Oltrepò Pavese DOC: production area: Lombardia. White Grape are Chardonnay, Cortese, Malvasia, Moscato, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico) and the Principal Red Grape are: Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Croatina, Pinot Nero.Alcohol levelis 6.0% for Malvasia Spumante and Moscato Spumante (11.0% potential); 7.0% for Malvasia frizzante (11.0% potential); 10.0% for frizzante versions of Chardonnay, Cortese, Pinot Nero (bianco and…
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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Lambrusco Mantovano DOC
Lambrusco Mantovano DOC Principal Red Grape Varieties is Lambrusco and the zone of production is Mantova . Subzone are Oltre Po Mantovano Viadanese Sabbionetano. Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% and 11.0% for subzones We are working on this Lambrusco Mantovano DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail if you…
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IGP Valcamonica
IGP Valcamonica:Principal White Grape Varieties: Manzoni Bianco, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling Principal Red Grape Varieties: Marzemino, Merlot Zone of production: Numerous communes in the province of Brescia Maximum vineyard elevation: 800 m (2,625 ft) Minimum alcohol level: 11.5% for Bianco and Rosso; 12.0% for Marzemino and Merlot; 14.0% potential for Passito We are working on…
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IGP Terre Lariane
IGP Terre Lariane: White Grape Varieties are Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico). Red Grape are Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Croatina, Marzemino, Merlot, Sangiovese, Schiava. It is producted on the provinces of Como and Lecco. The minimum alcohol level: 10.5% for Bianco and all frizzante wines; 11.0%…
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IGP Terrazze Retiche di Sondrio (pre-2017)
IGP Terrazze Retiche di Sondrio (pre-2017): The principal White Grape Varieties are Chardonnay, Cortese, Erbaluce, Friulano, Garganega, Gewürztraminer, Kerner, Malvasia, Moscato, Moscato Rosa, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Timorasso, Trebbiano, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico) and the Red Grape Varieties are Ancellotta, Barbera, Bonarda, Cabernet Franc, CabernetSauvignon, Carmenère, Corvina, Croatina,…
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Prosecco DOC
Prosecco DOC is one of the most famous Italian wine appellations in the world. This sparkling wine is popular everywhere, for its refreshing taste with aromas of apple and pear. Prosecco Doc is a very large appellation that centers in the province of Treviso and enlarge in most of the…
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IGP Sebino
IGP Sebino is a wine appellation produced in the Province of Brescia. The principal White Grape varieties included in these wines are Chardonnay, Friulano, Garganega, Manzoni Bianco, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Trebbiano, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico).The principal Red Grape Varieties are Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Corvina, Croatina, Groppello, Marzemino, Merlot, Montepulciano, Nebbiolo, Pinot Nero, Rebo,…
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IGP Sabbioneta
IGP Sabbioneta:Principal White are Chardonnay, Cortese, Garganega, Malvasia, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico) and Red Grape Varieties are Ancellotta, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Corvina, Fortana, Groppello, Lambrusco, Marzemino, Merlot, Molinara, Pinot Nero, Rondinella, Sangiovese The zone of production are Commessaggio, Sabbioneta, and…
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IGP Ronchi Varesini
IGP Ronchi Varesini: Principal White : FriulanoPrincipal Red : Barbera, Croatina, Merlot, Nebbiolo Zone of production: province of Varese. Minimum alcohol level: 11.0% We are working on this IGP Ronchi Varesini 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…
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IGP Ronchi di Brescia
IGP Ronchi di Brescia: White are Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Riesling, Trebbiano. and Red Grape are: Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Marzemino, Merlot, Sangiovese, Schiava. The production is on the province of Brescia. Alcohol level is minimum 10.0% for frizzante versions of white varietals; 10.5% for Bianco, Trebbiano, Rosso, Barbera, and Schiava;…