Abruzzo DOC: The Principal White Grape Varieties are Chardonnay, Cococciola, Gewürztraminer, Malvasia, Montonico Bianco, Moscato, Passerina, Pecorino, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano and the Red are Montepulciano, Pinot Nero The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Bianco, Cococciola, Montonico, Spumante, and Spumante Rosé; 11.5% for Cococciola Superiore, Montonico Superiore, Malvasia, Passerina, and Pecorino; 12.0% for Malvasia Superiore, Passerina Superiore, Pecorino Superiore, Rosso, Metodo…
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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Valdadige / Etschtaler DOC
Valdadige / Etschtaler DOC: A cross-regional corridor (Trentino–Alto Adige–Veneto) along the Adige River, producing clean, alpine-inflected whites (Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay) and light reds (Schiava, Teroldego, Lagrein, Pinot Nero). This appellation from Veneto allows the production of red, white, rosé, and frizzante wines. We are working on this Valdadige / Etschtaler…
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Trento DOC
Trento DOC is a Italian wine appellation only for sparkling wines. It is cultivated close to the town of Trento in the region of Trentino Alto Adige. Their claim is “Bollicine di Montagna”, which translates into “Sparkling wine from the mountains”.They are produced with the Metodo Classico, which implies the…
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Trentino DOC
Trentino DOC:l White Grapes are Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Kerner, Manzoni Bianco, Moscato, Müller-Thurgau, Nosiola, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Sylvaner Verde, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico)andRed Grape Varieties are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Lagrein, Lambrusco, Marzemino, Merlot, Moscato Rosa, Pinot Nero, Rebo, Schiava, Teroldego. Territories of production are Castel Beseno or Beseno (Moscato Giallo Superiore, Passito, and Vendemmia Tardiva only), Isera (Marzemino…
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Teroldego Rotaliano DOC
Teroldego Rotaliano DOC:Principal Red Grape Varieties: Teroldego- Rosato or Kretzer (Ro): 100% Teroldego, Rosso or Rubino (Rd): 100% Teroldego, Superiore (Rosso), Riserva (Superiore) The Minimum alcohol level is 11.5% for Rosato and Rosso; 12.0% for Superiore and Superiore Riserva We are working on this Teroldego Rotaliano DOC appellation description.Please come…
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Lago di Caldaro / Caldaro / Kalterersee / Kalterer DOC
Lago di Caldaro / Caldaro / Kalterersee / Kalterer DOC: The principal Red Grape is Schiava Rosso (Rd): Minimum 85% Schiava (Gentile, Grigia, or Grossa) + OARG – Scelto or Auslese (Rd): Minimum 85% Schiava + OARG,- Superiore (Classico subzone only) from the communes of Appiano, Bronzolo, Caldaro, Cortaccia, Egna, Montagna,…
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IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti / Weinberg Dolomiten
IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti / Weinberg Dolomiten: It is an appellation of wines from the regions of Trentino and Veneto. White Grapes are Chardonnay, Friulano, Glera, Kerner, Malvasia, Manzoni Bianco, Moscato, Müller-Thurgau, Nosiola, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Sylvaner Verde and Red Grapes are Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet…
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IGP Vallagarina
IGP Vallagarina is an appellation divided in 2 regions: Veneto and Trentino. The principal White Grape Varieties are Bianchetta Trevigiana, Chardonnay, Cortese, Durella, Friulano, Garganega, Gewürztraminer, Kerner, Malvasia, Manzoni Bianco, Moscato, Müller-Thurgau, Nosiola, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Sylvaner Verde, Trebbiano, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico) and the Red Grape…
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IGP Mitterberg
IGP Mitterberg: The principal White Grape Varieties are Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Kerner, Moscato, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Sylvaner Verde, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico)and the red Red are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Lagrein, Malvasia Nera, Merlot, Moscato Rosa, Petit Verdot, Pinot Nero, Schiava, Syrah, Teroldego. The zone of production is Entire province of Bolzano (Alto Adige) and the minimum…
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Casteller DOC
Casteller DOC: The Principal Red Grape Varieties are Lagrein, Lambrusco, Merlot, Schiava, Teroldego. Rosso (Rd): Minimum 50% Merlot; maximum 50% Lagrein, Lambrusco a Foglia Frastagliata (locally Enantio), Schiava (Gentile or Grossa), and/or Teroldego. Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% We are working on this Casteller DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail…