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-
Lacrima di Morro / Lacrima di Morro d’Alba DOC
Lacrima di Morro / Lacrima di Morro d’Alba DOC: This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Marche.Red Grape Varieties: Lacrima; Rosso (Rd): Minimum 85% Lacrima + OANRG; Superiore (Rosso); Passito (RdSw): Minimum 85% Lacrima + OANRG. The Minimum alcohol levelis 11.0% for Rosso; 12.0% for Superiore; 13.0% for Passito (15.0% potential) Region: Marche Quality Scale: Lacrima di Morro D’Alba DOC The DOC region was established in 1985. There is approximately 140 hectares under vine and production averages about 140,000 cases per year. Wine Styles: Red, Red Superiore and Passito wine styles are produced. Rosso – the wines are varietal with a minimum of 85% Lacrima grape.…
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IGP Marche
IGP Marche: It is a very interesting apellation from Marche producing red, white, rose’, and sparkling wines. White Grapes are Albana, Biancame, Bombino Bianco, Chardonnay, Fiano, Friulano, Grechetto, Maceratino, Malvasia, Manzoni Bianco, Montonico Bianco, Moscato, Mostosa, Passerina, Pecorino, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano, Verdicchio, Vermentino, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico) Red Grapes are Aleatico, Alicante, Ancellotta, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Canaiolo Nero, Carignano, Ciliegiolo, Dolcetto, Gaglioppo, Lacrima, Malbo Gentile, Merlot, Montepulciano, Petit Verdot, Pinot Nero, Rebo, Refosco, Sagrantino, Sangiovese, Syrah, Teroldego, Terrano, Vernaccia Nera. Minimum alcohol level is9.0% for Passito (16.0% potential); 9.5% for Bianco, Bianco Spumante, and Bianco Passito; 10.0% for Passerina, Trebbiano, Rosato, Rosso, Sangiovese, Rosato Spumante, Rosso Spumante, Rosato Passito, and Rosso Passito; 10.5% for all varietals except Passerina, Trebbiano, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Nero, and Sangiovese; 11.0% for Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Nero, and all versions of Novello; 12.0% for da Uve…
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I Terreni di Sanseverino DOC
I Terreni di Sanseverino DOC: This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Marche. Red Grapes areMontepulciano, Vernaccia Nera. Rosso (Rd): Minimum 50% Vernaccia Nera + OANRG; Moro (Rd): Minimum 60% Montepulciano + OANRG; Superiore (Rosso); Passito (RdSw): Minimum 50% Vernaccia Nera + OANRG. The Minimum alcohol level is12.0% for Rosso; 12.5% for Moro and Superiore; 12.5% for Passito (15.5% potential) We are working on this I Terreni di Sanseverino 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…
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Falerio DOC
Falerio DOC: This is an appellation for only white wines in the region of Marche.White Grapes are Pecorino, Trebbiano.Bianco (Wh): 20–50% Trebbiano Toscano; 10–30% Passerina; 10–30% Pecorino; maximum 20% OANWG; Pecorino (Wh): Minimum 85% Pecorino + OANWG. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.5% for Bianco; 12.0% for Pecorino We are working on this Falerio 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 Walter Filipputti– Hidden Gems of Italy: An Insider’s Secret Formula To Find Top-Class Italian Wines At Value Prices And Taste La…
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Esino DOC
Esino DOC: It is a very interesting apellation from Marche producing red and white wines. White Grape is Verdicchio. Red Grapes are Montepulciano, Sangiovese. Bianco (Wh, WhFr): Minimum 50% Verdicchio + OAWG; Rosso (Rd): Minimum 60% Montepulciano and/or Sangiovese + OARG; Novello (Rosso). The Minimum alcohol levelis 9.5% for Bianco frizzante; 10.5% for Bianco tranquillo and Rosso; 11.0% for Novello We are working on this Esino 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 Walter Filipputti– Hidden Gems of Italy: An…
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Cònero DOCG
Cònero DOCG: This is an appellation for only red wines in the region of Marche. The red Grape is Montepulciano. Riserva (Rd): Minimum 85% Montepulciano; maximum 15% Sangiovese The Minimum alcohol level is 12.5% We are working on this Cònero 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 Vita by Tony Margiotta Additionally, you can discover the other wines from Marche.
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Colli Pesaresi DOC
Colli Pesaresi DOC: It is a very interesting apellation from Marche producing red, white, rose’, and sparkling wines.White Grapes areBiancame, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano, Verdicchio, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico) and Red are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Nero, Sangiovese. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Bianco, Rosato, Rosso, and Spumante; 11.5% for white varietals except Focara or Roncaglia Pinot Nero, non-subzone Sangiovese, and Novello; 12.0% for Roncaglia Bianco, Focara or Roncaglia Pinot Nero vinified as a white wine, Focara Rosso, red varietals except non-subzone Sangiovese, Focara or Roncaglia Pinot Nero Spumante, and non-subzone Sangiovese Riserva; 12.5% for all riservas except non-subzone Sangiovese Riserva We are working on this Colli Pesaresi DOC appellation description.Please come back…
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Colli Maceratesi DOC
Colli Maceratesi DOC: It is a very interesting apellation from Marche producing red, white, rose’, and dessert wines. White Grape Varieties: Maceratinoand Red are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Ciliegiolo, Lacrima, Merlot, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Vernaccia Nera. Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Bianco, Ribona, Novello, and Spumante; 11.5% for Rosso and Sangiovese; 12.5% for Riserva; 14.0% for Passito (15.5% potential). We are working on this Colli Maceratesi 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 Walter Filipputti– Hidden Gems of Italy: An Insider’s Secret Formula To Find Top-Class…
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Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG
Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG: This is an appellation for only white wines in the region of Marche. White Grape Varieties: Verdicchio; Riserva (Wh): Minimum 85% Verdicchio + OAWG; Classico. The Minimum alcohol level is 12.5% We are working on this Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva 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 Vita by Tony Margiotta Additionally, you can…
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Bianchello del Metauro DOC
Bianchello del Metauro DOC: This is an appellation for only white wines in the region of Marche. White Grape is Biancame. Bianco (Wh): Minimum 95% Biancame (locally Bianchello); maximum 5% Malvasia. Superiore (Bianco); Spumante (WhSp): Minimum 95% Biancame; maximum 5% Malvasia; Passito (WhSw): Minimum 95% Biancame; maximum 5% Malvasia. The Minimum alcohol level is 11.5% for Bianco and Spumante; 12.0% for Passito (15.0% potential); 12.5% for Superiore We are working on this Bianchello del Metauro 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…
