Matera DOC: White Grapee are Greco, Malvasia. Red are Cabernet Sauvignon, Primitivo, Sangiovese Alcohol level: 11.0% for Bianco and Greco; 12.0% for Rosato, Rosso, Moro, and Spumante Rosé; 12.0% for Bianco Passito (13.0% potential); 12.5% for Spumante; 13.0% for Primitivo and Riserva; 13.0% for Primitivo Passito (14.5% potential) We are working on this Matera…
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 Basilicata
IGP Basilicata:White Grapes are Ansonica, Asprinio, Bombino Bianco, Chardonnay, Cortese, Falanghina, Fiano, Garganega, Gewürztraminer, Greco, Malvasia, Manzoni Bianco, Moscato, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano, VerdecaRed Grapes are Aglianico, Aleatico, Barbera, Bombino Nero, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Ciliegiolo, Freisa, Greco Nero, Malvasia Nera, Merlot, Montepulciano, Nebbiolo, Negroamaro, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Pinot Nero, Primitivo, Refosco, Sangiovese, Syrah, Teroldego. Alcohol level is 10.5% for all white wines except Passito; 11.0% for all red and rosato wines except Passito; 12.0% for Bianco…
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Grottino di Roccanova DOC
Grottino di Roccanova DOC: Red Grape is AglianicoSuperiore (Rd): 100% Aglianico. Riserva (Superiore). Minimum alcohol is 13.5% We are working on this Grottino di Roccanova 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…
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Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG
Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG:Red Grape Varieties: AglianicoSuperiore (Rd): 100% Aglianic, Riserva (Superiore). The Minimum alcohol level is 13.5% We are working on this Aglianico del Vulture Superiore 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…
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Terre di Cosenza DOC
Terre di Cosenza DOC: White Grapes are Chardonnay, Greco, Guarnaccia, alvasia, Montonico Bianco, Moscato, Pecorello and Red are Aglianico, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gaglioppo, Greco Nero, Magliocco Canino, Merlot, Nero d’Avola (Calabrese), Sangiovese. The Production area is Colline del Crati (Bianco, Rosato, Rosso, Magliocco, Rosso Riserva, Magliocco Riserva, Bianco Vendemmia Tardiva, Rosso Vendemmia…
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Scavigna DOC
Scavigna DOC: White Grape is Gewürztraminer and red is AglianicoBianco (Wh): Maximum 50% Gewürztraminer (aka Traminer Aromatico); maximum 30% Chardonnay; maximum 10% Pinot Bianco; maximum 10% Welschriesling; maximum 45% OAWG; Rosato (Ro): Maximum 60% Aglianico; maximum 20% Magliocco; maximum 20% Marcigliana Nera; maximum 45% OARG; Rosso (Rd): Maximum 60% Aglianico; maximum…
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Savuto DOC
Savuto DOC: bianco (Wh): Maximum 40% Mantonico; maximum 30% Chardonnay; maximum 20% Greco Bianco; maximum 10% Malvasia Bianca; maximum 45% OAWG; Rosato (Ro): Maximum 45% Aglianico; maximum 45% Gaglioppo (locally Arvino); maximum 10% Greco Nero and/or Nerello Cappuccio; maximum 45% OARG; Rosso (Rd): Maximum 45% Aglianico; maximum 45% Gaglioppo; maximum 10% Greco…
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S. Anna di Isola Capo Rizzuto DOC
S. Anna di Isola Capo Rizzuto DOC: Red Grapes are Gaglioppo, Malvasia Nera, Nerello Cappuccio, Nerello Mascalese, NoceraRosato (Ro): 40–60% Gaglioppo; maximum 60% Malvasia Nera, Nerello Cappuccio, Nerello Mascalese, and/or Nocera; maximum 35% Greco Bianco and/or Malvasia. Rosso (Rd): 40–60% Gaglioppo; maximum 60% Malvasia Nera, Nerello Cappuccio, Nerello Mascalese, and/or Nocera; maximum 35% Greco Bianco…
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Melissa DOC
Melissa DOC: White Grape is Greco and Red is GaglioppoBianco (Wh): 80–95% Greco Bianco; 5–20% Malvasia Bianca and/or Trebbiano Toscano; Rosso (Rd): 75–95% Gaglioppo; 5–25% Greco Bianco, Greco Nero, Malvasia Bianca, and/or Trebbiano Toscano; Superiore (Rosso). The Minimum alcohol level is 11.5% for Bianco; 12.5% for Rosso; 13.0% for Superiore We…
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Lamezia DOC
Lamezia DOC: White Grapes are Greco, Montonico Bianco and Red are Gaglioppo, Greco NeroBianco (Wh): Minimum 50% Greco Bianco + OAWG; Greco (Wh): Minimum 85% Greco Bianco + OAWG; Mantonico (Wh): Minimum 85% Montonico Bianco (locally Mantonico) + OAWG; Rosato (Ro): 35–45% Gaglioppo (locally Magliocco); 25–45% Greco Nero and/or Marsigliana; maximum 40%…