If you dream of a vacation to Italy, you probably see images of yourself looking out over a sun-soaked vineyard, sipping on some of the world’s finest wine.
Italy frequently ranks as the world’s largest wine producer, followed by France. In 2022, Italy produced around 50.3 million hectoliters of wine, making up approximately 19% of global wine production. Italy also has one of the largest vineyard areas globally, with over 1.73 million acres dedicated to viticulture!
Italy is home to over 500 indigenous grape varieties, which is more than any other country in the entire world! This diversity allows for a wide range of wines, from world-famous classics like Chianti, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, and Barolo to lesser-known gems like Nero d’Avola, Pecorino, and Sagrantino.
The top wine-producing regions by volume in Italy include Veneto, Tuscany, and Piedmont, which account for a significant portion of the country’s total wine production. While these regions have the highest production, all 20 regions of Italy produce wine, each with its own sub-regions.
Often referred to as wine zones or appellations, these subregions are recognized by their DOCG, DOC, or IGT classifications, which help to identify and protect the quality and authenticity of wines from specific areas. Need to brush up on your Italian Wine Terminology before diving in? Click here!
This intricate network of wine regions within regions makes Italy’s wine landscape incredibly diverse and complex, offering something for every palate and local wines that perfectly complement the traditional cuisine in each region. We’ll cover seven of Italy’s key wine regions in this blog, but you can find a complete list of Italian DOCG Wine Regions here!
Tuscany
Tuscany, located in central Italy, is one of the world’s most iconic and celebrated wine regions. Its picturesque landscapes, characterized by rolling hills, cypress-lined roads, and historic vineyards, have made it a prime destination for wine lovers.
The heart of the Chianti region, located between Florence and Siena, Chianti Classico is renowned for its Sangiovese-based wines. These wines are typically medium-bodied with bright acidity, red fruit flavors, and earthy undertones. The black rooster (“Gallo Nero“) symbol on the label signifies a Chianti Classico wine.
Read our quick guide to Chianti here!
Beyond Classico, the broader Chianti region includes zones like Chianti Rufina, Chianti Colli Senesi, and Chianti Colli Fiorentini, each with its own nuances. Other key subregions include Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
Tuscany also holds the first two DOCG wines ever produced!
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of Italy’s most prestigious wine regions, located in the northwest part of the country. Nestled at the foot of the Alps, Piedmont is renowned for producing some of Italy’s most iconic and revered wines, holding the highest number of DOC and DOCG wines in Italy.
In the past decade, many wineries have gone as far as mapping the territory by single vineyard, which goes beyond the government’s DOCG requirements. This allows for the production of exceptional wines such as Barolo and Nebbiolo, which are consistently named some of the world’s top reds. Dolcetto, Barbera, and Moscato are also cultivated in this region.
Interestingly, Piedmont is also famous for its white truffles, particularly from the town of Alba. The region’s wines, especially Barolo and Barbaresco, are considered perfect companions to the earthy, aromatic flavors of truffles, making autumn a prime time for wine and food enthusiasts to visit.
Veneto
Veneto, located in northeastern Italy, is one of the country’s most productive and diverse wine regions. It produces the largest amount by volume. With over half a billion bottles of Prosecco produced in the past decade, Veneto is one of the fastest-growing wine regions in Italy.
Veneto is renowned for its wide range of wine styles, from light and refreshing whites to rich, full-bodied reds and sparkling wines that have gained international fame. The region’s diverse terroir and innovative winemaking practices make Veneto a significant player in the Italian and global wine market.
Valpolicella is one of Veneto’s most famous wine zones. It is known for producing a variety of red wines, with Amarone della Valpolicella being the most prestigious. Amarone is a powerful, full-bodied wine made from partially dried Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara grapes, giving it intense flavors of dried fruit, chocolate, and spice.
Amarone della Valpolicella is a must-try wine at least once in your life – why not travel directly to the source? Explore Veneto with us on a small group tour! You’ll experience the beauty of one of Italy’s most beautiful wine regions with private visits to the UNESCO Heritage Prosecco Hills, a private wine tasting at the Palladian Villas, and so much more.
Prosecco is one of the most well-known Italian wines, experiencing unstoppable growth in production in the last 20 years. Produced using the glera grape, Prosecco’s DOC territory expands into the lowlands of Veneto, Italy’s top wine-producing region. However, the DOCG territory is limited to the hills of Conegliano and Asolo.
Sicily
Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, is one of Italy’s most dynamic and exciting wine regions. With a winemaking history that dates back thousands of years, Sicily is a powerhouse wine region where tradition meets innovation. The island’s diverse climate, varied soils, and unique indigenous grape varieties contribute to a rich and varied wine culture gaining international recognition.
The region’s dominant grape varieties are Nero D’Avola, Frappato, and Cerasuolo. Due to the mild weather, many international varieties, such as Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, are also grown here.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria is Sicily’s only DOCG wine, produced in the island’s southeastern part. It blends Nero d’Avola and Frappato grapes, resulting in a medium-bodied red wine with vibrant acidity and bright cherry, strawberry, and floral notes.
Abruzzo
Abruzzo, located in central Italy along the Adriatic coast, is a wine region that combines rugged natural beauty with a rich winemaking tradition. Known for producing wines with excellent value, Abruzzo’s wine industry has seen significant growth in both quality and reputation in recent years, making it the fifth-largest producing region in Italy.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is the region’s flagship wine and one of Italy’s most famous red wines. It is made from the Montepulciano grape–not to be confused with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano from Tuscany, which is made from Sangiovese grapes.
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo is the region’s most important white wine, made from the Trebbiano grape, which is widely planted throughout Italy. Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo, a rose, and Pecorino and Passerina, both white wines, are also produced here.
Puglia
Puglia, the sun-soaked region at the heel of Italy’s boot, is a dynamic and historically rich wine region known for producing robust and full-bodied wines. Puglia’s landscape is characterized by vast plains and gentle hills, with a warm Mediterranean climate that provides ideal conditions for viticulture. As one of Italy’s largest wine-producing regions, Puglia has long been a significant contributor to the country’s wine output, and it is gaining recognition for both the quality and diversity of its wines.
Salice Salentino, located in the heart of the Salento peninsula, is Puglia’s most famous wine appellation. The region is best known for its red wines from the Negroamaro grape. These wines are characterized by their deep color, rich flavors of blackberries, plums, and spices, and a hint of earthiness.
Other wines produced in Puglia include Primitivo di Manduria, which is genetically linked to California’s Zinfandel, Castel del Monte, and Bombino Bianco/Nero.
Marche
Marche is an up-and-coming wine region with a wine-making tradition dating back to ancient times and evidence of viticulture from the Roman period.
Verdicchio is the most famous white grape variety in Marche, and Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi is its flagship wine. Produced in the hills around Jesi, this wine is known for its bright acidity, crisp minerality, and complex citrus, green apple, and almond flavors.
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi can be found in various styles, from young and fresh to more complex, oak-aged versions. The “Classico” designation refers to the wine made from the original, hilly part of the appellation, often considered the highest quality.
Pecorino is more than just the name of a famous Italian cheese; it’s also a crisp and versatile white wine with deep roots in the regions of Le Marche and Abruzzo. This wine, produced from a hardy grape that thrives in the cooler, mountainous terrain of Italy’s Adriatic coast, boasts a complex aroma and flavor profile, with notes of acacia, lime, and a hint of minerality.
Initially overlooked and even used as table wine, Pecorino has now emerged as a refined choice, perfect for pairing with a wide range of dishes—from classic Italian cuisine to international flavors. Its unique ability to age well and its higher-than-average alcohol content make it a “red dressed in white,” offering both structure and freshness.
Vernaccia di Serrapetrona, produced in the South, involves a distinctive traditional triple-fermentation process known as “Metodo Martinotti” or “Charmat Method” for sparkling wines. The wine undergoes its second fermentation in stainless steel tanks, which produces its characteristic fizz.
Hailed as all of Italy wrapped up into one region, Marche is a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket-list hidden gem for wine lovers looking to escape the tourist crowds of Tuscany or Sicily.
Want to meet the local winemakers behind this up-and-coming wine region and sip wine while looking out over endless rows of vineyards? This and so much more are all a part of the experience of Italy’s Epicurean Journey, based in the Marche region in Ascoli Piceno, a city older than Rome!
Umbria
Umbria, located in central Italy, is renowned for its scenic beauty, rich history, and diverse wine offerings. Often overshadowed by neighboring regions like Tuscany, Umbria has gained recognition for its high-quality wines and distinctive terroir.
Once relegated to producing the Orvieto DOC, the region now produces very high-quality reds.
Sagrantino di Montefalco, for example, is one of Umbria’s flagship wines. Made from the indigenous Sagrantino grape, this red wine is renowned for its intense color, full body, and robust flavor profile.
Once nearly extinct, the Sagrantino grape has experienced a resurgence in recent decades. Its revival has helped to put Umbria on the map as a producer of high-quality red wines. It has garnered attention from wine enthusiasts and critics alike.
Ready to escape the crowds and explore the hidden corners of Italy’s best-kept secret wine region? In this all-inclusive ten-day small group tour, you’ll experience multiple private wine tastings at award-winning wineries, plus an exclusive taste at the regional enoteca!
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