Introduction: Tuscany Beyond Chianti When most travelers think of Tuscan wine, their minds go straight to Chianti Classico or Brunello di Montalcino. Yet nestled around the medieval city of Lucca, the Colline Lucchesi DOC offers something refreshingly different: a hidden Tuscany wine region where vineyards meet Renaissance city walls, and…
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Colline Joniche Tarantine DOC Guide: Puglia’s Newest Wine Renaissance
What is Colline Joniche Tarantine DOC? Colline Joniche Tarantine DOC is one of Italy’s youngest appellations, officially recognized in 2008. Nestled in the hills above the Ionian coast near Taranto in northern Puglia, this modern DOC is a fascinating mix of tradition and innovation. It produces a spectrum of wines…
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Colline di Levanto DOC Wine Guide: Liguria’s Hidden Coastal Gems Near Cinque Terre
Introduction: Liguria’s Coastal Vineyard Poetry Nestled just beyond the rugged cliffs of Cinque Terre, the Colline di Levanto DOC represents one of Liguria’s most enchanting yet overlooked wine regions. With only about 5,800 cases produced annually, these small-production wines embody the coastal poetry of terraced vineyards, salty sea breezes, and…
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Colli Tortonesi DOC Guide: Piedmont’s Timorasso Renaissance
What is Colli Tortonesi DOC? Colli Tortonesi DOC is a Piedmont wine appellation that stretches across the sun-dappled hills around Tortona. The zone produces a wide range of wines—white, red, rosato, frizzante and spumante—but in recent decades it has become best known for Timorasso (often labeled Derthona), a near-lost white…
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Colli Romagna Centrale DOC: Emilia-Romagna’s Hidden Wine Gem
What is Colli Romagna Centrale DOC? Colli Romagna Centrale DOC is one of Emilia-Romagna’s most dynamic wine appellations, representing a broad spectrum of styles that reflect both the region’s deep winemaking traditions and its spirit of experimentation. Nestled between Bologna and Forlì, this DOC captures the rolling hills (“colli”) of…
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Colli Pesaresi DOC: A Complete Guide to This Adriatic Gem
Quick Facts: Colli Pesaresi DOC History & Origins Colli Pesaresi DOC was established in 1969, making it one of the Marche’s earliest recognized appellations. Rooted in the rolling hills around Pesaro on the Adriatic coast, the region has long been overshadowed by Tuscany but is now gaining recognition as a…
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Colli Perugini DOC: Discover Umbria’s Hidden Wine Gem | Drink Italian
What is Colli Perugini DOC? Tucked into the green heart of Umbria, just south of the medieval city of Perugia, the Colli Perugini DOC is one of Italy’s most quietly elegant wine zones. While its neighbors—Orvieto, Montefalco, Torgiano—often steal the spotlight, Colli Perugini offers a refined expression of Umbrian terroir…
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Colli Martani DOC – Drink Italian
What is Colli Martani DOC? (Quick Answer) Colli Martani DOC is an Umbrian wine appellation established in 1988, covering hillside vineyards between 150–600 meters south of Perugia. It produces Sangiovese-based reds (minimum 50%), fresh Trebbiano and Grechetto whites, sparkling Spumante, and distinctive Vernaccia Nera dessert wines grown on limestone and…
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Colli Maceratesi DOC: The Hidden Gem of Marche’s Rolling Hills
What is Colli Maceratesi DOC? (Quick Answer) Colli Maceratesi DOC is a wine appellation established in 1971 in Italy’s Marche region. Known for both white and red wines, it’s especially celebrated for rare Maceratino-based whites (minimum 80%) and Sangiovese-driven reds (minimum 50%). Covering the limestone hills of Macerata province between…
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Colli Euganei DOC: Complete Guide to Veneto’s Volcanic Wine Region
What is Colli Euganei DOC? (Quick Answer) Colli Euganei DOC is a historic wine appellation established in 1969 in the volcanic Euganean Hills, just southwest of Padua and 60 km from Venice. The region is celebrated for its Merlot-based reds, Garganega whites, and the aromatic Fior d’Arancio DOCG Moscato, all…