Marsala DOC: It is a very interesting apellation from Sicilia producing only dessert wines. White Grapes are Ansonica, Catarratto, Damaschino, Grillo and Red are Nerello Mascalese, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Perricone. The composition is Ambra (WhFoSw): Any proportions of Ansonica (locally Inzolia), Catarratto, Damaschino, and/or Grillo; Oro (WhFoSw): Any proportions of Ansonica, Catarratto, Damaschino, and/or Grillo; Rubino…
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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Mamertino di Milazzo / Mamertino DOC
Mamertino di Milazzo / Mamertino DOC: It is an apellation from Sicilia producing red, white, wines.White Grape Varieties are Ansonica, Catarratto, Grilloand Red is Nero d’Avola (Calabrese); Bianco (Wh): Minimum 45% Catarratto; minimum 35% Ansonica (locally Inzolia) and/or Grillo (minimum 10% each); maximum 20% OAWG; Ansonica-Grillo or Inzolia-Grillo (Wh): 50–80% Ansonica; 20–50% Grillo;…
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Malvasia delle Lipari DOC
Malvasia delle Lipari DOC: This is an appellation for only white wines in the region of Sicilia. White Grape is Malvasia. Bianco (WhSw): 92–95% Malvasia di Lipari; 5–8% Corinto Nero; Passito (WhSw): 92–95% Malvasia; 5–8% Corinto Nero; Liquoroso (WhFoSw): 92–95% Malvasia; 5–8% Corinto Nero. The Minimum alcohol level is 8.0%…
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IGP Terre Siciliane
IGP Terre Siciliane: It is a very interesting apellation from Sicilia producing red, white, rose’, dessert and sparkling wines. White Grapes are Ansonica, Carricante, Catarratto, Chardonnay, Damaschino, Fiano, Gewürztraminer, Grecanico Dorato, Grillo, Malvasia, Manzoni Bianco, Montonico Bianco, Moscato, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Trebbiano, Vermentino, Vernaccia, Viognier, Zibibboand Red are Aglianico, Alicante, Ancellotta, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignano, Ciliegiolo, Frappato, Gaglioppo, Malbec, Merlot, Montepulciano, Nerello Cappuccio, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Nocera, Perricone, Petit Verdot, Pinot Nero, Sangiovese, Syrah. Minimum alcohol level is …
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IGP Salina
IGP Salina: It is an apellation from Sicilia producing red, white, rose’, wines. White Grapes are Ansonica, Carricante, Catarratto, Chardonnay, Damaschino, Fiano, Gewürztraminer, Grecanico Dorato, Grillo, Malvasia, Manzoni Bianco, Montonico Bianco, Moscato, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Trebbiano, Vermentino, Vernaccia, Viognier. Red Grapes are Aglianico, Alicante, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Ciliegiolo, Frappato, Gaglioppo, Merlot, Montepulciano, Nerello Cappuccio, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Nocera, Perricone, Petit Verdot, Pinot Nero, Sangiovese, Syrah. This appellation from Sicilia lies anywhere in the Eolian Islands…
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IGP Salemi
IGP Salemi: This is an appellation for only white wines in the region of Sicilia. White Grape Varieties: Ansonica, Catarratto, Damaschino, Grecanico Dorato, Trebbiano. Bianco (Wh, WhFr, WhSw, WhFrSw): Any proportions of Ansonica, Catarratto, Damaschino, Grecanico Dorato, and/or Trebbiano;Varietals (Wh, WhFr, WhSw, WhFrSw): Minimum 85% Ansonica, Catarratto, Damaschino, or Grecanico Dorato…
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IGP Fontanarossa di Cerda
IGP Fontanarossa di Cerda: It is an apellation from Sicilia producing red, white, rose’, wines. White Grapes are Ansonica, Catarratto, Chardonnay, Trebbiano. Red Grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Perricone. This appellation from Sicilia lies close to the city ofCerda in the province of Palermo .Minimum alcohol level is 9.0% for all frizzante…
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IGP Camarro
IGP Camarro: It is an apellation from Sicilia producing red, white, rose’, wines. White Grapes are Ansonica, Carricante, Catarratto, Chardonnay, Damaschino, Fiano, Gewürztraminer, Grecanico Dorato, Grillo, Malvasia, Manzoni Bianco, Montonico Bianco, Moscato, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Trebbiano, Vermentino, Vernaccia, Viognier, Zibibbo. Red Grapes are Aglianico, Alicante, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Ciliegiolo, Frappato, Gaglioppo, Merlot, Montepulciano, Nerello Cappuccio, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Nocera, Perricone, Petit Verdot, Pinot Nero, Sangiovese, Syrah. The Minimum alcohol level is 9.0% for all frizzante wines;…
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IGP Avola
IGP Avola: It is an appellation from Sicilia producing red, white, rose’, wines.White Grapes are Ansonica, Carricante, Catarratto, Chardonnay, Damaschino, Fiano, Gewürztraminer, Grecanico Dorato, Grillo, Malvasia, Manzoni Bianco, Montonico Bianco, Moscato, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Trebbiano, Vermentino, Vernaccia, Viognier, Zibibbo Red Grapes are Aglianico, Alicante, Ancellotta, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignano, Ciliegiolo, Frappato, Gaglioppo, Malbec, Merlot, Montepulciano, Nerello Cappuccio, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Nocera, Perricone, Petit Verdot, Pinot Nero, Sangiovese, Syrah. This appellation from Sicilia lies close to the city of Avola and Siracusa…
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Faro DOC
Faro DOC: This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Sicilia. Red Grape is Nerello Mascalese. Rosso (Rd): 45–60% Nerello Mascalese; 15–30% Nerello Cappuccio; 5–10% Nocera; maximum 15% Gaglioppo, Nero d’Avola, and/or Sangiovese. Minimum alcohol level is 12.0% We are working on this Faro DOC appellation description.Please come…