOC
Sambuca di Sicilia DOC: It is a very interesting apellation from Sicilia producing red, white, rose’, dessert wines. White Grapes are Ansonica, Chardonnay, Grecanico Dorato, Grillo, Sauvignon Blanc. Red Grapes areCabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Sangiovese, Syrah. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Bianco and white varietals; 11.5% for Rosato; 12.0% for Rosso and red varietals; 12.5% for Riserva; 16.0% (potential) for Passito We are working on this Sambuca di Sicilia 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…
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Salaparuta DOC
Salaparuta DOC: It is a very interesting apellation from Sicilia producing red, white, rose’, dessert and sparkling wines. White Grapes are Ansonica, Chardonnay and Red Grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Syrah. The Minimum alcohol level is 8.0% for Vendemmia Tardiva (18.0% potential); 10.5% for Spumante; 11.0% for Bianco, Insolia, and Rosato; 11.5% for Chardonnay, Rosso, Nero d’Avola, and Novello; 12.0% for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah; 13.0% for Superiore and Superiore Riserva. We are working on this Salaparuta 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…
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Riesi DOC
Riesi DOC: It is a very interesting apellation from Sicilia producing red, white, rose’, dessert and sparkling wines.White Grapes are Ansonica, Chardonnay. Red Grape are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Syrah. the Minimum alcohol level is 8.0% for Vendemmia Tardiva (18.0% potential); 10.5% for Spumante; 11.0% for Bianco, Insolia, and Rosato; 11.5% for Chardonnay, Rosso, Nero d’Avola, and Novello; 12.0% for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah; 13.0% for Superiore and Superiore Riserva We are working on this Riesi 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…
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Pantelleria DOC
Pantelleria DOC: This is an appellation for only white wines in the region of Sicilia. White Grape is Zibibbo. Wine Composition:Bianco (Wh, WhFr, WhSw, WhFrSw): Minimum 85% Zibibbo (aka Moscato di Alessandria) + OAWG; Zibibbo Dolce (WhSw, WhFrSw): 100% Zibibbo; Moscato (WhSw): 100% Zibibbo;Moscato Spumante (WhSpSw): 100% Zibibbo;Passito (WhSw): 100% Zibibbo; Moscato Dorato (WhFoSw): 100% Zibibbo;Moscato Liquoroso (WhFoSw): 100% Zibibbo; Passito Liquoroso (WhFoSw): 100% Zibibbo; Grapes for Moscato Dorato must be dried on or off the vine to achieve a minimum sugar level of 250 g/l (25.0%). The Minimum alcohol level is Approx. 6.0% for Zibibbo Dolce (10.0% potential); 6.0% for Moscato Spumante (12.0% potential); 11.0% for Moscato (15.0% potential);…
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Noto DOC
Noto DOC: It is a very interesting apellation from Sicilia producing red, white,dessert and sparkling wines. White Grape is Moscato and Red Grape is Nero d’Avola (Calabrese). Moscato (Wh, WhSw): 100% Moscato Bianco. Rosso (Rd): Minimum 65% Nero d’Avola (aka Calabrese) + OANRG; Nero d’Avola (Rd): Minimum 85% Nero d’Avola + OANRG; Spumante (WhSpSw): 100% Moscato Bianco; Passito (WhSw): 100% Moscato Bianco; Liquoroso (WhFoSw): 100% Moscato Bianco. The Minimum alcohol level is 8.0% for Spumante (13.0% potential); 9.5% for Moscato (11.5% potential); 9.5% for Passito (18.0% potential); 12.5% for Rosso; 13.0% for Nero d’Avola; 15.0% for Liquoroso (21.0% potential) We are working on this Noto DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send…
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Monreale DOC
Monreale DOC: It is a very interesting apellation from Sicilia producing red, white, rose’, dessert wines.White Grape Varieties are Ansonica, Catarratto, Chardonnay, Grillo, Pinot BiancoPrincipal Red Grape Varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Perricone, Pinot Nero, Sangiovese, Syrah. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Bianco, Ansonica, Catarratto, Grillo, Pinot Bianco, and Rosato; 11.5% for Novello; 12.0% for Chardonnay, Rosso, and red varietals; 12.5% for Superiore and Riserva; 14% (potential) for Vendemmia Tardiva We are working on this Monreale 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…
