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 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-
Bagnoli di Sopra / Bagnoli DOC
Bagnoli di Sopra / Bagnoli DOC: White Grape Varieties are Chardonnay, Friulano, Marzemina Bianca, Sauvignon Blanc and Red are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Cavrara, Corbina, Merlot, Raboso, Refosco, Turchetta. This appellation from Veneto lies close to the Municipality of Bagnoli di Sopra only. The Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for Bianco, Marzemina Bianca, Rosato, and Spumante; 11.0% for Rosso and red varietals; 11.5% for Spumante Storico; 12.0% for Riserva; 15.5% (potential) for Vin da Viajo We are working on this Bagnoli di Sopra / Bagnoli 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…
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Asolo Prosecco DOCG
Asolo Prosecco DOCG: The Principal White Grape is Glera. Composition: Bianco (Wh, WhFr, WhFrSw): Minimum 85% Glera; maximum 15% Bianchetta Trevigiana, Perera, and/or Verdiso; Spumante Superiore (WhSp, WhSpSw): Minimum 85% Glera; maximum 15% Bianchetta Trevigiana, Chardonnay, Perera, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Nero, and/or Verdiso; Sui Lieviti (Spumante Superiore), The Minimum alcohol level is 5% for Bianco; 11.0% for Spumante Superiore We are working on this Asolo Prosecco 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…
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Arcole DOC
Arcole DOC: Principal White Grape Varieties are Chardonnay, Garganega, Pinot Grigio and Red is Merlot.Wine Composition:Bianco (Wh, WhFr, WhFrSw): Minimum 50% Garganega + OAWG; Chardonnay (Wh, WhFr): Minimum 85% Chardonnay + OAWG; Pinot Grigio (Wh): Minimum 85% Pinot Grigio + OAWG; Rosato (Ro, RoFr, RoFrSw): Minimum 50% Merlot + OANRG; Rosso (Rd): Minimum 50% Merlot + OANRG; Nero (Rd): Minimum 50% Merlot + OANRG; Merlot (Rd): Minimum 85% Merlot + OARG;Riserva (Rosso, Merlot); Spumante (WhSp, WhSpSw): Minimum 50% Garganega + OAWG; Passito (Wh, WhSw): Minimum 50% Garganega + OAWG. The Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for Bianco, Chardonnay frizzante, and Rosato; 11.0% for Chardonnay tranquillo, Pinot Grigio, Rosso, and Spumante; 11.5% for Merlot;…
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Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG: This is one ot the most important appellation for only red wines in the region of Veneto. The Principal Red Grape Varieties are Corvina, CorvinoneThe Wine Composition is Rosso (Rd): 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%); Riserva (Rosso); Classico, comprising the communes of Fumane, Marano, Negrar, San Pietro in Cariano, and Sant’Ambrogio,Valpantena. The Minimum potential alcohol level at harvest is 11.0% We are working on this Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail if you are looking for more info atcheers@drinkitalian.com In the…
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Vesuvio DOC
Vesuvio DOC: It is a very interesting appellation from Campania producing red, white, rose’, dessert and sparkling wines.White Grape Varieties: Caprettone, Coda di Volpe, FalanghinaPrincipal Red Grape Varieties: Aglianico, Piedirosso. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Bianco, Rosato, Rosso, Spumante, and Rosato Spumante; 11.5% for varietal Aglianico Rosato, Caprettone, Falanghina, and Piedirosso (both still and sparkling); 12.0% for Aglianico Rosso and for Lacryma Christi Bianco, Rosato, Rosso, Spumante, and Rosato Spumante; 13.0% for Superiore and Riserva Lacryma Christi Many confuse Lacryma Christi as being its own DOC but it is included under the Vesuvio DOC production regulations and control. It is a subdivision with slightly more constraining production rules with respect to lower…
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Taurasi DOCG
Taurasi DOCG: This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Campania. Red Grape is Aglianico. Rosso (Rd): Minimum 85% Aglianico + OANRG; Riserva (Rosso). Minimum alcohol level: 12.0% for Rosso; 12.5% for Riserva Minimum alcohol level is 12.0% for Rosso; 12.5% for Riserva We are working on this Taurasi 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 Prices And Taste La Dolce…
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Sannio DOC
Sannio DOC: It is a very interesting appellation from Campania producing red, white, rose’, dessert and sparkling wines.White Grapes are Coda di Volpe, Falanghina, Fiano, Greco, Malvasia, Moscato, Trebbiano Red Grape Varieties are Aglianico, Barbera, Piedirosso, Sangiovese, Sciascinoso. The Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for Bianco and Moscato; 11.0% for Coda di Volpe, Rosato, Rosso, Aglianico-Piedirosso, Piedirosso, Piedirosso-Aglianico, Sciascinoso, and Rosso Novello; 11.5% for Fiano, Greco, Aglianico, Barbera, Aglianico Novello, and all spumanti; 12.0% for Superiore and Riserva; 16.0% (potential) for Passito We are working on this Sannio 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…
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Penisola Sorrentina DOC
Penisola Sorrentina DOC:It is an appellation from Campania producing red, white wines. White Grapes are Biancolella, Falanghina, Greco and Red are Aglianico, Piedirosso, Sciascinoso. Bianco (Wh): Minimum 60% Biancolella, Falanghina, and/or Greco, with a minimum 40% Falanghina; maximum 40% OANWG; Rosso (Rd, RdFr): Minimum 60% Aglianico, Piedirosso (locally Pèr e Palummo), and/or Sciascinoso (locally Olivella), with a minimum 40% Piedirosso; maximum 40% OANRG; Gragnano (Rosso frizzante only); Lettere (Rosso frizzante only); Sorrento (Bianco and Rosso tranquillo only). The Minimum alcohol level is 10.0% for Bianco and Rosso frizzante; 10.5% for Rosso tranquillo; 11.0% for Sorrento Bianco, Gragnano, and Lettere; 11.5% for Sorrento Rosso We are working on this Penisola Sorrentina…
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Ischia DOC
Ischia DOC: It is a very interesting appellation from Campania producing red, white, dessert, and sparkling wines. White Grapes are Biancolella, Forastera and Red Grapes are Cannonau. Bianco (Wh): 45–70% Forastera; 30–55% Biancolella; maximum 15% OANWG; Biancolella (Wh): Minimum 85% Biancolella + OANWG; Forastera (Wh): Minimum 85% Forastera + OANWG. Superiore (Bianco). Rosso (Rd): 40–50% Cannonau (locally Guarnaccia); 40–50% Piedirosso (locally Pèr e Palummo); maximum 15% OANRG; Piedirosso or Pèr e Palummo (Rd): Minimum 85% Piedirosso + OANRG.Spumante (WhSp): 45–70% Forastera; 30–55% Biancolella; maximum 15% OANWGPassito (RdSw): Minimum 85% Piedirosso + OANRG. The Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for Bianco and white varietals; 11.0% for Rosso and Piedirosso; 11.5% for Spumante…
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Irpinia DOC
Irpinia DOC: It is a very interesting appellation from Campania producing red, white, rose’, dessert and sparkling wines.White Grapes are Coda di Volpe, Falanghina, Fiano, Greco and Red are Aglianico, Piedirosso, Sciascinoso.Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for Bianco; 11.0% for white varietals, Rosato, Rosso, and Novello; 11.5% for red varietals and Spumante; 12.0% for Campi Taurasini; 12.0% for Passito Rosso (15.0% potential); 12.0% for Passito Bianco (15.5% potential); 15.0% for Liquoroso (16.0% potential) We are working on this Irpinia 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…
