Contessa Entellina DOC: It is a very interesting apellation from Sicilia producing red, white, rose’, dessert wines. White Grapes are Ansonica, Catarratto, Chardonnay, Fiano, Grecanico Dorato, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier. Red Grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Pinot Nero, Syrah. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Bianco and Rosato; 11.5% for white varietals and Rosso; 12.0% for red…
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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Contea di Sclafani / Valledolmo–Contea di Sclafani DOC
Contea di Sclafani / Valledolmo–Contea di Sclafani DOC: It is an apellation from Sicilia producing red, white, dessert, wines. White Grape Varieties: CatarrattoPrincipal Red Grape Varieties: Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Perricone. Bianco (Wh): Minimum 95% Catarratto + OAG; Riserva (Bianco); Rosso (Rd): Any proportions of Nero d’Avola and/or Perricone; Riserva (Rosso); Bianco Vendemmia…
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Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG: This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Sicilia. Red Grapes are Frappato, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese).Rosso (Rd): 50–70% Nero d’Avola (aka Calabrese); 30–50% Frappato; Classico. Minimum alcohol level is 12.5% We are working on this Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG appellation description.Please come back soon.Send…
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Alcamo DOC
Alcamo DOC: It is a very interesting apellation from Sicilia producing red, white, rose’, dessert and sparkling wines.White Grapes are Ansonica, Catarratto, Chardonnay, Grecanico Dorato, Grillo, Müller-Thurgau, Sauvignon Blanc. Red Grapes are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Frappato, Merlot, Nerello Mascalese, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Perricone, Sangiovese, Syrah. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Bianco, Ansonica, Müller-Thurgau, Rosato, Novello, Spumante, and Rosato Spumante;…
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Vigneti della Serenissima/ Serenissima DOC
Vigneti della Serenissima/ Serenissima DOC: This is an appellation for only white and red sparkling wines in the region of Veneto.White Grapes are Chardonnay, Pinot Biancoand Red Grape is Pinot Nero. Wine Composition:Spumante (WhSp): Any proportions of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, and/or Pinot Nero; Rosé Spumante (RoSp): Any proportions of Chardonnay, Pinot…
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Vicenza DOC
Vicenza DOC: It is a very interesting apellation from Veneto producing red, white, rose’, dessert and sparkling wines. White Grapes are Chardonnay, Garganega, Manzoni Bianco, Moscato, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico). Principal Red Grapes are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Merlot, Pinot Nero, Raboso. The Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for Bianco, Garganego, Rosato, and Raboso; 11.0%…
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Venezia DOC
Venezia DOC: It is a very interesting apellation from Veneto producing red, white, rose’, dessert and sparkling wines. White Grapes are Chardonnay, Friulano, Gewürztraminer, Glera, Manzoni Bianco, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Verduzzo. Red Grapes are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Nero, Raboso, Refosco The Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for all frizzante, rosato, and sparkling wines; 11.0% for…
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Valpolicella Ripasso DOC
Valpolicella Ripasso DOC: This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Veneto. Red Grapes are Corvina, Corvinone and Wine Composition: 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%); Superiore…
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Valpolicella DOC
Valpolicella DOC: This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Veneto. Red Grapes are Corvina, Corvinone and Wine Composition: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%); Superiore (Rosso). The Minimum…
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Soave Superiore DOCG
Soave Superiore DOCG: This is an appellation for only white wines in the region of Veneto.White Grape is Garganega and Wine Composition forSu periore (Wh): Minimum 70% Garganega; maximum 30% Trebbiano di Soave and/or Chardonnay; maximum 5% OANWG; Riserva (Superiore). Minimum alcohol level is 12.0% for Superiore; 12.5% for Riserva We…