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-
Colli di Luni DOC
Colli di Luni DOC: White Grapes are Albarola, Vermentino and Red Grape is SangioveseThis is an appellation for Bianco (Wh): Minimum 35% Vermentino; 25–40% Trebbiano; maximum 30% OAWG; Albarola (Wh): Minimum 85% Albarola + OAWG; Vermentino (Wh): Minimum 90% Vermentino + OAWG; Superiore (Vermentino); Rosso (Rd): Minimum 50% Sangiovese + OARG; Riserva (Rosso)The Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Bianco; 11.5% for Rosso and varietals; 12.5% for Superiore and Riserva We are working on this Colli di Luni 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…
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Cinque Terre / Cinque Terre Sciacchetrà DOC
Cinque Terre / Cinque Terre Sciacchetrà DOC: This is an appellation for only white wines in the region of Liguria White Grape is Bosco.Bianco (Wh): Minimum 40% Bosco; maximum 40% Albarola and/or Vermentino; maximum 20% OAG; Sciacchetrà (WhSw): Minimum 40% Bosco; maximum 40% Albarola and/or Vermentino; maximum 20% OAG; Riserva (Sciacchetrà ). Grapes for Sciacchetrà must be air-dried to achieve a minimum potential alcohol level of 17.0% and cannot be pressed until November 1, The Minimum alcohol level: 11.0% for Bianco; 11.5% for subzones; 13.5% for Sciacchetrà (17.0% potential) We are working on this Cinque Terre / Cinque Terre Sciacchetrà DOC appellation description.Please come back soon.Send us an e-mail if you are looking for…
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Rosazzo DOCG
Rosazzo DOCG: White Grape is FriulanoBianco (Wh): 50–60% Friulano; 20–30% Sauvignon Blanc; 20–30% Chardonnay and/or Pinot Bianco; maximum 10% Ribolla Gialla; maximum 5% OAWG. The minimum alcohol level is 12.0% We are working on this Rosazzo 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 Margiotta Additionally, you can discover the other wines from Friuli Venezia Giulia.
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Ramandolo DOCG
Ramandolo DOCG: White Grape Varieties: VerduzzoBianco (WhSw): 100% Verduzzo Friulano (locally Verduzzo Giallo)The Minimum alcohol level is 14.0% (potential) We are working on this Ramandolo 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 Margiotta Additionally, you can discover the other wines from Friuli Venezia Giulia.
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Prosecco DOC
Prosecco DOC: White Grape Varieties: GleraBianco (Wh, WhFr, WhSw, WhFrSw): Minimum 85% Glera; maximum 15% Bianchetta Trevigiana, Chardonnay, Perera, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, and/or Pinot Nero (vinified as a white wine); Spumante (WhSp): Minimum 85% Glera; maximum 15% Bianchetta Trevigiana, Chardonnay, Perera, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, and/or Pinot Nero (vinified as a white wine). the Minimum alcohol level is 10.5% for Bianco; 11.0% for Spumante We are working on this Prosecco 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…
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Lison-Pramaggiore DOC
Lison-Pramaggiore DOC: White Grapes are Chardonnay, Friulano, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Verduzzo and  Red are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Nero, Refosco. Minimum alcohol level is 11.0% for Spumante; 11.5% for Verduzzo; 12.0% for Bianco, white varietals except Verduzzo, Rosso, Cabernet, and red varietals; 12.0% for Verduzzo Passito (15.0% potential); 12.5% for Rosso Riserva and Merlot Riserva; 13.0% for Refosco Riserva; 13.0% for Refosco Passito (15.0% potential) We are working on this Lison-Pramaggiore 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…
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Lison DOCG
Lison DOCG: White Grape is FriulanoBianco (Wh): Minimum 85% Friulano (locally Lison) + OANWG. The Minimum alcohol level is 12.0%; 12.5% for Classico We are working on this Lison 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 Margiotta Additionally, you can discover the other wines from Friuli Venezia Giulia.
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IGP Venezia Giulia
IGP Venezia Giulia: White Grapes are Chardonnay, Friulano, Gewürztraminer, Glera, Malvasia, Manzoni Bianco, Moscato, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Ribolla Gialla, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Verduzzo, Vitovska, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico)Red Grape Varieties are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Franconia, Merlot, Pinot Nero, Refosco, Schioppettino, Terrano. The Minimum alcohol level is 9.0% for all wines except 10.5% for all frizzante wines and 11.0% for Novello We are working on this IGP Venezia Giulia 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…
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IGP Trevenezie
IGP Trevenezie: White Grape Varieties are Bianchetta Trevigiana, Chardonnay, Cortese, Durella, Friulano, Garganega, Gewürztraminer, Glera, Kerner, Malvasia, Manzoni Bianco, Marzemina Bianca, Moscato, Müller-Thurgau, Nosiola, Picolit, Pinella, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Sylvaner Verde, Trebbiano, Verduzzo, Vespaiola, Vitovska, Welschriesling (Riesling Italico)Red Grapes areAncellotta, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Casetta, Cavrara, Ciliegiolo, Corbina, Corvina, Croatina, Franconia, Freisa, Gamay, Groppello, Lagrein, Lambrusco, Malbec, Marzemino, Merlot, Molinara, Moscato Rosa, Petit Verdot, Pignolo, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Nero, Raboso, Rebo, Recantina, Refosco, Rondinella, Sangiovese, Schiava, Schioppettino, Syrah, Tai Rosso, Tazzelenghe, Teroldego, Terrano, Turchetta. The minimum alcohol level is 9.0% for all wines except 11.0% for Novello We are working on this IGP Trevenezie 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…
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IGP delle Venezie (pre 2017)
IGP delle Venezie (pre 2017):Â Bianco (Wh, WhFr): Any proportions of white grape varieties approved for the production area; Varietals (Wh, WhFr): Minimum 85% of any one of the allowed white grape varieties (which vary by region and province within the IGP) + OAG; Dual varietals (Wh, WhFr): Minimum 50% of first-named variety; maximum 50% of other variety; Rosato (Ro, RoFr): Any proportions of red grape varieties approved for the production area; Varietals (Ro, RoFr): Minimum 85% of any one of the allowed red grape varieties (which vary by region and province within the IGP) + OAG; Dual varietals (Ro, RoFr): Minimum 50% of first-named variety; maximum 50% of other variety;…
