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.
— 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
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
What is Castel del Monte DOC? Castel del Monte DOC is northern Puglia’s most prestigious wine appellation, producing exceptional Italian wines from both native and international grape varieties. Named after Frederick II’s iconic UNESCO World Heritage castle, the DOC was established in 1971 and encompasses white, red, rosato, and sparkling…
What is Castel del Monte Bombino Nero DOCG? Castel del Monte Bombino Nero DOCG is Puglia’s premier rosé wine appellation, producing exceptional Italian rosato from the native Bombino Nero grape. Elevated to DOCG status in 2011, it is one of southern Italy’s most distinctive rosé wines—bright, elegant, and deeply rooted…
What is Casteggio DOC? Casteggio DOC is a small yet distinctive Italian red wine appellation located in Lombardy’s Oltrepò Pavese. Recognized since 2010, it specializes in Barbera-based blends that reflect the unique terroir of the Pavia province. Known for their lively acidity, red fruit brightness, and structured elegance, Casteggio DOC…
What is Capri DOC? Perched in the Gulf of Naples, the famed Capri DOC produces both red and white wines that are as rare as they are enchanting. Though overshadowed by its glamorous tourism, Capri’s wine heritage quietly whispers to discerning palates seeking flavor rooted in sun, stone, and tradition.…
What is Buttafuoco dell’Oltrepò Pavese? Want to discover Italian wines before they’re famous? Meet Buttafuoco dell’Oltrepò Pavese—a “spitfire” red from Lombardy that wine connoisseurs are quietly collecting while the world chases Barolo. Produced only in a select slice of the Oltrepò Pavese hills, Buttafuoco is more than a wine—it’s a…
Oltrepò Pavese DOC is a wine region in Lombardy, Italy, just south of the Po River. Known for its Pinot Nero (Italy’s third-largest planted area) and Metodo Classico sparkling wines, it produces red, white, rosé, and sparkling styles across rolling hills and medieval villages. With its proximity to Milan, rich…
If Tuscany were a grand Italian opera, Barco Reale di Carmignano would be that soulful yet underrated aria—the one that stops you in your tracks but somehow never makes the radio hits. For under €20, this Sangiovese-led blend delivers aristocratic history, remarkable quality, and everyday drinkability. It’s the budget-friendly sibling…
What Is Casavecchia di Pontelatone DOC Wine? Casavecchia di Pontelatone DOC represents one of Italy’s rarest and most exclusive wine appellations, producing fewer than 900 cases annually from ancient indigenous vines in Campania’s volcanic hills. Officially recognized in 2011, this remarkable DOC showcases the rediscovery of the Casavecchia grape, once…
What Is Carmignano DOCG Wine? Carmignano DOCG is one of Tuscany’s most historic and prestigious red wine appellations, located just 20 km northwest of Florence. Long before “Super-Tuscans” became an international sensation, Carmignano was blending Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc—a tradition officially protected by the Medici family as…
What is Carignano del Sulcis DOC? Carignano del Sulcis DOC represents the soulful heart of Sardinian winemaking. This appellation, officially established in 1977, celebrates a red wine shaped by history, geography, and the resilience of ancient ungrafted vines. Planted in sandy coastal soils in the Sulcis area of southwestern Sardinia,…