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-
Recioto di Soave DOCG
Recioto di Soave DOCG: It is a very interesting appellation from Veneto producing red, dessert and sparkling wines. White Grape is Garganega and Wine Composition: Spumante (WhSpSw): Minimum 70% Garganega; maximum 30% Trebbiano di Soave; maximum 5% OAWG;Recioto (WhSw): Minimum 70% Garganega; maximum 30% Trebbiano di Soave; maximum 5% OAWG. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.5% for Spumante (approx. 16.0% potential); 12.0% for Recioto (approx. 16.0% potential) We are working on this Recioto di Soave 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 you are in the mood for a good book, you can try:– The Modern History of Italian…
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Recioto di Gambellara DOCG
Recioto di Gambellara DOCG: It is a very interesting appellation from Veneto producing red, dessert and sparkling wines. White Grape is Garganega and Wine Composition:Spumante (WhSpSw): 100% Garganega; Classico (WhSw): 100% Garganega. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% (14.0% potential) for Spumante; 11.3% (14.0% potential) for Classico (the disciplinare says 11.3%, but that could be a typo for 11.0% or 11.5%) We are working on this Recioto di Gambellara 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 you are in the mood for a good book, you can try:– The Modern History of Italian Wine by Walter Filipputti– Hidden Gems…
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Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG
Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG: It is a very interesting appellation from Veneto producing red, dessert and sparkling wines. Red Gs are Corvina, Corvinone and Wine Composition:Spumante (RdSpSw): 45–95% Corvina and/or Corvinone; 5–30% Rondinella; maximum 25% OARG (of which no single variety can exceed 10% and all aromatic varieties combined cannot exceed 10%); Recioto (RdSw): 45–95% Corvina and/or Corvinone; 5–30% Rondinella; maximum 25% OARG (of which no single variety can exceed 10% and all aromatic varieties combined cannot exceed 10%). Minimum potential alcohol level at harvest is 11.0%. After harvest, grapes must be air-dried to achieve a minimum potential alcohol level of 14.0% and cannot usually be vinified until December 1. Minimum alcohol…
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Recioto di Gambellara DOCG
Recioto di Gambellara DOCG: It is a very interesting appellation from Veneto producing red, dessert and sparkling wines. White Grape is Garganega and Wine Composition:Spumante (WhSpSw): 100% Garganega; Classico (WhSw): 100% Garganega. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% (14.0% potential) for Spumante; 11.3% (14.0% potential) for Classico (the disciplinare says 11.3%, but that could be a typo for 11.0% or 11.5%) We are working on this Recioto di Gambellara 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 you are in the mood for a good book, you can try:– The Modern History of Italian Wine by Walter Filipputti– Hidden Gems…
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Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG
Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG: It is a very interesting appellation from Veneto producing red, dessert and sparkling wines. Red Gs are Corvina, Corvinone and Wine Composition:Spumante (RdSpSw): 45–95% Corvina and/or Corvinone; 5–30% Rondinella; maximum 25% OARG (of which no single variety can exceed 10% and all aromatic varieties combined cannot exceed 10%); Recioto (RdSw): 45–95% Corvina and/or Corvinone; 5–30% Rondinella; maximum 25% OARG (of which no single variety can exceed 10% and all aromatic varieties combined cannot exceed 10%). Minimum potential alcohol level at harvest is 11.0%. After harvest, grapes must be air-dried to achieve a minimum potential alcohol level of 14.0% and cannot usually be vinified until December 1. Minimum alcohol…
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Prosecco DOC
Prosecco DOC: This is an appellation for only white wines in the region of Veneto. White Grape is Glera. Styles and Wine Composition: Bianco (Wh, WhFr, WhSw, WhFrSw): Minimum 85% Glera; maximum 15% Bianchetta Trevigiana, Chardonnay, Perera, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, and/or Pinot Nero (vinified as a white wine): Spumante (WhSp): Minimum 85% Glera; maximum 15% Bianchetta Trevigiana, Chardonnay, Perera, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, and/or Pinot Nero (vinified as a white wine). The Minimum alcohol level is10.5% for Bianco; 11.0% for Spumante We are working on this Prosecco 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…
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Piave Malanotte / Malanotte del Piave DOCG
Piave Malanotte / Malanotte del Piave DOCG: This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Veneto.Red Grape is RabosoStyles and Wine Composition forRosso (Rd) is Minimum 70% Raboso Piave; maximum 30% Raboso Veronese; maximum 5% OARG. The Minimum alcohol level is 12.5% We are working on this Piave Malanotte / Malanotte del Piave 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 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 Secret Formula To Find Top-Class Italian Wines At Value…
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Piave DOC
Piave DOC: It is an appellation from Veneto producing red, white and dessert wines. White Grapes are Chardonnay, Friulano, Manzoni Bianco, Verduzzo and Red Grapes are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Merlot, Raboso. Styles and Wine Composition: Chardonnay (Wh): Minimum 85% Chardonnay + OAWG; Manzoni Bianco (Wh): Minimum 85% Manzoni Bianco + OAWG; Tai (Wh): Minimum 85% Friulano (locally Tai) + OAWG; Verduzzo (Wh): Minimum 85% Verduzzo (Friulano or Trevigiano) + OAWG; Rosso (Rd): Minimum 50% Merlot; maximum 50% Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, and/or Raboso (Piave and/or Veronese); Cabernet (Rd): Minimum 85% Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and/or Carmenère + OARG; Carmenère (Rd): Minimum 85% Carmenère + OARG; Merlot (Rd): Minimum 85%…
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Monti Lessini DOC
Monti Lessini DOC: It is an appellation from Veneto producing red, white and dessert wines.White Grapes are Chardonnay, Durella, Garganega, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Red Grape is Pinot Nero.Wine Composition:Bianco (Wh): Minimum 50% Chardonnay; maximum 50% Durella (locally Durello), Garganega, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Nero, and/or Sauvignon Blanc; Durello (Wh): Minimum 85% Durella; maximum 15% Chardonnay, Garganega, Pinot Bianco, and/or Pinot Nero; Pinot Nero (Rd): Minimum 85% Pinot Nero + OANRG; Passito (WhSw): Minimum 85% Durella; maximum 15% Chardonnay, Garganega, Pinot Bianco, and/or Pinot Nero. The Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for Durello; 11.5% for Bianco; 11.5% for Passito (14.5% potential); 12.5% for Pinot Nero We are working on this Monti…
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Montello–Colli Asolani DOC
Montello–Colli Asolani DOC: It is an apellation from Veneto producing red, white, sparkling wines.White Grape Varieties are Bianchetta Trevigiana, Chardonnay, Glera, Manzoni Bianco, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio and Red Grape Varieties are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Merlot, Recantina. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Bianchetta, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, and Merlot; 11.5% for Bianco, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Recantina, Cabernet, and Spumante; 12.0% for Manzoni Bianco and Rosso; 12.5% for Venegazzù Rosso; 13.0% for Superiore We are working on this Montello–Colli Asolani 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…
