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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    Valli Ossolane DOC

    September 8, 2020 - By 

    Valli Ossolane DOC: It is the Northernmost appellation in Piedmont, close to Valle d’Aosta and the Italian border with France. It includes white wines made with min. 60% Chardonnay and red wines with Nebbiolo and/or Croatina and/or Merlot (min 60%). We are working on this Valli Ossolane DOC appellation description.Please come…

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    Terre Alfieri DOC

    September 8, 2020 - By 

    Terre Alfieri DOC: It is an appellation from Piedmont producing red, white, wines.  White Grape IS Arneis and Red Grape Varieties is Nebbiolo Wine Composition is Arneis (Wh): Minimum 85% Arneis + OANWG; Nebbiolo (Rd): Minimum 85% Nebbiolo + OANRG. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.5% for Arneis or 12.0% if…

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    Strevi DOC

    September 8, 2020 - By 

    Strevi DOC: This is an appellation for only red wines. White Grape is Moscato.  Wine Composition:Passito (WhSw): 100% Moscato Bianco. Minimum alcohol level: 12.5% (20.0% potential); 13.0% if a vineyard is named (20.0% potential) We are working on this Strevi DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail if you are…

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    Sizzano DOC

    September 8, 2020 - By 

    Sizzano DOC: This red wine is produced in the Northern part of Piedmont in the Novara province. It is made with Nebbiolo (min 50%-max 70%) which is called Spanna in that area. It can also include Vespolina and/or Uva Rara (30% to 50%) and other autorized red varieties. We are working…

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    Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG

    September 8, 2020 - By 

    Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG: This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Piedmont. Red Grape is Ruchè. Wine Composition:Rosso (Rd): Minimum 90% Ruchè; maximum 10% Barbera and/or Brachetto: Riserva (Rosso). The Minimum alcohol level is 12.5% We are working on this Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG…

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    Rubino di Cantavenna DOC

    September 8, 2020 - By 

    Rubino di Cantavenna DOC: This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Piedmont. Red Grape is Barbera. Wine Composition for Rosso (Rd) is 75–90% Barbera; 10–25% Freisa and/or Grignolino. Minimum alcohol level is 11.5% We are working on this Rubino di Cantavenna DOC appellation description.Please come back…

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    Roero DOCG

    September 8, 2020 - By 

    Roero DOCG: It is an appellation from Piedmont producing red, white, sparkling wines. White Grape is  Arneis and Red Grape isNebbiolo Wine Composition: Bianco (Wh): Minimum 95% Arneis + OANWG; Riserva (Bianco); Rosso (Rd): Minimum 95% Nebbiolo + OANRG; Riserva (Rosso); Spumante (WhSp, WhSpSw): Minimum 95% Arneis + OANWG. Minimum alcohol level…

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    Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore / Ovada DOCG

    September 8, 2020 - By 

    Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore / Ovada DOCG: This red wine is produced in the Langhe area and it is made with 100% Dolcetto. It comes specifically from the vineyards around the town of  Ovada and other comunes, in the province of Alessandria. This Superiore version must have at least 12,5%. We…

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    Tintilia del Molise DOC

    August 25, 2020 - By 

    Tintilia del Molise DOC: Red Grape is  TintiliaRosato (Ro): Minimum 95% Tintilia + OANRG; Rosso (Rd): Minimum 95% Tintilia + OANRG; Riserva (Rosso) The Minimum alcohol level is 11.5% for Rosato and Rosso; 13.0% for Riserva We are working on this Tintilia del Molise DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail…

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    Pentro di Isernia / Pentro DOC

    August 25, 2020 - By 

    Pentro di Isernia / Pentro DOC: White  Grape is Falanghina and  Red Grape is MontepulcianoBianco (Wh): Minimum 80% Falanghina; 15–20% Trebbiano Toscano; maximum 5% OAWG; Rosato (Ro): 75–80% Montepulciano; 20–25% Tintilia; maximum 5% OANRG; Rosso (Rd): 75–80% Montepulciano; 20–25% Tintilia; maximum 5% OANRG; Riserva (Rosso)The Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for Bianco; 11.0%…