Italian Wine Country

Ciao! Welcome to the wine-rich region of Italy, where the  is delicious, the grapes are plentiful, and the labels are, well, often confusing. Italian wine regions are some of the most difficult to understand. Italy is the leading wine-producing country at around 19%  of the world’s wine, though. So they’re worth learning about.

There are plenty of Italian wine regions, each with its own qualities to love. We’re going to help you learn where the wines are coming from and how to read their sometimes unfamiliar wine labels. Then you’ll be able to choose a delicious Italian wine you’re sure to love.

 
How to Read Italian Wine Labels

Maybe you’re preparing for your next wine tasting, picking up a bottle of wine for your favorite holiday, or stocking up your own bar. Whatever you’re planning, it’s important to understand the language of Italian wines first. European labels already vary widely from American ones. Italian labels, though, can be particularly complex.

 

Some labels to know include:
  • DOCG: An abbreviation for Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, DOCG is the top classification for Italian wines. This means they follow strict rules, such as where grapes can be grown and how wines are aged. There are 74 DOCGs in Italy.
  • DOC: An abbreviation for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, DOC is just below DOCG. There are still rules in production and style, though not as strict. There are 334 DOCs in Italy.
  • IGT: An abbreviation for Indicazione Geografica Tipica, IGT is a classification allowing winemakers to use craft styles and grapes not permitted under DOC and DOCG regulations. There are 118 IGTs in Italy.

 

Other terms to understand include:
  • Reserva: A wine aged for much longer than usual
  • Superiore: A higher-quality designation (usually a part of a regional name)
  • Classico: Signifies wine within a region considered the original area of production
 
Italian Wine Regions: Diverse, Delicious, and a Great Value

There are plenty of reasons to love Italian wines. They’re diverse, they include indigenous (and protected) varieties, and they pair well with food. They’re often a great value, as well.

Plus, Italian wines are some of the most romantic of the bunch.

 

Starting from the north of Italy and working our way down south, here are the country’s 20 wine regions.

 

Valle d’Aosta

This region that shares borders with France and Switzerland doesn’t make a whole lot of wine. The wine that is produced here often ends up in the U.S. — primarily reds.

Primary grapes from Valle d’Aosta are the Nebbiolo, Pinot Nero, and Petit Rouge.

 

Piedmont

At the foot of the western Alps in northwest Italy, this wine region combines the chilly climate of the mountains with the balminess of the Mediterranean.

Piedmont also produces the Nebbiolo grape, using it to make the region’s most famous Italian wines — Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG. It’s also the home of the sweet sparkling wine, Moscato d’Asti, made in the Asti DOCG.

 

Liguria

Mostly producing white wine, this region sits along the Mediterranean between France and Tuscany. The bulk of wines are dry whites from Vermentino and Pigato, and they make up most of the exports to the U.S. The Sangiovese is also a popular variety from Liguria.

 

Lombardy

This north-central region boasts some of Italy’s most breathtaking lakes. The cool weather from the Alps makes it the ideal place for sparkling Italian wine.

One of the most famous Lombardy wines is the Franciacorta DOCG, produced along Lake Iseo. It’s made from Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, and Pinot Nero. As for reds, Nebbiolo is the main grape here, producing the Valtellina Rossa DOC, among others.

 

Trentino-Alto Adige

This home of the Dolomite mountain range is a mix of Italian and Austro-Hungarian influences. Red grapes that come from this region are the Pinot Nero, Lagrein, and Schiava. For whites, the main grape is the Pinot Grigio, followed by the Chardonnay.

 

Veneto

Home of many microclimates, Veneto has an abundance of history, beauty, and, of course, wine. With the Alps in the north, Lake Garda in the West, and the Adriatic Sea in the southeast, there are plenty of natural contours in Veneto.

Pinot Grigio and Prosecco have made this Italian wine region famous. The Cabernet Franc and Merlot are not far behind.

 

Friuli-Venezia Giulia

With the Alps and the Adriatic’s coastal flatlands, the climate in Friuli-Venezia Giulia is unique. As a result, it produces a range of red and white grapes.

Still, 75% of the production is white wine, primarily Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and Ribolla Gialla. Reds, like the Merlot and Refosco, are delicious, though a little less well-known.

 

Emilia Romagna

Mostly famed for its delicious food, this region also produces delectable Italian wine. This wine region is known for the Lambrusco (a sparkling red wine) and the Trebbiano (a white grape). The Sangiovese is also a notable variety from Emilia Romagna.

 

Tuscany

One of the more famous Italian wine regions to visit, Tuscany sits along the Tyrrhenian Sea and stretches inland into rolling countryside.

Red wines that hail from Tuscany are the Sangiovese-based wines, like the Chianti, Chianti Classico, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. For whites, the region is most famous for the Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG.

 

Umbria

A small but notable region, Umbria is often overlooked because of its proximity to Tuscany. However, this region in central Italy is hilly, near the snow-capped Apennines, and an important producer of tannic reds from the Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG. The Grechetto is a nice white from this region, with its dryness and crispness.

 

Marche

Along the eastern coast in central Italy is Marche (pronounced mar-kay). It produces the black grape Montepulciano, creating the Rosso Cònero DOC. Marche is also known for varieties like the Pecorino and Trebbiano.

 
Lazio

The Capital city of Rome is what this region is mostly known for, but it also has plenty of legacy in wine. Lazio produces youthful whites that are easy to drink, as well as the Merlot and Sangiovese varieties.

 

Abruzzo

A mountainous region filled with ancient winemaking traditions, Abruzzo is fifth by volume in Italian wine production. It’s mostly known for the Montepulciano grape and the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC red wine. As for a rosé, it boasts the Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC. Abruzzo also produces the Chardonnay, Passrina, and Sangiovese varieties.

 

Molise

This region is small and sits in a mountainous region in south-central Italy. Molise is largely known for the Trebbiano and Montepulciano from the Biferno DOC. Other varieties include the Cabernet Sauvignon and Tintilia.

 
Compania

Home of Naples and the Amalfi Coast, Campania produces wines that are increasingly popular in the U.S. For reds, it’s known for the Taurasi DOCG and Aglianico del Taburno (both from the red grape Aglianico). For whites, you can enjoy the Fiano di Avellino DOCG from the Giano grape.

 

Basilicata

This region in southern Italy isn’t one of the largest Italian wine regions. It’s mostly landlocked and mountainous. While it produces a few DOCs, the most famous is the Aglianico del Vulture. Other varieties from Basilicata include the Fiano and Moscato.

 

Puglia

Increasing in popularity for good value Italian wines, Puglia uses many indigenous grapes. The region’s warm Mediterranean climate produces ripe, robust, and fruity reds based on Primitivo and Negroamaro.

 

Calabria

The coastal climate wines of Calabria include the Cirò DOC, which produces reds based on the Gaglioppo grape. Some (though not many) white wines are made here from a blend of Greco Bianco and Montonico Bianco.

 
Sicily

Dry and warm, with loads of sunshine, this largest island is excellent for wine production. Sicily is home to fruity, medium-bodied reds made from Nero d’Avola, and juicy, peachy whites made from Grillo.

 

Sardinia

Though Sardinia is mostly known for its beaches and Pecorino cheese, it still boasts plenty of Italian wines. These include the Cannonau (the local name from Grenache) and Carignano. From the northeast, you can enjoy the salty, floral Vermentino.

 

Italian Wines: Reliable, Complex, and Delicious

Whether you pick up your next bottle of wine as a gift for a wine-loving friend or to enjoy yourself, there’s a lot to take in when it comes to Italian wines (literally and figuratively). But with basic label knowledge, and a little understanding of where it’s all coming from, it’s easy to choose an Italian wine you’ll love.

Grab a glass (and your favorite wine decanter), and start exploring Italy — one wine at a time. Which Italian wine will you pop open first?