From north to south, the islands and everything in between, wines across the different regions of Italy have a wealth of indigenous grape varieties and a great variety of styles and idiosyncrasies. The world of Italian wines is often considered to be a very complex one. But with Vinotria’s extensive knowledge and expertise on Italian wines, we are able to inform you on the need-to-know information on these regions and top-class wine producers originating from them.
Lombardy is the fourth-largest region of Italy. Located at the heart of northern Italy, Lombardy is bordered by Piedmont to the west, Emilia-Romagna to the south and Veneto to the west. To the north are the mighty Central Alps, and the Swiss region of Ticino.
The region is known particularly for its sparkling wines made in the Franciacorta and Oltrepò Pavese areas. Lombardy also produces still red, white and rosé wines made from a variety of local and international grapes including Nebbiolo wines in the Valtellina region, Trebbiano di Lugana white wines produced with the Chiaretto style rosé along the shores of Lake Garda.
Veneto is located in the north-eastern part of Italy and is bordered to the east by Friuli-Venezia Giulia, to the south by Emilia-Romagna, to the west by Lombardy and to the north by Trentino Alto Adige/Südtirol.
Veneto is one of Italy's most prolific wine regions, located in the northeastern part of the country. The region is home to a wide range of grape varietals, some of which are unique to the area. The most well-known grape varietal from Veneto is the Glera grape, which is used to produce Prosecco, a popular sparkling wine known for its fresh and fruity flavors. In addition to Prosecco, the region also produces a variety of red and white wines, including the popular Valpolicella and Amarone wines made from the Corvina grape. Veneto's wine scene is known for its innovation and experimentation, with many wineries embracing organic and biodynamic farming practices and experimenting with non-traditional winemaking techniques.
Located in north-east Italy, this Italian wine region is noted for the distinct Austrian influences on the wines due to the region’s long history under the rule of Austria-Hungary and Holy Roman Empires. Production was once dominated by the local Lagrein and Schiava red grape varieties. White wines are now more important in terms of volume. They are increasingly made from well-known international varieties such as Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay.
A a rich, fertile region of Northeast Italy comprising the historical regions of Emilia and Romagna. Its capital is Bologna. It’s viticultural heritage dates back to the seventh century BC, ranking it among the older of Italy’s wine regions. Emilia-Romagna’s wine production is divided evenly between whites and reds, the dominant vine varieties being Malvasia and Lambrusco (both in their various forms), Trebbiano, Barbera, Bonarda and of course Sangiovese.
Umbria is a region of central Italy. It includes Lake Trasimeno and Marmore Falls, and is crossed by the River Tiber. The regional capital is Perugia. Umbria is known for its landscapes, traditions, history, culinary delights, artistic legacy, and influence on culture. Umbria is best known for its white wine production. The Orvieto DOC (based on the Trebbiano grape variety) is the region’s largest appellation. Styles of Orveieto can vary from dry (Secco) through to semi-sweet (Amabile) and sweet wines.
Tuscany is the most famous of all Italian wine regions, due to the romantic glamour of its limitless rolling hills, cypress-lined country roads and hilltop villages. Located in central Italy along the Tyrrhenian coast, Tuscany is home to some of the world’s most notable wine regions.
Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are primarily made with Sangiovese grapes whereas the Vernaccia grape is the basis of the white Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Tuscany is also known for the dessert wine Vin Santo, made from a variety of the region’s grapes.
Situated in the central peninsular section of Italy and home to ancient capital city of Rome. The region is mainly flat, with small mountainous areas in the most eastern and southern districts. The volcanic hills provide a superb base for viticulture due to the fertile and porous land. Nourishment for the grapes is provided by lava and tufa soils, rich in potassium. This type of soil is particularly suited to white grapes as it ensures a good balance of acidity. Lazio’s reputation is mainly based on its white wines, the cornerstones being Trebbiano and Malvasia di Candia.
Abruzzo is a region of Southern Italy and it is divided into four provinces: L’Aquila, Teramo, Pescara, and Chieti. Its western border lies east of Rome. It borders the region of Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and south-west, Molise to the south-east, and the Adriatic Sea to the east. Geographically, Abruzzo is divided into a mountainous area in the west, which includes the Gran Sasso d’Italia, and a coastal area in the east with beaches on the Adriatic Sea. The most popular grape varieties of the area are the native red Montepulciano and white Trebbiano.
Located on the south-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, with the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west, it includes the small Phlegraean Islands and Capri for administration as part of the region. The region has strong historical links to wine and vine and is one of Italy’s very oldest wine regions. Campania is home to a spectacular array of grape varieties, some of which are rarely found elsewhere. Its most important variety is debatably Aglianico, the grape behind the Campania’s two most famous and acclaimed red wines: Taurasi and Aglianico del Taburno. The climate is typically Mediterranean along the coast, whereas in the inner zones it is more continental, with low temperatures in winter.
Puglia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea to the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Otranto and Gulf of Taranto to the south. The wines are made from grape varieties almost unique to the area, while in the north the prevalent grapes are those used all over central and northern Italy, such as Sangiovese and Montepulciano. The full-blooded Puglian grapes are Negroamaro and Primitivo, while Verdeca is the only notable example among the whites in this hot, red-dominated region.
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of the Italian Peninsula and to the immediate south of the French island of Corsica. The portfolio of varieties planted in Sardinian vineyards bears little resemblance to those in any other Italian wine region. One finds varieties of French and Spanish origin, exemplified by Grenache (called Cannonau here), Carignan (and its distinct clonal variants Bovale di Spagna and Bovale Grande) and Cabernet Sauvignon, in this island’s vineyards.
Italy’s southernmost region, and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Sicily is located in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula, from which it is separated by the narrow Strait of Messina. Its most notable landmark is Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world. Once well known for sweet Muscats and later fortified Marsala, the island’s best known wines are now its dry table wines produced under the regional IGT title, Terre Siciliane.
Calabria is a region located in the southernmost part of Italy, and it is also one of the country's most underappreciated wine regions. The area is home to a diverse range of grape varietals, some of which are indigenous to the region. The most popular red wine grape in Calabria is the Gaglioppo grape, which produces full-bodied and structured wines with flavors of black cherry, plum, and tobacco. Another prominent grape in the region is the Greco Bianco grape, which produces crisp and refreshing white wines with hints of citrus and mineral notes. Overall, Calabria's wine scene is an up-and-coming one, with many small, family-owned wineries producing unique and delicious wines that are worth seeking out.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia is a wine region in the far north-eastern corner of Italy. Its landscape is characterised by coastal flatlands, mountains and plateaux. The region borders with Austria and Slovenia (to the north and east respectively), which follow the contours of the eastern Alps. Once part of the Venetian Republic and with sections under the influence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire for some time, the wines of the region have noticeable Slavic and Germanic influences. The region’s wines stand out from other Italian wines: they are made using mostly non-traditional grape varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Bianco, but also some typical Italian grapes such as Pinot Grigio and the region’s own Picolit.
The region is located in the Central area of the country, bordered by Emilia-Romagna and the republic of San Marino to the north, Tuscany to the west, Umbria to the southwest, Abruzzo and Lazio to the south and the Adriatic Sea to the east. Except for river valleys and the often very narrow coastal strip, the land is hilly. It is associated with white wines from the Trebbiano and Verdicchio grape varieties. Marche has a number of terroirs very well suited to the cultivation of vines, such as the rolling coastal hills around Ancona. Calcareous, clay and limestone-rich soils contribute to the distinctive terroir, and vary according to the region’s distinctive topography.
