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

  • WINE

    IGP Spello

    September 8, 2020 - By 

    IGP Spello: It is a very interesting apellation from Umbria producing red, white, rose’wines. White Grapes are Albana, Bellone, Biancame, Bombino Bianco, Chardonnay, Falanghina,  Fiano, Friulano, Garganega, Gewürztraminer, Grechetto, Greco, Maceratino, Malvasia, Manzoni Bianco, Montonico Bianco, Moscato, Mostosa, Müller-Thurgau, Passerina, Pecorino, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Sylvaner Verde, Trebbiano, Verdello, Verdicchio, Vermentino, Vernaccia, Viognier, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico) Red Grapes are Aglianico, Aleatico, Alicante, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Canaiolo Nero, Carignano, Cesanese, Ciliegiolo, Dolcetto, Gaglioppo, Gamay, Grechetto Rosso, Lacrima,  Malbec,  Malvasia Nera, Merlot, Montepulciano, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Pinot Nero, Primitivo, Rebo, Refosco, Sagrantino, Sangiovese, Syrah, Vernaccia Nera. alcohol level: 10.0% We are working on this IGP…

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    Verduno Pelaverga / Verduno DOC

    September 8, 2020 - By 

    Verduno Pelaverga / Verduno DOC: This is an appellation for only red wines. Red Grapes are Pelaverga Piccolo. Wine Composition: Rosso (Rd): Minimum 85% Pelaverga Piccolo + OANRG. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% We are working on this Verduno Pelaverga / Verduno DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an…

  • WINE

    Valsusa DOC

    September 8, 2020 - By 

    Valsusa DOC: This is an appellation for only red wines. White Grape is Baratuciat and Red Grapes are Avanà, Barbera, Becuet, Dolcetto, Neretta CuneeseWine Composition: Rosso (Rd): Minimum 60% Avanà, Barbera, Becuet, Dolcetto, and/or Neretta Cuneese + OANRG; Avanà (Rd): Minimum 85% Avanà + OARG; Becuet (Rd): Minimum 85% Becuet + OARG: Novello (Rosso); Baratuciat…

  • WINE

    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…

  • WINE

    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…

  • WINE

    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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    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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    IGP Rotae

    August 25, 2020 - By 

    IGP Rotae: White Grapes are Bombino Bianco, Chardonnay,  Falanghina,  Fiano,  Garganega, Gewürztraminer, Greco, Malvasia, Moscato, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano, Verdicchio, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico)Red Grape Varieties are  Aglianico, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon,  Ciliegiolo, Malvasia Rosa, Merlot, Montepulciano, Moscato Nero, Negroamaro, Petit Verdot, Pinot Nero, Primitivo, Sagrantino, Sangiovese, Syrah, Tintilia. The Minimum alcohol level is 10.0% for most wines; 10.5% for varietal Rosato (tranquillo and frizzante) and varietal Rosso tranquillo; 11.0% for Novello; 14.0% potential…