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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    IGP Benaco Bresciano

    July 10, 2020 - By 

    IGP Benaco Bresciano:Principal White Grape Varieties are Chardonnay, Manzoni Bianco, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Trebbiano, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico). Principal Red Grape Varieties: Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Groppello, Marzemino, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Pinot Nero, Rebo, Sangiovese The production is the province of Brescia .The minimum alcohol levels are10.0% for Bianco and all frizzante wines; 10.5% for Chardonnay, Trebbiano, Rosso, and Barbera; 11.0% for all other varietals…

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    IGP Alto Mincio

    July 10, 2020 - By 

    IGP Alto Mincio:Principal White Grape Varieties: chardonnay, Cortese, Friulano, Garganega, Malvasia, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano , Welchriesling (Riesling italico)Principal Red Grape Varieties: Ancellotta, Barbera, Cabernet, Sauvignon,Carmenère, Corvina,Fortana, Groppello, lambrusco, Marzemino, Merlot, Molinara, Pinot nero, Rondinella, Sangiovese. Zone of production: Castiglione delle Stiviere Cavriana, Gonzaga Solferino, Monzambano, and Ponti sul Mincio…

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    IGP Alpi Retiche

    July 10, 2020 - By 

    IGP Alpi Retiche:is reserved for wines that meet the conditions and requirements established by the production specification for the following types: White, Red, New redRosato, Sparkling rosé, Passito, Late harvestWith the specification of the above types: Classic Method Sparkling Wine, also in the Rosé type With the specification of one…

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    Garda Colli Mantovani DOC

    July 10, 2020 - By 

    Garda Colli Mantovani DOC:The production of the DOC Garda Colli Mantovani Wine extends into the Morainic Amphitheater of Gardal ocated in: province of Mantua and includes the territory of the municipalities of Castiglione delle Stiviere, Cavriana, Monzambano, Ponti sul Mincio, Solferino and Volta Mantovana.GARDA DOC WINES GARDA DOC WINES CLASSIC…

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    Franciacorta DOCG

    July 10, 2020 - By 

    Franciacorta DOCG: The appellation is located in the countryside just north of the city of Brescia  delimited to the east by the hills of Rodengo, Ome, Gussago and Cellatica, to the north by the southern shores of Lake Iseo and the Rhaetian Alps, to the west by the Oglio river and…

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    Curtefranca DOC

    July 10, 2020 - By 

    Curtefranca DOC:it is a DOC wine whose production is allowed in the province of Brescia.,The production area is the same as the Franciacorta DOCG  The name change was established by the consortium to avoid any confusion with the most prestigious and famous Franciacort.a. Curtefranca is produced in the following types…

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    Cellatica DOC

    July 10, 2020 - By 

    Cellatica DOC:The geographical area suitable for the production of Cellatica DOC wine extends over the hills of Brescia consisting of the offshoots of the mountains that go from Brescia and Colleberato to Franciacorta. The Cellatica Superiore DOC wine must be aged for about 12 months and, in any case, must…

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    Casteggio DOC

    July 10, 2020 - By 

    Casteggio DOC: Casteggio is a red DOC wine whose production is allowed in the province of Pavia. It has been recognized as DOC Previously it was considered a variety of the red Oltrepò Pavese. The production area is limited to the municipalities of Casteggio, Borgo Priolo, Corvino San Quirico, Montebello della…

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    Capriano del Colle DOC

    July 10, 2020 - By 

    Capriano del Colle DOC is a wine appellation from the province of Brescia. The denomination includes the following types: Capriano del Colle Trebbiano or even Capriano del Colle white; Capriano del Colle sparkling Trebbiano or even Capriano del Colle sparkling; Capriano del Colle red; Capriano del Colle novello red; Capriano…

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    Buttafuoco dell’Oltrepò Pavese / Buttafuoco DOC

    July 10, 2020 - By 

    Buttafuoco dell’Oltrepò Pavese / Buttafuoco DOC:is a red DOC wine prducted in Pavia. It is a vinification of the Croatina, also called Bonarda, Barbera, Uva Rara and Ughetta di Canneto vines, cultivated on the area of ​​the eastern Oltrepò Pavese. Organoleptic characteristics: color: lively ruby ​​red with violet reflections. Smell:…