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-
Val Polcèvera DOC
Val Polcèvera DOC: White Grapes are Albarola, Bianchetta Genovese, VermentinoRed Grape Varieties sre Ciliegiolo, Dolcetto, SangioveseThis is an appellation for Bianco (Wh, WhFr): Minimum 60% Albarola, Bianchetta Genovese, and/or Vermentino + OANWG; Bianchetta Genovese (Wh, WhFr): Minimum 85% Bianchetta Genovese + OANWG; Vermentino (Wh, WhFr): Minimum 85% Vermentino + OANWG; Rosato (Ro, RoFr): Minimum 60% Ciliegiolo, Dolcetto, and/or Sangiovese + OANRG; Rosso (Rd, RdFr): Minimum 60% Ciliegiolo, Dolcetto, and/or Sangiovese + OANRG; Novello (Rosso); Spumante di Qualità (WhSp): Minimum 60% Albarola, Bianchetta Genovese, and/or Vermentino + OANWG; Passito (WhSw): Minimum 60% Albarola, Bianchetta Genovese, and/or Vermentino + OANWG. The minimum alcohol level is 10.0% for Bianco; 10.5% for white varietals, Rosso, and Rosato; 11.0% for Coronata Bianco,…
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Rossese di Dolceacqua / Dolceacqua DOC
Rossese di Dolceacqua / Dolceacqua DOC: Red Grape Varieties: RosseseRosso (Rd): Minimum 95% Rossese + OANRG; Superiore (Rosso). The Minimum alcohol level: 12.0% for Rosso; 13.0% for Superiore We are working on this Rossese di Dolceacqua / Dolceacqua 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 Liguria.
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Riviera Ligure di Ponente DOC
Riviera Ligure di Ponente DOC: White Grapes are Moscato, Pigato, Vermentinoand Red are Alicante, Rossese. Territory is Albenganese (Pigato, Vermentino, and Rossese only) Finalese (Pigato, Vermentino, and Rossese only), Quiliano (Granaccia only),Riviera dei Fiori (Pigato, Vermentino, and Rossese only), Taggia (Moscatello, Vendemmia Tardiva, and Passito only) The Minimum alcohol level (non-subzone) is 5.0% for Moscato frizzante (10.5% potential); 10.5% for Moscato tranquillo; 11.0% for Pigato, Vermentino, Granaccia, and Rossese; 11.5% for Vendemmia Tardiva (14.5% potential); 12.5% for Passito (16.5% potential); 13.0% for Superiore We are working on this Riviera Ligure di Ponente 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…
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Pornassio / Ormeasco di Pornassio DOC
Pornassio / Ormeasco di Pornassio DOC: Red Grape is Dolcetto . This is an appellation for Sciac-trà (Ro): Minimum 95% Dolcetto (locally Ormeasco) + OANRG; Rosso (Rd): Minimum 95% Dolcetto + OANRG; Superiore (Rosso); Passito (RdSw): Minimum 95% Dolcetto + OANRG; Passito Liquoroso (RdFoSw): Minimum 95% Dolcetto + OANRG. The Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for Sciac-trà ; 11.0% for Rosso; 12.5% for Superiore; 15.0% for Passito (16.5% potential); 16.0% for Passito Liquoroso (18.0% potential) We are working on this Pornassio / Ormeasco di Pornassio 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…
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IGP Terrazze dell’Imperiese
IGP Terrazze dell’Imperiese: White Grapes are Pigato, Vermentino and Red Grapes are Dolcetto, Rossese. This is an appellation for Bianco (Wh, WhFr): Minimum 40% Pigato and/or Vermentino + OANWG; Rosato (Ro): Minimum 40% Dolcetto (locally Ormeasco) and/or Rossese + OANRG; Rosso (Rd, RdFr): Minimum 40% Dolcetto and/or Rossese + OANRG; Novello (Rosso); Bianco Passito (Wh, WhSw): Minimum 40% Pigato and/or Vermentino + OANWG; Rosso Passito (Rd, RdSw): Minimum 40% Dolcetto and/or Rossese + OANRG. The Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for all wines except 11.0% for Novello and 11.5% for Passito (13.0% potential) We are working on this IGP Terrazze dell’Imperiese appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail if you are looking…
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IGP Liguria di Levante
IGP Liguria di Levante: White Grapes are Albana, Albarola, Bianchetta Genovese, Bosco, Greco, Malvasia, Moscato, Pigato, Rossese Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc, Scimiscià , Trebbiano, Vermentino and Red Grape Varieties are Albarossa, Alicante, Barbera, Barsaglina, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Canaiolo Nero, Ciliegiolo, Dolcetto, Merlot, Rossese, Syrah, Vermentino Nero. The Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for Bianco, white varietals, Rosato, and red varietals; 11.5% for Rosso; 13.5% for Passito (15.0% potential) We are working on this IGP Liguria di Levante 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…
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IGP Colline Savonesi
IGP Colline Savonesi: White Grapes are Albana, Albarola, Bianchetta Genovese, Bosco, Greco, Lumassina, Malvasia, Moscato, Pigato, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano, Vermentino and Red are Albarossa, Alicante, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Canaiolo Nero, Ciliegiolo, Dolcetto, Merlot, Rossese, Sangiovese, Syrah. The zone of production is the Hilly parts of the province of Savona. The Minimum alcohol level is 10.0% for all wines; 10.0% potential for Passito We are working on this IGP Colline Savonesi 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…
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IGP Colline del Genovesato
IGP Colline del Genovesato: White Grapes are Albana, Albarola, Bianchetta Genovese, Bosco, Greco, Malvasia, Moscato, Pigato, Rossese Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc, Scimiscià , Trebbiano, Vermentinoand Red Grapes are Albarossa, Alicante, Barbera, Barsaglina, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Canaiolo Nero, Ciliegiolo, Dolcetto, Merlot, Rossese, Sangiovese, Syrah. The Zone of production is a Portion of the province of Genova included in the Golfo del Tigullio, Riviera di Ponente, and Val Polcèvera DOCs. The Minimum alcohol level is 10.0% for Bianco; 10.5% for Rosato and Rosso; 11.0% for Novello; 14.0% for Passito (16.5% potential) We are working on this IGP Colline del Genovesato 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…
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Golfo del Tigullio–Portofino / Portofino DOC
Golfo del Tigullio–Portofino / Portofino DOC: White Grapes are Bianchetta Genovese, Moscato, Scimiscià , Vermentino and Red areCiliegiolo, DolcettoThis is an appellation for Bianco (Wh, WhFr): Minimum 60% Bianchetta Genovese and/or Vermentino + OANWG; Bianchetta Genovese (Wh, WhFr): Minimum 85% Bianchetta Genovese + OAWG; Moscato (Wh): 100% Moscato Bianco; Scimiscià or Cimixà (Wh): Minimum 85% Scimiscià + OAWG; Vermentino (Wh, WhFr): Minimum 85% Vermentino + OAWG; Rosato (Ro, RoFr): Minimum 60% Ciliegiolo and/or Dolcetto + OANRG; Rosso (Rd, RdFr): Minimum 60% Ciliegiolo and/or Dolcetto + OANRG; Ciliegiolo (Rd, RdFr): Minimum 85% Ciliegiolo + OAWG; Novello (Rosso, Ciliegiolo); Spumante (WhSp): Minimum 60% Bianchetta Genovese and/or Vermentino + OANWG; Passito (WhSw): Minimum 60% Bianchetta Genovese and/or Vermentino +…
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Colline di Levanto DOC
Colline di Levanto DOC:White Grape are Albarola, Vermentino and Red are Ciliegiolo, SangioveseThis is an appellation for Bianco (Wh): Minimum 40% Vermentino; minimum 20% Albarola; minimum 5% Bosco; maximum 35% OAWG; Vermentino (Wh): Minimum 85% Vermentino + OAWG; Rosso (Rd): Minimum 30% Sangiovese; minimum 20% Ciliegiolo; maximum 50% OARG; Novello (Rosso).The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Bianco, Rosso, and Novello; 11.5% for Vermentino We are working on this Colline di Levanto 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…
