Wine |
Region(s)
|
Color(s)
|
Characteristics |
Aglianico
del Taburno DOC |
Campania
|
Red; white
|
The red is deep, robust; the
white is light. |
Aglianico del Vulture DOC |
Basilicata
|
Red
|
Hearty, tannic, harmonious,
robust; dry with a berry fragrance. Medium-sweet or sparkling versions
are good dessert wines. |
Albana di Romagna DOCG |
Emilia-Romagna
|
White
|
Vinified dry, medium-sweet,
sweet, and raisined; lightly aromatic, warm, harmonious. |
Aleatico di Gradoli DOC |
Latium
|
Red
|
Garnet red, with violet tints;
fine aroma, fresh, fruity. Also vinified in a fortified dessert version. |
Aleatico di Portoferraio |
Tuscany
|
Red
|
Delicately sweet wine from
the isle of Elba. |
Aleatico di Puglia DOC |
Apulia
|
Red
|
Delicate bouquet, full-bodied,
moderately sweet and velvety; exists in a raisined version. |
Aleatico di Rionero |
Basilicata
|
Red
|
Dessert wine with a haunting
aroma. |
Alezio DOC |
Apulia
|
Red; rose
|
The red is airy and full when
aged, with a slight bitter aftertaste; the rose is dry, persistent,
and velvety. |
Alghero DOC |
Sardinia
|
Red; white; rose
|
This denomination includes
19 wines, vinified still, fizzy, sparkling, raisined, and fortified. |
Amarone DOC |
The Veneto
|
Red
|
Hauntingly
flavored , warm, muscular, robust; made from raisined grapes |
Anghelu Ruju |
Sardinia
|
Red
|
An extraordinary port-like
wine, deeply perfumed with rich berry and spice, medium-sweet. |
Aprilia DOC |
Latium
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red is medium-bodied; the
white is subtle, with good acidity; the rose is best enjoyed young. |
Arborea DOC |
Sardinia
|
Red; white; rose
|
Vinified dry or medium-sweet;
delicate aroma, fresh, harmonious taste. |
Arnad Montjovet |
Val d'Aosta
|
Red
|
Harmonious, dry, gently bitter
wine with delicate almond undertones. |
Asprinio di Aversa DOC |
Campania
|
White
|
Fresh, distinctive, with a
fruity aroma; also vinified sparkling. |
Assisi DOC |
Umbria
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red is intense and fruity;
the white is fresh, dry, and lightly bitter; the rose is delicate,
dry, and harmonious. |
Asti Spumante DOCG |
Piedmont
|
White
|
One
of Italy's most famous sparkling wines, produced by the Charmat
method of fermentation; with persistent mousse and fine bubbles,
it is intense, aromatic, delicately sweet, with a crisp acidity
and ripe flavor of the Moscato grape from which it is made.
|
Bagnoli DOC |
The Veneto
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red is velvety and delicately
sweet; the rose has a slightly winy perfume and pleasant bouquet,
and is vinified both dry and ever-so-slightly sweet; the white is
dry or slightly sweet and velvety. Vinified both still and sparkling. |
Barbaresco DOCG |
Piedmont
|
Red
|
Intensely
fragrant, robust, harmonious, dry, intense, austere yet velvety;
aged a minimum of 26 months. |
Barbera DOC |
Piedmont
|
Red
|
Dry,
medium-bodied becoming full-bodied after aging; the one from
Asti is best, slightly fruity and mellow. |
Bardolino DOC |
The Veneto
|
Red; rose
|
Elegant,
medium-bodied, silky, highly fruity, with a berry aroma; one
of Italy's best novello wines. |
Barolo DOC |
Piedmont
|
Red
|
Dry,
full-bodied, silky, robust; aged a minimum of 3 years, but best
after 5 to 8. Aerate 2 hours before serving. |
Bianchello del Metauro DOC |
The Marches
|
White
|
Straw-yellow in color, with
a dry, fresh, harmonious taste and delicate aroma. |
Bianco Capena DOC |
Latium
|
White
|
Dry, slightly aromatic; also
vinified medium-sweet. |
Bianco di Alcamo DOC |
Sicily
|
White
|
Pale straw-yellow with green
tints; neutral nose, grapey scent, dry and fruity taste. |
Bianco
di Custoza DOC |
The Veneto
|
White
|
Perfumed, lightly aromatic
fragrance; well-balanced with good body; best sipped within 1 year
of bottling. |
Bianco di Pitigliano DOC |
Tuscany
|
White
|
Zesty, delicate, dry wine with
a slightly bitter finish, medium-bodied and soft; also vinified in
a sparkling version. Best within 1 year of vintage. |
Bianco di Scandiano |
Emilia-Romagna
|
White
|
The region's most interesting
indigenous white; pleasantly aromatic, fresh, and harmonious; vinified
still and sparkling. |
Biferno DOC |
Molise
|
Red; white; rose
|
Dry, harmonious, ethereal,
and velvety ruby-red wine that ages well. There is also a delicately
aromatic white version and a rose version that is best drunk within
1 year. |
Bivongi DOC |
Calabria
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red is produced in a novello
and riserva version; the rose is delicately fruity; the white is dry,
fruity, and harmonious. |
Blanc de La Salle |
Val d'Aosta
|
White
|
Dry, acidic, lightly fizzy,
with undercurrents of mountain herbs. |
Blanc de Morgex |
Val d'Aosta
|
White
|
Delightful nuance of fresh
herbs; best enjoyed in its first year of life. |
Bonarda |
Piedmont/Lombardy
|
Red
|
Pleasant, fruity wine with
a scent of grapes; meant to be drunk young. |
Bosco Eliceo DOC |
Emilia-Romagna
|
Red; white
|
The red is intense, moderately
tannic; the white is light. Vinified both still and sparkling. |
Botticino DOC |
Lombardy
|
Red
|
Its vinous aroma becomes airy
as the wine ages; warm, full-bodied taste. |
Brachetto d'Acqui DOCG |
Piedmont
|
Red
|
Wine with a soft, mellow, delicately
musty truffle scent and color of strawberries; exists in a sparkling
version as well. |
Brachetto d'Albenga |
Liguria
|
Red
|
Wine with scent of wild flowers
and a tendency to become velvety with age. |
Brindisi DOC |
Apulia
|
Red; rose
|
The red is harmonious and velvety;
the rose is coral-pink with a fruity aroma and dry taste. |
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG |
Tuscany
|
Red
|
Intense
ruby-red, dry, tannic, robust, with a persistent bouquet and
dried fruit, tobacco, and plum notes; aged 2 years in casks. |
Cacce
Mitte di Lucera DOC |
Apulia
|
Red
|
Distinct, intense aroma, full-bodied
taste with a firm aftertaste. |
Cagnina di Romagna DOC |
Emilia-Romagna
|
Red
|
Slightly tart, rather tannic,
with a color that shows violet tints. |
Caldaro DOC |
Trentino-Alto Adige
|
Red
|
Soft taste hinting at almonds
and a delicate aroma. |
Campi Flegrei DOC |
Campania
|
Red; white
|
Unique flavors and aromas characterize
these wines; vinified still or sparkling, sometimes from raisined
grapes. |
Campidano di Terralba DOC |
Sardinia
|
Red
|
Dry, full-bodied, distinctive;
intense bouquet and dry taste. |
Cannonau di Sardegna DOC |
Sardinia
|
Red; rose
|
The red is robust, bold, dry,
with a substantial body and muscular structure; the rose is dry. Also
vinified fortified and sweet. |
Capri DOC |
Campania
|
Red; white
|
The red is medium-bodied and
fruity; the white can be aged up to 5 years. |
Carema DOC |
Piedmont
|
Red
|
High-acidity wine, pleasant
and dry, with a bouquet reminiscent of roses. |
Carignano del Sulcis DOC |
Sardinia
|
Red; rose
|
Six wines are sold under this
label; also vinified in novello and raisined versions. |
Carmignano DOCG |
Tuscany
|
Red
|
Full-bodied
nose, low acidity, firm tannins, violet tones that become more
intense with age; dry, soft, velvety. |
Carso DOC |
Friuli-Venezia Giulia Red
|
Red
|
Ruby wine with a dry flavor
and harmonious finish. |
Castel del Monte DOC |
Apulia
|
Red; white; rose
|
A number of wines are produced
under this label; the red, aged more than 2 years, is fairly robust
and dry, the white is dry and refreshing, and the rose is delicate
and lightly fragrant. |
Castel San Lorenzo DOC |
Campania
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red is ruby-hued, intense,
dry, tannic and acidic when young, velvety when aged; the white is
refreshing, crisp, fruity, lightly bitter; the rose is subtle, dry,
and velvety. Vinified in a sparkling version as well. |
Casteller DOC |
Trentino-Alto Adige
|
Red
|
Ruby color and intense perfume;
best sipped within 2 years. |
Castelli Romani DOC |
Latium
|
Red; white; rose
|
Vinified
in dry, semi-dry, sparkling, and novello versions, Castelli
Romani are the most famous wines of the region and comprise
the following appellations: Colli Albani; Colli Lanuvini; Frascati;
Marino; Montecompatri Colonna; and Velletri. |
Cataratto |
Sicily
|
White
|
Intense, with a slight bitter
aftertaste. |
Cellatica DOC |
Lombardy
|
Red
|
Dry and vivacious with a slightly
bitter aftertaste. |
Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo |
Abruzzo
|
Red
|
The region's second most important
red; fruity, intense, dry, with a deep cherry color. |
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOC
|
Sicily
|
Red
|
Cherry-red color, intense,
delicate bouquet, and full, round, harmonious flavor. |
Cesanese DOC |
Latium
|
Red
|
Delicate bouquet and soft,
bitterish taste; ranges from dry to sweet and is vinified still and
sparkling. |
Chambave Moscato |
Val d'Aosta
|
White
|
The most famous of the region's
wines, with a straw yellow color and intense aroma characteristic
of muscat; also vinified in a sweet raisined version. |
Chianti DOC |
Tuscany
|
Red
|
Dry,
with tannins that become mellow over time; aroma reminiscent
of violets. |
Chianti Classico DOCG |
Tuscany
|
Red
|
Dry,
tannic, mellowing with age; aroma reminiscent of violets. Vinified
in the heartland of the Chianti zone. |
Chiaretto del Garda |
Lombardy
|
Red
|
Wine with an intense bouquet,
slight almond aftertaste, and hints of flowers. |
Cilento DOC |
Campania
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red is dry and full-bodied;
the white is straw-yellow in color, fresh, and delicate; the rose
is harmonious and fresh. |
Cinque
Terre DOC |
Liguria
|
White
|
Crisp wine, refreshing, with
a bracing acidity. |
Ciro DOC |
Calabria
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red is warm, harmonious,
velvety with age; the white is vivacious, dry, delicate; the rose
is refreshing. |
Colli Altotiberini DOC |
Umbria
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red has a round taste;
the white is well-balanced; the rose is slightly fruity and offers
a zesty bouquet. |
Colli di Bolzano |
Trentino-Alto Adige
|
Red
|
Full-flavored, perfumed, soft,
and harmonious. |
Colli Maceratesi DOC |
The Marches
|
White
|
Dry, balanced, with a characteristic
bouquet. |
Controguerra DOC |
Abruzzo
|
Red; white
|
The red is dry and slightly
tannic; the white is fruity and dry with a bitterish aftertaste, and
is vinified both still and fizzy. |
Copertino DOC |
Apulia
|
Red; rose
|
The red is dry, with a slightly
bitter finish and persistent bouquet; the rose is light. |
Cori DOC |
Latium
|
Red; white
|
The red is persistent, with
a lingering bouquet and dry, fresh, velvety flavor; the white is delicate,
dry to medium-dry, and medium-bodied. |
Coronata |
Liguria
|
White
|
Hard-to-come-by, dry, harmonious
wine. |
Costa d'Amalfi DOC |
Campania
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red and rose are light
and medium-bodied; the white is light, crisp, bracingly acidic. |
Dolcetto DOC |
Piedmont/Liguria
|
Red
|
An
everyday wine best drunk young; refreshing and straight-forward. |
Donnas DOC |
Val d'Aosta
|
Red
|
The vines for this glorious
wine are protected from the harsh north wind and yield what many have
called a "perfect wine, with a fine perfume and medium body. |
Donnici DOC |
Calabria
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red is dry and harmonious;
the white is dry, harmonious, at times fruity; the rose can be fragrant. |
Eloro DOC |
Sicily
|
Red; rose
|
Five red and one rose wine
produced under various names, including Nero d'Avola, Pignatello,
Pachino, and Frappato, depending on the grapes used. |
Enfer d'Arvier DOC |
Val d'Aosta
|
Red
|
he French enfer means "hell,
but this heavenly wine is pleasantly bitter and has a characteristic
bouquet. |
Epomeo |
Campania
|
White
|
Crisp, light, sunny wine. |
Erbaluce di Caluso DOC |
Piedmont
|
White
|
Dry, full, and rich; also vinified
in a rare raisined version. |
Esino DOC |
The Marches
|
Red; white
|
The red has a fruity bouquet
and dry, harmonious flavor; the white is fruity and fresh. Also vinified
in novello and sparkling versions. |
Est! Est!! Est!!! DOC |
Latium
|
White
|
Delicately aromatic white with
a dry, persistent, balanced flavor; made in the province of Viterbo
since at least 1200. |
Etna DOC |
Sicily
|
Red; white; rose
|
Vinified at the foot of the
still-active Etna volcano since at least the sixteenth century. The
red and rose are warm, perfumed, dry, and robust; the white is dry,
fresh, with golden tones. |
Falanghina |
Campania
|
White
|
Delicately acidic, dry; also
vinified in a sparkling version. |
Falerio
dei Colli Ascolani DOC |
The Marches
|
White
|
Lightly scented, dry, somewhat
bitter. |
Falerno del Massico DOC |
Campania
|
Red; white
|
The famous Falernum of ancient
Rome; the red has an intense perfume and a dry, robust, harmonious
flavor; the white is dry, zesty, with light green tones. |
Faro DOC |
Sicily
|
Red
|
Ruby-red, medium-bodied wine
with a delicate, airy, and persistent bouquet and ethereal, dry, harmonious
flavor. |
Favorita |
Piedmont
|
White
|
White with a notable citrus
aroma that can stand aging. |
Fiano d'Avellino DOC |
Campania
|
White
|
One
of the few white wines suitable for prolonged aging; it has
a pear finish. |
Franciacorta DOCG |
Lombardy
|
White; rose
|
Dry
or off-dry spumante (sparkling wine) with abundant fine perlage. |
Franconia |
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
Red
|
Dry, slightly fruity, and aromatic;
ages well. |
Freisa DOC |
Piedmont
|
Red
|
Wine with a strong blackberry
scent; vinified dry, sweet, and sparkling. |
Friulano |
Friuli-Venezia Giulia/The Veneto
|
White
|
The
Tocai of old, a white not related to the Tokay of Alsace or
the Tokaji of Hungary; light in both color and body, slightly
bitter, with a floral aroma and a hint of almonds, it is intended
to be drunk young. |
Friuli Aquileia DOC |
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
Red; white; rose
|
Wines produced from various
grapes; vinified still and sparkling. |
Friuli Grave DOC |
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
Red; white; rose
|
Numerous wines, both still
and sparkling, from a variety of indigenous grapes. |
Friuli Isonzo DOC |
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
Red; white; rose
|
Over a dozen wines obtained
from different grapes; still or sparkling. |
Friuli Latisana DOC |
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
Red; white; rose
|
Different wines vinified still
or sparkling from local grapes. |
Galatina
DOC |
Apulia
|
Red; white; rose
|
Vinified in 5 versions, including
a novello. |
Galestro
|
Tuscany
|
White
|
Light and fresh, with a fruity
scent and notable aftertaste. |
Galluccio DOC |
Campania
|
Red; white; rose
|
The rich volcanic soil of the
Roccamonfina volcano yields intense, sunny wines. |
Gambellara DOC |
The Veneto
|
White
|
Harmonious, dry, with an accentuated
perfume and delicate bitterness. |
Garganega |
The Veneto
|
White
|
Medium-bodied, straw-yellow
in color, with a characteristic perfume, dry flavor, and slight bitterness.
|
Gattinara DOCG |
Piedmont
|
Red
|
Perfume
evocative of violets; dry, harmonious, with a pleasantly bitter
finish, it ages well. |
Gavi DOCG |
Piedmont
|
White
|
Dry,
delicate, fruity, aromatic, and balanced; vinified still, fizzy,
or sparkling. |
Ghemme DOCG |
Piedmont
|
Red
|
Dry, with a pleasantly bitter
finish and violet notes; aged a minimum of 3 years |
Gioia del Colle DOC |
Apulia
|
Red; white; rose
|
Numerous wines, including Primitivo
and Aleatico, are produced in this area in dry, sweet, and fortified
versions. |
Giro di Cagliari DOC |
Sardinia
|
Red
|
Sweet, and sometimes dry,
fortified wine from the province of Cagliari. |
Gravina DOC |
Apulia
|
White
|
White with a pleasant bouquet
and delicate flavor; vinified still and sparkling. |
Greco di Bianco DOC |
Calabria
|
White
|
This amber-hued, luscious,
coppery dessert wine is vinified from what may be Italy's oldest varietal,
the Greco grape, in the town of Bianco; it is soft, ethereal, with
a balanced flavor and airy bouquet. |
Greco di Tufo DOC |
Campania
|
White
|
Has
an almond and peach aftertaste; also vinified in a sparkling
version. |
Grignolino DOC |
Piedmont
|
Red
|
Pronounced
acidity and good structure; best savored young. |
Grillo |
Sicily
|
White
|
Wine with a woody nose and
good viscosity. |
Guardiolo or Guardia Sanframondi
DOC |
Campania
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red is velvety, dry, best
after 1 to 4 years; the white is dry and straw-yellow in color; the
rose is subtly fruity in some bottlings. |
Gutturnio |
Emilia-Romagna
|
Red
|
Characterful wine with good
potential for wood aging. |
Inzolia |
Sicily
|
White
|
Delicate nose, medium body,
good acidity. |
Lacrima
di Morro d'Alba DOC |
The Marches
|
Red
|
Scent of red fruit and underwood
and a full-bodied flavor; also vinified from raisined grapes. |
Lacryma Cristi |
Campania
|
Red; white; rose
|
Vinified at the foot of Mount
Vesuvius; the red is dry, harmonious, ruby-red; the white is lightly
acidic; the rose is off-dry, less intense than the red. Also vinified
in fortified and sparkling versions. |
Lagrein |
Trentino-Alto Adige
|
Red; rose
|
Somewhat tannic, soft, velvety
red with real character; fragrant yet robust rose. elegant and fresh. |
Lambrusco DOC |
Emilia-Romagna
|
Red; rose
|
Sparkling
wine which became wildly popular in the US in the 1980s in its
slightly sweet incarnation, Lambrusco Reggiano. Good Lambrusco
is dry or off-dry, with a pronounced acidity. |
Lamezia DOC |
Calabria
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red has a pleasant, at
times fruity bouquet and dry flavor; the white is vinous, dry, velvety,
and full; the rose is delicate, fragrant, and dry. |
Leverano DOC |
Apulia
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red is ethereal, tending
to brick-color with age; the white is delicate, soft, and dry; the
rose is fruity when young. |
Lizzano DOC |
Apulia
|
Red; white; rose
|
Six wines are produced under
this label, including a Malvasia Nera that is velvety and lightly
aromatic. |
Loazzolo DOC |
Piedmont
|
White
|
Golden-hued dessert wine made
from Moscato grapes that are dried on the vine and allowed to develop
noble rot, thereby acquiring an intense aroma and high alcohol content.
|
Locorotondo DOC |
Apulia
|
White
|
Delicate, best sipped in its
first year; still or sparkling. |
Lugana DOC |
Lombardy/The Veneto
|
White
|
Dry, quaffable, with a pronounced
acidity and versatile character. |
Malvasia
di Casorzo d'Asti DOC |
Piedmont
|
Red; rose
|
Sweet wine made in a still,
sparkling, and raisined version; fragrant and aromatic. |
Malvasia di Castelnuovo
Don Bosco DOC |
Piedmont
|
Red
|
Sweet, fragrant sparkling wine;
lightly aromatic. |
Malvasia |
Basilicata
|
White
|
Dry, sweet, or sparkling. |
Malvasia |
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
White
|
Dry, straw-yellow, aromatic,
and harmonious. |
Malvasia delle Lipari DOC |
Sicily
|
White
|
An amber-hued, noble dessert
wine from the Aeolian islands; also vinified in a raisined and fortified
version. |
Malvasia di Bosa DOC |
Sardinia
|
White
|
Straw-yellow wine that ranges
from dry to sweet, with a light bitter aftertaste; sometimes fortified. |
Malvasia di Cagliari DOC |
Sardinia
|
White
|
The dry version of this wine
has a characteristic toasted almond aftertaste; the fortified version
is very refined and has an intense aroma. |
Mandrolisai DOC |
Sardinia
|
Red; rose
|
The red has a dry flavor and
characteristic perfume; the rose has a pleasant aroma and slight bitter
aftertaste. |
Marsala DOC |
Sicily
|
White; red
|
A
fortified wine; various types of Marsala exist, classified according
to age (the extra old is matured 10 years). A red Marsala has
recently been introduced. |
Martina Franca DOC |
Apulia
|
White
|
Dry, delicate, fresh; vinified
still or sparkling. |
Marzemino |
The Veneto/ Trentino-Alto Adige
|
Red
|
Subtle hints of wood in some
bottlings; still or sparkling, with a dry, herbaceous scent. |
Matino DOC |
Apulia
|
Red; rose
|
The red is ruby to garnet with
a pleasantly bitterish vein; the rose is lighter and crisper on the
palate. |
Melissa DOC |
Calabria
|
Red; white
|
The red has a savory, full-bodied
flavor; the white has a grapey bouquet and delicate flavor. |
Meranese |
Trentino-Alto Adige
|
Red
|
Delicate perfume; best savored
within 1 year of production. |
Monica di Cagliari DOC |
Sardinia
|
Red
|
Vinified in a dry and fortified
version. The dry wine has an ethereal perfume and soft, velvety flavor;
the fortified version presents a distinct aroma. |
Monica di Sardegna DOC |
Sardinia
|
Red
|
Light ruby red wine with an
intense perfume and dry or slightly sweet flavor; a sparkling version
also exists. |
Montefalco |
Umbria
|
Red; white
|
The red is harmonious, dry,
and velvety; the white is lightly fruity and dry. |
Montefalco Sagrantino DOC |
Umbria
|
Red
|
Highly tannic, with a medium-dry,
full-bodied flavor and blackberry aroma. Also vinified in a raisined
version. |
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
DOC |
Abruzzo
|
Red
|
Abruzzo's
most important red; plummy, velvety, and dry, it ages well.
|
Morellino di Scansano DOC |
Tuscany
|
Red
|
Dry, austere, warm, and tannic
with an airy, intense bouquet; ages beautifully. |
Moscadello di Montalcino
DOC |
Tuscany
|
White
|
Sweet, amber-hued dessert wine;
vinified still and sparkling. |
Moscato |
Basilicata
|
White
|
Semi-sweet and lightly sparkling
dessert wine from the fertile Vulture zone. |
Moscato
d'Asti DOCG |
Piedmont
|
White
|
Sweet, aromatic, lively, only
slightly fizzy. |
Moscato di Cagliari DOC |
Sardinia
|
White
|
Exquisitely sweet, velvety
dessert wine with a grapey scent; a fortified version is also vinified. |
Moscato di Noto DOC |
Sicily
|
White
|
Aromatic dessert wine vinified
in a still, sparkling, and raisined version. |
Moscato di Pantelleria DOC |
Sicily
|
White
|
Golden dessert wine which can
be naturally sweet, sparkling, raisined, or fortified. |
Moscato di Sardegna DOC |
Sardinia
|
White
|
A sparkling muscat wine with
a straw-yellow color and spiced bouquet. |
Moscato di Siracusa DOC |
Sicily
|
White
|
Slightly dried grapes yield
this golden wine with amber reflections; its characteristic aroma
and delicate, velvety taste make it a superb dessert wine. Increasingly
hard to find. |
Moscato di Sorso-Sennori
DOC |
Sardinia
|
White
|
Full, sweet-flavored dessert
wine with an intense bouquet; also vinified in a fortified version.
|
Moscato di Trani DOC |
Apulia
|
White
|
Golden dessert wine with a
velvety, sweet taste; vinified in a naturally sweet and fortified
version. |
Moscato Giallo |
Trentino-Alto Adige
|
White
|
Aromatic and intense dessert
wine. |
Moscato Rosa |
Trentino-Alto Adige /Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
Rose
|
Rose vinified in a still or
sparkling version, with a perfume of roses. |
Muller-Thurgau |
Trentino-Alto Adige /Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
White
|
Harmonious, dry, and lively,
with good acidity and fruitiness. |
Nardo
DOC |
Apulia
|
Red; rose
|
Velvety with a slight bitter
aftertaste. |
Nasco di Cagliari DOC |
Sardinia
|
White
|
Delicate, with a subtle aroma
of grapes; the fortified version tends towards gold in color. |
Nebbiolo d'Alba DOC |
Piedmont
|
Red
|
Red
with less intensity and character than Barbaresco or Barolo;
good for everyday drinking. |
Nero d'Avola |
Sicily
|
Red
|
Lively ruby-red color, dry
flavor, lightly tannic, well-structured; plum and cherry on the nose,
with a light to medium body. |
Nuragus di Cagliari DOC |
Sardinia
|
White
|
Still or sparkling, with a
pleasant acidity; easy to drink and harmonious. |
Nus Malvoisie |
Val d'Aosta
|
White
|
Amber yellow color, intense
nose, and dry flavor; the raisined version presents a notable chestnut
aftertaste and is sweet. |
Nus Rosso |
Val d'Aosta
|
Red
|
Lightly herbaceous overtones;
better after 3 years of aging. |
Oltrepo Pavese Rosso DOC |
Lombardy
|
Red
|
Rich, potentially peppery,
with an intense aroma. |
Orta Nova DOC |
Apulia
|
Red; rose
|
Dry, balanced, tannic red;
slightly fruitier rose. |
Orvieto DOC |
Umbria
|
White
|
A
dry, medium-dry, or (rarer nowadays) sweet wine vinified since
Etruscan times; the best is Orvieto Classico or Orvieto Classico
Superiore, which offer rich honey, nut, and peach notes. |
Ostuni DOC |
Apulia
|
Red; white
|
The red is known as Ottavianello
and offers a dry, harmonious flavor; the white has a delicate perfume
and clean taste. |
Penisola
Sorrentina DOC |
Campania
|
Red; white
|
This denomination includes
a naturally sparkling red, a still medium-bodied red, and a dry white.
|
Pentro d'Isernia DOC |
Molise
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red wine is dry, balanced,
full-bodied; the white is delicate and fresh; the rose is medium-bodied
and crisp. |
Picolit |
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
White
|
Renowned
dessert wine, sometimes made from raisined grapes; offers hints
of peaches and apricots. |
Piedirosso |
Campania
|
Red
|
Dry, medium-bodied, with moderate
tannins; also vinified in a raisined version. |
Pigato |
Liguria
|
White
|
Refreshing wine produced in
a dry, semi-sweet, raisined, or sparkling version. |
Pignolo |
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
Red
|
Intensely hued, the wine ages
marvelously in barriques. |
Pollino DOC |
Calabria
|
Red
|
Distinctive bouquet, dry, full-bodied
flavor, and intense color tending towards cherry. |
Primitivo di Manduria DOC |
Apulia
|
Red
|
Vinified dry and sweet from
the grape many believe to be the ancestor to Zinfandel; bold, heady,
and intense. |
Prosecco
di Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOC |
The Veneto
|
White
|
Sparkling wine vinified using
the Charmat method, whereby a second fermentation occurs in the bottle;
crisp, clean with persistent bubbles. |
Raboso |
The Veneto
|
Red
|
Violet bouquet, notable acidity
and tannins; it can be aged with great success. |
Recioto della Valpolicella
DOC |
The Veneto
|
Red
|
Sweet cousin of Amarone, vinified
from raisined grapes; haunting aroma, full-bodied, moderately viscous. |
Recioto di Soave DOCG |
The Veneto
|
White
|
Powerful, fruity, semi-sweet
or sweet, silky and well-balanced; made from raisined grapes. |
Refosco |
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
Red
|
Characterized by a flavor of
plums and a note of almonds, a medium to full body, and rather high
acidity; the best is Refosco del Peduncolo Rosso from Aquileia. |
Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso
|
Trentino-Alto Adige/Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
Red
|
Deeply
hued red, with a full, round, dry flavor and a tendency to bitterness. |
Refrontolo Passito |
The Veneto
|
Red
|
Dessert wine made from dried
grapes; it offers a hint of cherries, berries, and wood. |
Ribolla or Ribolla Gialla
|
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
White
|
Known since at least 1289,
it is light-bodied, floral, delicate, fresh, lively, and high in acidity. |
Riesling Italico |
Trentino-Alto Adige
|
White
|
Delicate, crisp, mildly flowery,
and vivacious. |
Riesling Renano |
Trentino-Alto Adige/Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
White
|
Fresh, dry, lightly aromatic,
light-bodied, with pronounced acidity. |
Roero DOC |
Piedmont
|
Red
|
Fragrant, fruity, velvety,
persistent, and dry; meant to be sipped young. |
Roero Arneis DOC |
Piedmont
|
White
|
Noble wine with amber hues,
fresh, herbaceous, almond scents, and dry flavor; also vinified in
a sparkling version. |
Rossese Bianco |
Liguria
|
White
|
Rare and extraordinary wine
with a citron scent and a slightly bitter finish. |
Rossese di Dolceacqua DOC |
Liguria
|
Red
|
Light ruby color, delicate
bouquet, and strawberry nose; can be aged up to 10 years. |
Rosso Barletta DOC |
Apulia
|
Red
|
Dry, full-bodied; ages up to
4 years. |
Rosso Canosa DOC |
Apulia
|
Red
|
Dry, full-bodied, alcoholic
taste, slightly bitter aftertaste. |
Rosso Conero DOC |
The Marches
|
Red
|
Full-bodied, harmonious, with
an intense bouquet that softens as it ages; vinified in a novello
version as well. |
Rosso di Cerignola DOC |
Apulia
|
Red
|
Dry, moderately tannic, full-bodied,
with color that tends to brick as it ages; slight bitter aftertaste. |
Rosso di Montalcino DOC
|
Tuscany
|
Red
|
Brunello's
younger brother, aged 1 year in casks; vivacious, fresh, with
licorice and violet scents, warm and lightly tannic. |
Rosso di Montepulciano DOC
|
Tuscany
|
Red
|
A faster-maturing, lighter
red than Vino Nobile di Montepulciano; dry, lightly tannic, with a
violet nose. |
Rosso Orvietano DOC |
Umbria
|
Red
|
Ten varieties of red wine from
the province of Terni; the Canaiolo and Ciliegiolo are especially
characteristic. |
Rosso Piceno DOC |
The Marches
|
Red
|
Lightly
ethereal, subtly hued wine; has a fruity bouquet when young
which becomes floral as it ages. |
Rouchet or Ruche DOC |
Piedmont
|
Red
|
Delicately aromatic, fruity,
medium-bodied wine with a persistent bouquet. |
Salice Salentino DOC |
Apulia
|
Red; white
|
The
red has an intense aroma and is best in its first 3 years; the
white offers a delicate, fruity scent. |
San Severo DOC |
Apulia
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red and rose have a pronounced
bouquet and full-bodied taste; the white is fresh, well-balanced. |
San Vito di Luzzi |
Calabria
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red is velvety and dry;
the white is straw-yellow, dry, and harmonious; the rose is refreshing. |
Sangiovese di Romagna DOC
|
Emilia-Romagna
|
Red
|
Light and tannic when young,
smoother and more complex when aged 4 years. |
Sannio DOC |
Campania
|
Red; white; rose
|
Numerous wines are produced
in the area, including novello, raisined, and sparkling versions.
|
Sant'Agata dei Goti DOC |
Campania
|
Red; white; rose
|
Among the various wines produced
in underground cellars of this medieval town, the white is most memorable. |
Sant'Anna di Isola Capo
Rizzuto DOC |
Calabria
|
Red; rose
|
Round, dry, and harmonious
wines. |
Santa Maddalena |
Trentino-Alto Adige
|
Red
|
Ruby to garnet, with berry
and almond aromas that become ethereal after brief aging. |
Santa Margherita di Belice
DOC |
Sicily
|
Red; white
|
Numerous varietal wines are
produced under this name in Agrigento. |
Sardegna Semidano DOC |
Sardinia
|
White
|
Four versions are vinified,
including a sparkling version and a raisined version which tastes
of ripe fruit and honey. |
Savuto DOC |
Calabria
|
Red; rose
|
Dry, full-bodied, robust yet
haunting; among Calabria's best. |
Scavigna DOC |
Calabria
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red is robust; the white
has greenish hues and a pleasantly fruity taste; the rose is delicate,
elegant, and dry. |
Schiava |
Trentino-Alto Adige
|
Red
|
Light- to medium-bodied, velvety,
with hints of violets and almonds. |
Schiopettino or Ribolla
Nera |
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
Red
|
Known since at least 1282.
Deep in color, medium-bodied, aromatically rich with hints of violets
and pepper; velvety, warm, full, and elegant. |
Sciacca DOC |
Sicily
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red is lightly tannic and
full-bodied; the white is delicate, fine, dry; the rose is vivacious
and harmonious. |
Sciacchetra or Cinque
Terre Sciacchetra DOC |
Liguria
|
White
|
Rare dessert wine made from
raisined grapes on terraced hillsides by a handful of producers. |
Sfurzat |
Lombardy
|
Red
|
Dried grape wine from the mountainous
Valtellina area. |
Silvaner |
Trentino-Alto Adige
|
White
|
Characteristically fruity,
fresh, and harmonious. |
Soave DOC |
The Veneto
|
White
|
Best-known
of the region's wines; medium-bodied, delicately bitter. |
Solopaca DOC |
Campania
|
Red; white; rose
|
Produced in still and sparkling
versions; the red is rustic, with notes of tobacco; the white varies
from dry to off-dry; and the rose is medium-bodied. |
Sorni |
Trentino-Alto Adige
|
Red; white
|
Ruby-hued and delicately perfumed
red; the white is light-bodied, with good aroma. |
Squinzano DOC |
Apulia
|
Red; rose
|
The red is robust and moderately
tannic, best aged 3 to 4 years; the rose is delicately perfumed and
velvety. |
Taurasi
DOCG |
Campania
|
Red
|
Airy,
intense aroma, full-bodied, well-balanced, with a long finish
reminiscent of chocolate and licorice; aged a minimum of 3 years. |
Terlano |
Trentino-Alto Adige
|
White
|
Wine with a good balance of
acidity and a delicate, fruity character. |
Teroldego Rotaliano DOC
|
Trentino-Alto Adige
|
Red; rose
|
Lively, fruity, meant to be
drunk within 3 years; a rose version has a light almond vein and bitterness. |
Terrano |
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
Red
|
Intense ruby-red wine, dry,
with a winy perfume, raspberry aroma, and pleasant acidity. |
Terre di Franciacorta DOC
|
Lombardy
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red is mellow, medium-bodied;
the white is crisp and fresh; the rose is light. A sparkling version
is also vinified. |
Torgiano or Torre di Giano
DOC |
Umbria
|
Red; white
|
The red is mellower than the
Torgiano Rosso Riserva; the white is crisp, with good acidity. |
Torgiano Rosso Riserva DOCG |
Umbria
|
Red
|
Robust yet fine, packed with
fruit, slightly oaky; ages well. |
Torrette |
Val d'Aosta
|
Red
|
Dry, velvety red with hints
of wild rose and a tendency to develop an aroma of almond with age. |
Traminer Aromatico or Gewurztraminer
|
Trentino-Alto Adige/Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
White
|
Lightly aromatic, dry, and
full-bodied, with golden hues. |
Trebbiano d'Abruzzo DOC
|
Abruzzo
|
White
|
Delicate, dry, with a pronounced
acidity. |
Trebbiano di Romagna DOC |
Emilia-Romagna
|
White
|
Light, crisp, simple, quaffable
wine. |
Valle d'Aosta DOC |
Val d'Aosta
|
Red; white; rose
|
Numerous wines are comprised
in this denomination; cool mountain air makes these wines refreshingly
crisp. |
Valpolicella and Valpolicella
con Ripasso DOC |
The Veneto
|
Red
|
Pleasant
bouquet, velvety, bitterish, well-balanced; sometimes reminiscent
of bitter almonds. Con ripasso indicates the use of unpressed
skins of grapes from which Amarone or other dried grape wines
are vinified for greater intensity and character. |
Valtellina Superiore DOCG |
Lombardy
|
Red
|
Dry, austere, slightly tannic,
with a persistent fragrance; aged a minimum of 2 years. |
Venegazzu |
The Veneto
|
Red
|
Herbaceous scent, elegant flavor,
and good structure make it a good mate for hearty fare. |
Verbicaro DOC |
Calabria
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red is sometimes aromatic,
velvety on the palate; the white has a soft, dry flavor; the rose
is mellow. |
Verdicchio
dei Castelli di Jesi DOC |
The Marches
|
White
|
Refreshing, crisp, with light
greenish hues and a grassy nose. |
Verdicchio di Matelica DOC
|
The Marches
|
White
|
White vinified in a still,
sparkling, and raisined version. |
Verduzzo |
The Veneto/Friuli-Venezia Giulia
|
White
|
Dry, slightly tannic, with
a honey aroma; vinified in a dry and in a semi-sweet raisined version.
The best is vinified in the Ramandolo area. |
Vermentino |
Liguria
|
White
|
Versatile wine with a deep
straw color and grassy notes. |
Vermentino di Gallura DOCG |
Sardinia
|
White
|
Subtle, delicate aroma and
dry taste; straw-yellow color, light bitter undertones. |
Vermentino di Sardegna DOC
|
Sardinia
|
White
|
White with greenish highlights
and a dry, fresh, acidic taste; the sparkling version presents an
intense foam and fine, persistent perlage. |
Vernaccia di Oristano DOC |
Sardinia
|
White
|
Sherry-like wine with a warm,
dry flavor and almond blossom notes; the fortified version can be
sweet or dry. |
Vernaccia di San Gimignano
DOCG |
Tuscany
|
White
|
Fine,
penetrating aroma, mineral backbone, slightly bitter finish;
smooth, nutty, hinting of fruit and honey. |
Vernaccia di Serrapetrona
DOC |
The Marches
|
Red
|
Sparkling wine obtained from
slightly raisined grapes; medium-dry or sweet, it has a refined and
persistent perlage and aroma of ripe fruit, jam, flowers, and spices.
|
Vesuvio DOC |
Campania
|
Red; white; rose
|
The red is ruby-hued, dry,
suited to a wide range of dishes; the white is crisp and dry; the
rose is less intense than the red. |
Vin Santo DOC |
Trentino-Alto
Adige/The Veneto/Emilia-Romagna/Tuscany
|
White
|
Raisined dessert wine with
an amber hue and dry, semi-sweet, or sweet flavor. |
Vino
Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG |
Tuscany
|
Red
|
Intense, dry, slightly tannic,
full-bodied, robust, with hints of violets; ages well. |
Zagarolo DOC |
Latium
|
White
|
Soft and harmonious, dry or
off-dry, with a straw-yellow color. |