Wines of Italy

Video Membership Site

Buy a 1-year subscription to our video membership site to gain unlimited access to our huge collection of 150+ video recipes, eBooks, and articles on techniques and ingredients of the Italian kitchen, so that you can learn whenever it suits your schedule, in the comfort of your kitchen, and at your own pace. Click here to become a member!

Culinary Tours to Italy

Join us in Italy on a once-in-a-lifetime food lover's tour! Click here to see our tour schedule. All our tours share the same philosophy: our aim is to immerse you fully in the regional cuisine. You'll savor local specialties, meet food artisans, and learn authentic Italian cooking in hands-on cooking classes. We visit smaller destinations rather than large tourist centers, favoring small gems where you can really feel part of the fabric of Italian life. Whether you're tasting wines in the Tuscan hills, making fresh mozzarella in Puglia, honing your pasta skills in Sicily, or dining in Portofino, you'll savor every delicious moment of your time with us.

Subscribe To Newsletter
  • Rustico Cooking facebook
  • Rustico Cooking Twitter
  • Rustico Cooking Pinterest

Wine in Italy

Italians take wine very seriously. And just as they eat regionally, Italians drink regionally. Go to Tuscany, and you will find locals drinking Chianti, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Brunello di Montalcino, and other Tuscan wines with their meals. Head to Abruzzo, and you will find Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo, or Trebbiano d'Abruzzo on the table.

Italy is the largest producer of wine in the world, and it exports much of its wine to North America. Every Italian region produces good wine (some more than others, of course). Italian wines run the gamut from fresh, lively wines (either red, white, or rosé) best sipped young to deep, noble wines meant to mature in a cool cellar. At our NYC cooking loft, we offer wine tastings every few months, and each wine is introduced by Costas Mouzouras, our Wine Director.

Every Italian wine belongs to one of four legal categories: DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata, or Denomination of Controlled Origin), DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, or Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin), VdT (Vino da Tavola, or Table Wine), or IGT (Identificazione Geografica Tipica, or Typical Geographic Identification). DOC and DOCG regulations specify the grapes to be used for a specific wine, the yield of grapes per hectare, the production zone, the manner in which the wine is to be vinified, and the aging period. While by and large the country's best wines have historically been labelled DOC or DOCG, nowadays a number of Italy's most sought-after wines do not comply with strict DOC or DOCG laws (which stipulate almost exclusive use of local grape varietals) and are categorized as VdT or IDG wines; this is the case, for example, for Tuscany's renowned super-Tuscans, a class of expensive wines vinified from a blend of indigenous and imported grape varietals.

Pairing Food and Wine

One way to approach Italian wine is to pair regional wines with regional recipes. In other words, if you're cooking a meal from Molise, stick with wines from Molise; if something Sicilian is on the menu, look to Sicilian wines instead. This is certainly a valid, and traditional, starting point, but it can also be limiting: sometimes the best food and wine pairings require that you step outside regional boundaries, especially for those regions where a narrower range of wines is vinified.

Apéritifs and cocktails: Sparkling wines work well; I like Spumante Brut or Prosecco.

Fish, seafood, pasta in cream sauce: Whites tend to be better here; try Bianco di Custoza, Chardonnay, Falerio, Fiano di Avellino, Frascati, Friulano, Galestro, Gavi, Greco di Tufo, Orvieto, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Soave, Verdicchio, or Vernaccia di San Gimignano.

Poultry, veal, pasta in tomato or meat sauce: Light-bodied or medium-bodied reds are ideal; pour Barbera, Bardolino, Chianti, Dolcetto, Grignolino, Lambrusco, Merlot, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Nebbiolo, Rosso di Montalcino, or Valpolicella.

Game, fowl, roasts, red meat, and aged cheeses: Full-bodied reds are most suitable; serve Amarone, Barbaresco, Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmignano, Chianti Classico Riserva, Gattinara, Refosco, Rosso Piceno, Salice Salentino Classico, Taurasi, or Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

Sweets: Sparkling or sweet wines, sometimes fortified, pair nicely; try Asti Spumante, Malvasia, Marsala Superiore or Vergine, Moscato d'Asti, Picolit, or Vin Santo.

Wine Terminology

Knowing what the words on an Italian wine label mean will help you make smarter purchases at the wine store.

Abboccato: Slightly sweet

Amabile: Semi-sweet

Annata: Vintage year

Bianco: White

Brut: Dry sparkling wine

Classico: Wines produced in the best zone of a production area

Denominazione di Origine Controllata, or DOC: Denomination of Controlled Origin

Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, or DOCG: Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin

Dolce: Sweet

Fattoria: Farm or estate

Frizzante: Lightly sparkling

Identificazione Geografica Tipica, or IGT: Typical Geographic Identification

Liquoroso: High-alcohol wine, often fortified

Metodo Classico: Sparkling wines produced using the champenoise method

Novello: New wine marketed shortly after the harvest

Passito: Wine made from dried, or raisined, grapes; often, but by no means always, sweet

Produttore: Producer

Riserva: Reserve wine, aged for the duration of time specified by law

Rosato: Rosé

Rosso: Red

Secco: Dry

Spumante: Sparkling

Tenuta: Farm or estate

Vendemmia: Harvest

Vino da Tavola, or VdT: Table Wine

Recipes

Pere Cotte al Chianti

Chianti-Poached Pears Stuffed with Gorgonzola-Walnut Cream

Select a young, creamy Gorgonzola for the stuffing; it is usually labeled Dolcelatte in Italian markets and cheese shops.

For the pears:

  • 2 cups Chianti Classico
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 strip orange zest
  • 4 ripe pears, peeled, halved, and cored

For the Gorgonzola mousse:

  • 1/2 pound young Gorgonzola, rind removed, cut into ½-inch pieces
  • 1 cup walnut halves, plus 8 walnut halves for garnish
  • 1 cup heavy cream, plus extra if needed
  • 1/2 cup honey

Make the pears: Combine the Chianti, 2 cups of water, the sugar, cinnamon, and orange zest in a 3-quart pot. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves, and drop in the pear halves, cut side down. Cook until the pear halves are tender when pierced with a knife, turning once to cook evenly, about 15 to 25 minutes total (watch that they do not overcook, or they will fall apart).

Meanwhile, make the Gorgonzola mousse: In a food processor, combine the Gorgonzola, 1/2 cup of the walnut halves, and the cream until smooth; add more cream if needed to thin it out. The mousse should be as thick as jam. Refrigerate 30 minutes (or up to 2 days) to firm it up; this makes piping easier.

Using a slotted spoon, remove the pear halves from the poaching liquid; place on 8 plates, cut side up. Reduce the poaching liquid until it becomes almost syrupy in consistency, about 15 minutes over medium heat, watching that it does not caramelize or burn. Discard the cinnamon and orange zest.

Spoon the Gorgonzola mousse into a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe the Gorgonzola mousse into the hollow of each pear half in a pretty rosette pattern. Top each rosette of mousse with a walnut half. Pour the warm reduced syrup over the pears and drizzle with the honey. Serve within 15 minutes. Serves 8

Wine Table

Index A-B | C-D | E-F | G-K | L-M | N-O | P-Q | R-S | T-Z
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.