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:Â 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-
Riviera del Garda Bresciano / Garda Bresciano DOC (pre-2017)
Riviera del Garda Bresciano / Garda Bresciano DOC (pre-2017): white wines areBianco (Wh): Minimum 80% Riesling and/or Welschriesling (aka Riesling Italico) + OANWG, rosato wines are Chiaretto (Ro): 30–60% Groppello (di Mocasina, di San Stefano, and/or Gentile); 10–25% Sangiovese; 10–20% Barbera; 5–30% Marzemino (locally Berzemino); maximum 10% OAG and red whines are Rosso (Rd): 30–60% Groppello; 10–25% Sangiovese; 10–20% Barbera; 5–30% Marzemino; maximum 10% OAG. The sparkling wines are spumante Rosé or Rosato (RoSp): 30–60% Groppello; 10–25% Sangiovese; 10–20% Barbera; 5–30% Marzemino; maximum 10% OAG We are working on this Riviera del Garda Bresciano / Garda Bresciano DOC (pre-2017) appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail if you are looking…
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Pinot Nero dell’Oltrepò Pavese DOC
Pinot Nero dell’Oltrepò Pavese DOC: Rosso (Rd): Minimum 95% Pinot Nero +OANRG Riserva (Rosso) Minimum alcohol level: 12.0% for Rosso; 12.5% for Riserva Aging: For Riserva, minimum 2 years, including 6 months in barrel (ERD = November 1, V+2) We are working on this Pinot Nero dell’Oltrepò Pavese 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 Dolce Vita by Tony Margiotta Additionally, you can…
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Oltrepò Pavese Pinot Grigio DOC
Oltrepò Pavese Pinot Grigio DOC: Bianco (Wh, WhFr): Minimum 85% Pinot Grigio + OANWG  Minimum alcohol level: 10.5% for frizzante (11.0% potential); 11.0% for tranquillo We are working on this Oltrepò Pavese Pinot Grigio 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 Dolce Vita by Tony Margiotta Additionally, you can discover the other wines from Lombardy.
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Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG
Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG: The main grape is Pinot nero. All wines must undergo a second fermentation in bottles (Metodo Classico) Minimum alcohol level is 11.5% for Metodo Classico and Rosé; 12.0% for Pinot Nero and Pinot Nero Rosé We are working on this Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico 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…
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Oltrepò Pavese DOC
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 rosato), Riesling, and Rosato (10.5% potential); 10.5% for Cortese, Rosato, and Cortese Spumante; 10.5% for Barbera frizzante (11.0% potential); 11.0% for Chardonnay, Moscato, Pinot Nero (bianco and rosato), Riesling, Sauvignon, Barbera, Pinot Nero Spumante, Riesling Spumante, and Sauvignon Spumante; 11.5% for Rosso, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay Spumante; 12.0% for Bianco, Malvasia, Superiore, and Riesling Riserva; 12.0% for Passito (15.0% potential);…
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Lugana DOC
Lugana DOC:The principal White Grape Variety is Trebbiano. It’s produced in Lombardia and veneto. The Minimum alcohol level:is 11.0% for Bianco; 11.5% for Spumante; 12.0% for Superiore and Riserva; 13.0% for Vendemmia Tardiva We are working on this Lugana 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 Dolce Vita by Tony Margiotta Additionally, you can discover the other wines from Lombardy.
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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 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 Lombardy.
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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 this IGP Valcamonica 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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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% for Rosato, Rosso, and Novello; Passito not specified We are working on this IGP Terre Lariane 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…
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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, Dolcetto, Fortana, Franconia, Freisa, Groppello, Lagrein, Lambrusco, Marzemino, Merlot, Molinara, Montepulciano, Moscato Nero, Nebbiolo, Petit Verdot, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Nero, Raboso, Rebo, Rondinella, Sangiovese, Schiava, Syrah, Teroldego, Uva Rara, Vespolina The Zone of production is the province of Sondrio. Alcohol level: 10.0% for Passito Bianco (16.0% potential); 10.5% for Bianco, Rosato, and Rosso; 11.0% for Novello; 11.0% for Vendemmia Tardiva…
