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

    Vermentino di Gallura DOCG

    July 15, 2020 - By 

    Vermentino di Gallura DOCG:White Grape is VermentinoBianco (Wh, WhFr, WhSw, WhFrSw): Minimum 95% Vermentino + OANWG, Superiore (Bianco), Spumante (WhSp, WhSpSw): Minimum 95% Vermentino + OANWG, Vendemmia Tardiva (Wh, WhSw): Minimum 95% Vermentino + OANWG, Passito (Wh, WhSw): Minimum 95% Vermentino + OANWG. The Minimum alcohol level si 10.5% for Bianco frizzante…

  • WINE

    Sardegna Semidano DOC

    July 15, 2020 - By 

    Sardegna Semidano DOC: White Grape is SemidanoBianco (Wh): Minimum 85% Semidano + OANWG, Superiore (Bianco), Spumante (WhSp, WhSpSw): Minimum 85% Semidano + OANWG, Passito (WhSw): Minimum 85% Semidano + OANWG Production area is Mogoro. The Minimum alcohol level: 11.0% for Bianco; 11.5% for Bianco from subzone Mogoro and Spumante; 13.0% for Superiore;…

  • WINE

    Nuragus di Cagliari DOC

    July 15, 2020 - By 

    Nuragus di Cagliari DOC: White Grape is NuragusBianco (Wh, WhFr, WhSw, WhFrSw): Minimum 85% Nuragus + OAWG. The Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% We are working on this Nuragus di Cagliari 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,…

  • WINE

    Nasco di Cagliari DOC

    July 15, 2020 - By 

    Nasco di Cagliari DOC:White Grapes are Moscato, Nasco Bianco (Wh, WhSw): Minimum 95% Nasco + OAG, Liquoroso (WhFo, WhFoSw): Minimum 95% Nasco + OAG, Riserva (Liquoroso) The Minimum alcohol level is 13.5% potential for Bianco; 17.5% potential for Liquoroso and Riserva We are working on this Nasco di Cagliari DOC…

  • WINE

    Moscato di Sardegna DOC

    July 15, 2020 - By 

    Moscato di Sardegna DOC:White Grape Varieties: MoscatoBianco (WhSw): Minimum 90% Moscato Bianco + OAWG, Spumante (WhSpSw): Minimum 90% Moscato Bianco; maximum 10% other aromatic white grapes, da Uve Stramature (Vendemmia Tardiva; WhSw): Minimum 90% Moscato Bianco + OAWG, Passito (WhSw): Minimum 90% Moscato Bianco + OAWG. Production: Gallura (Spumante only)and Tempio…

  • WINE

    Monica di Sardegna DOC

    July 15, 2020 - By 

    Monica di Sardegna DOC:Red Grape Varieties: MonicaRosso (Rd, RdFr, RdSw, RdFrSw): Minimum 85% Monica + OANRG, Superiore (Rosso) Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Rosso; 12.5% for Superiore We are working on this Monica di Sardegna DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail if you are looking for more info atcheers@drinkitalian.com…

  • WINE

    Mandrolisai DOC

    July 15, 2020 - By 

    Mandrolisai DOC: Red Grape is  BovaleRosato (Ro): Minimum 35% Bovale Sardo; 20–35% Cannonau; 20–35% Monica; maximum 10% OAG, Rosso (Rd): Minimum 35% Bovale Sardo; 20–35% Cannonau; 20–35% Monica; maximum 10% OAG, Superiore (Rosso) Minimum alcohol level is 11.5% for Rosato and Rosso; 12.5% for Superiore We are working on this Mandrolisai…

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    Malvasia di Bosa DOC

    July 15, 2020 - By 

    Malvasia di Bosa DOC: The Principal White Grape is MalvasiaBianco (WhSw): Minimum 95% Malvasia di Sardegna + OAWG, Riserva (Bianco—can be dry as well as sweet), Spumante (WhSpSw): Minimum 95% Malvasia + OAWG Passito (WhSw): Minimum 95% Malvasia + OAWG The Minimum alcohol level is 9.5% for Spumante (12.0% potential); 13.0%…

  • WINE

    IGP Valle del Tirso

    July 15, 2020 - By 

    IGP Valle del Tirso:White Grape Varieties are Ansonica, Arneis, Biancolella,  Chardonnay, Cortese, Falanghina, Fiano, Forastera, Friulano, Garganega, Gewürztraminer, Greco, Malvasia, Manzoni Bianco, Moscato, Müller-Thurgau, Nasco, Nuragus,  Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semidano, Sylvaner Verde, Torbato,  Trebbiano, Verdicchio, Verduzzo, Vermentino,  Vernaccia,  Welschriesling (Riesling Italico) Red Grapes are Aglianico, Aleatico,  Alicante,  Ancellotta, Barbera, Bombino Nero,  Bovale,  Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon,  Cagnulari, Canaiolo Nero, Cannonau,  Carignano, Croatina, Dolcetto,  Gaglioppo, Girò,  Greco Nero, Malbec, Malvasia Nera,  Marzemino, Merlot, Monica, Montepulciano,  Nebbiolo, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese),  Pinot Nero, Primitivo, Refosco, Sangiovese,  Syrah, Tai Rosso, Teroldego. Alcohol level: 10.0%…