ITALIAN WINES

IS HOME TO SOME OF THE OLDEST WINE-PRODUCING REGIONS IN

THE WORLD, AND ITALIAN WINES ARE KNOWN WORLDWIDE FOR
THEIR BROAD VARIETY. IT IS THE LARGEST WINE PRODUCING
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
WHERE IS ITALY LOCATED?

THE COUNTRY ITALY IS LOCATED ON THE CONTINENT OF

EUROPE. NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES ARE: AUSTRIA,
SWITZERLAND, FRANCE, SLOVENIA, SAN MARINO & VATICAN
WHAT MAKES
ITALIAN WINE
SPECIAL?
THE HISTORY

WITH A WINE HISTORY DATING BACK MORE THAN 4,000

YEARS AND A CLIMATE IDEALLY SUITED TO VITICULTURE,
ITALY IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE WINEMAKING
COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD. BY THE TIME THE GREEKS
FIRST CAME TO SOUTHERN ITALY, WINE HAD LONG BEEN
A PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE. GRAPES WERE SO EASILY
CULTIVATED THEY NAMED THE COUNTRY OENOTRIA,
MEANING THE LAND OF WINE.
THE QUALITY

 While we may debate the quality of certain vintages when compared to

others, what cannot be disputed is the level of knowledge and dedication
that goes into the creation of Italian wines. There are entire fields of
study dedicated to the subject and to the exploration of innovations that
can be used to make the industry even better. This quality is recognized
by the people who enjoy Italian wine and it is one of the many reasons
that the industry has endured for so long.
THE PASSION

 this quality could not come if the men and women producing the
wines did not have the passion to craft the best possible blends from
the grapes that they have available. It is this passion that leads to
them tending their vineyards in such a meticulous fashion as to
ensure that bad crops don’t sully the wine. It is also this passion that
drives many of the families who work in the business forward. For
many producers this is not a job. It is a lifelong pursuit that has been
passed down through generations
THE PEOPLE

 The Italian wine industry would be nothing without the people. The
men and women who work in the industry make everything possible
and are responsible for the creation of drinks that have achieved
almost legendary status over the years. Without these people there
can be no passion, which is why they will always be the most
important factor in the continued success of the wine industry
WINE REGIONS OF ITALY
1. Aosta Valley
2. Piemonte
3. Liguria
4. Lombardia
5. Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
6. Friuli-Venezia Giulia
7. Veneto
8. Emilia-Romagna
9. Toscana
10. Marche
11. Umbria
12. Lazio
13. Sardinia
14. Abruzzo
15. Molise
16. Campania
17. Basilicata
18. Puglia
19. Calabria
20. Sicily
 NORTHWEST ITALY
 Piedmont

The northerly region of Piedmont is home to some of the longest lived and most storied wines of Italy. 
It is famous for Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, and Moscato.  Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto grow
particularly well in the region of Alba.
 Lombardy

Italy’s industrial powerhouse, and the nation's second-largest city (Milan) as its regional capital. one of
Italy's largest and most populous regions, has only two wine styles of particular note: red Valtellina and
sparkling Franciacorta.
 Liguria

a crescent-shaped region in northwest Italy. Its Mediterranean coastline is known as the Italian Riviera
 Vallée de Aosta

Aosta Valley is the smallest region in Italy; in its northwest, it is located between France and
Switzerland. At its core are its majestic peaks (the region is, after all, mostly mountainous).
 NORTHEAST ITALY
 Veneto

is a wine region in north-eastern Italy, one of a group of three highly productive Italian regions known
collectively as the Tre Venezie (after the Venetian Republic), which is a large area comprised today of
the Italian regions of Friuli Venezia-Giulia, Alto Adige and Trentino, and Veneto.
 Alto-Adige

Südtirol/Alto Adige is one of the smallest wine-growing areas in Italy. Wine culture and tradition are
closely linked in this region on the southern side of the Alps
 Friuli
 In a way Friuli wines are foreign to Italians. They are a product instead of a hilly no man's land
between the Veneto, Slovenia and southern Austria and they taste like it. This is the land of the
varietal, wine made principally to express the fruit of the grape variety specified on the label.
 WESTERN CENTRAL ITALY
 Tuscany

the most enduringly famous of all Italian wine regions, thanks to the romantic glamor of its endless
rolling hills, cypress-lined country roads and hilltop villages. But even without all of this, evaluated on
the merits of its wines alone, Tuscany stands tall, its reputation founded on such iconic wines as Chianti,
Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
 Umbria

(/ˈʌmbriə/ UM-bree-ə; Italian pronunciation: [ˈumbrja]), is a region of historic and modern central Italy It
is the only Italian region having neither a coastline nor a border with other countries.
 Lazio

In the true heart of Italy, both geographically and spiritually, the region is not touched by the sea, and the
territory is for one-third mountains and for the rest hills covered with olive trees and vineyards, and
acknowledgedly among the most beautiful landscapes in Italy.
 EASTERN CENTRAL ITALY
 Emilia-Romagna

is a rich, fertile region of northern Italy, and one of the country's most prolific wine regions – more
than 136,000 acres (55,000ha) were under vine in 2010.
 Abbruzzo

is a region on the east (Adriatic) coast of central Italy, situated halfway up the 'boot’. Its immediate
neighbors are Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and south-west and Molise to the south-east.
 Marche

(pronounced Mar-kay) is a region on the eastern side of central Italy. It occupies a roughly triangular
area whose longer sides are formed by the Apennine Mountains in the west and the Adriatic Sea in the
east. 
 Molise

is a mountainous region in south-central Italy, and is one of the nation's smallest wine regions
alongside Aosta Valley.
 SOUTHERN ITALY & THE ISLANDS
 Puglia

(Apulia to many English speakers) is a long, thin wine region in the far south-eastern corner of the 'boot' of Italy.
 Campania

is the "shin" of Italy's boot, anchored by its capital, Naples. Its name comes from Campania felix, a Latin phrase roughly meaning
"happy land". The region has strong historical links to wine and vine, dating back to the 12th Century BC, and is one of Italy's very
oldest wine regions.
 Basilicata

is a region in southern Italy, with Campania and Puglia to the north and Calabria to the south. The region is also sometimes referred
to by the name, Lucania, for its first known ancient
 Calabria
 is a wine region of southern Italy, effectively a large peninsula jutting out between the Ionian and Tyrrhenian seas. It is divided
from Sicily by the narrow Strait of Messina, and its northern border with Basilicata is marked by the southern Apennine peaks.
 Sardinia

Sardinia’s wines have little in common with those produced in the rest of Italy. The Island’s remote Mediterranean location, as well
as the historic influence from other cultures, gives the wines a unique character that might be considered to have more in common
with Spanish than Italian wines.
 Sicily
 Italy's largest contiguous grape-growing region lies in the far west of Sicily,
APPELLATION
CLASSIFICATIONS
AN APPELLATION IS A LEGALLY DEFINED AND
PROTECTED GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION USED TO
IDENTIFY WHERE THE GRAPES FOR A WINE WERE
GROWN; OTHER TYPES OF FOOD OFTEN HAVE
APPELLATIONS AS WELL.
3. ITALIAN WINE CLASSIFICATION

Vino da Tavola (Table Wine): This is the lowest quality category. Minimal
(or no) regulation is imposed. For example, vintage date is not required. Also, there
can be no association to region.

Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT): This category was created to

include quality wine produced in a DOC region but does not comply with its
criteria. For example, SuperTuscans (Sangiovese blended with Cabernet Sauvignon)
would fall under this category.

Denominazione D'Origine Controllata (DOC): Wine subjects to rigid

regional regulations on grape variety, yields per hectare, aging requirement, and
vinification methods.

Denominazione D'Origine Controllata E Garantita (DOCG): A

category for the most prestigious subregions in the DOC. Distinctive style,
 VDT (Vino da Tavola, Table Wine) - denoting the lowest quality wines, but should be considered
much wider in scope in a country with such little regard for law as Italy.

 IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica, Typical Geographic Indication) - As already mentioned, this
category was created in 1992 in order to upgrade about 40 percent of Italy's table wine production
by placing these products on a par. The wine's label must declare its specific region and may cite
varietal type and vintage.

 DOC - DENOMINAZIONE DI ORIGINE CONTROLLATA (Denomination of Controlled Origin) -

DOC means that a wine with this mark on the label has been produced in a specified area and has
been aged and bottled in accordance with existing regulations and under strict control by the Italian
Authorities.

 DOCG - DENOMINAZIONE DI ORIGINE CONTROLLATA E GARANTITA (Denomination of

Controlled and Guaranteed Origin) - This category is reserved for elite wines whose quality is
"guaranteed" by the Italian Government. These wines can be sold only in bottles not exceeding a
certain size and each bottle bears a seal of guarantee.
MAJOR ITALIAN RED
WINES
Amarone: Lusty, full-bodied wine from partially-dried Corvina grapes, in the Veneto
region. Dry and firm wine, but its ripe, concentrated fruitiness suggests sweetness. Needs
rich, savory foods or flavorful cheeses.

Barbaresco: Similar to Barolo, from the same grape in a nearby area, but generally a
tad lighter in body and slightly more approachable. Drinks best at 8 to 15 years of age,
depending on the producer.

Barbera: Varietal wine produced mainly in the Piedmont region. Dry, light- or
medium-bodied, with intense berry flavor, mouth-watering acidity, and little tannin.
Particularly versatile with food. Many of the best wines are from the Alba or Asti zones.

Barolo: Dry, full-bodied, magisterial wine from Nebbiolo grapes in the Barolo area of
Piedmont. Has complex aromas and flavors of strawberries, tar, herbs, and earth, as well as
a firm, tannic structure. Drinks best at 10 to 20 years of age, depending on the producer.

Brunello di Montalcino: Full-bodied, intense, concentrated wine from Sangiovese

grapes grown in the Montalcino zone of Tuscany. Dry and quite tannic, it drinks best when
it’s at least 15 years old.
Chianti: Very dry, medium-bodied, moderately tannic wine with lovely tart-cherry flavor,
mainly from Sangiovese grapes grown in the Chianti area of Tuscany. “Chianti Classico” is often
the best. Some wines are good young; wines labeled riserva, and pricier wines, are generally more
concentrated and age-worthy.

Lambrusco: Most commonly a sweet, fizzy wine with delicious, grapey flavors. Made from
Lambrusco grapes usually in the Emilia-Romagna region. Dry and sparkling styles also exist.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo: Generally medium-bodied and flavorful with red fruits and a
slightly vegetal note. Lighter examples are smooth and easy to drink; the best wines are
concentrated and denser in texture. From the Montepulciano grape, in the Abruzzo region.

Salice Salentino: Dry, full-bodied wine from Negroamaro grapes in part of the Puglia
region. Generally has somewhat intense aromas and flavors of ripe, plummy, baked fruit, and
rich, dense texture. Suitable with robust foods.

Valpolicella: Medium-bodied wine mainly from Corvina grapes in the Valpolicella area of
Veneto region. Dry, lean, and only moderately tannic, with more or less intense cherry aromas and
flavors. Some versions, such as single-vineyard wines, are particularly good.
MAJOR ITALIAN
WHITE WINE
sweet, low in alcohol, with pronounced fruity and floral flavors. Usually non-vintage, but
freshness and youth are essential to its quality.

Frascati: From the Frascati area, south of Rome, and mainly Trebbiano grapes. Dry or
slightly off-dry, light-bodied, and un-oaked with crisp acidity and subdued flavor.

Gavi: Dry, medium-bodied wine from Cortese grapes in the Gavi area of Piedmont.
Typically crisp and un-oaked (sometimes slightly oaky) with delicate notes of honey, apples,
and minerals.

Orvieto: A generally medium-bodied wine made mainly from Grechetto grapes around
Orvieto, in the Umbria region. Dry, crisp, with flavors of pear and apple and a pleasantly
bitter finish.

Pinot Grigio: Generally light-bodied, dry, and crisp, with subdued aromas and flavors
and no oakiness. Made from Pinot Gris grapes, usually in Northeastern Italy. Wines from
Collio or Alto-Adige DOCs (controlled origin denomination) are usually the best.

Soave: From the Soave zone in the Veneto region, made mainly from Garganega grapes.
PARTS OF NEW AND OLD
WORLD WINE LABEL
1. Wine Type This can be identified through 1 of three ways

2. Region The region or sub-region will always be located next to the

classification level

3. Classification (DOCG, DOC, IGT, Vino da Tavola)

4. Wine Name This is never next to the classification and often indicates that the
wine is a
blend of grapes as in the case of a Supertuscan wine.

5. Producer Name Italian wineries will often use words like Tenuta, Azienda,
Castello or Cascina in their name
 3 WAYS THAT ITALIANS LABEL WINE TYPES
 Grape Variety
First things first, whenever a grape variety is mentioned, usually it’s named in association with
a region. So, in the instance of Barbera d’Alba, this is probably a grape variety because it’s
‘Barbera’ ‘of Alba’. There are a few instances such as ‘Vino Nobile di Montepulciano’ where
‘Vino Nobile’ is a synonym of Sangiovese.

 By Region
If the region is listed on the label, you will always see a classification after the regions name.
So for instance, a bottle named by region/sub-region will say Chianti with the words
“Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita” right next to it. This means, the wine is
relying on the classification to tell you what’s inside.

 By Name
You can always tell if it’s a named wine by where the location of the name is on the label. The
name is never next to the wine classification. Just so you know, the most common classification
on named wines is IGT.
COMMON ITALIAN
WINE LABEL
WORDS…
Poggio - hill or elevated place. Since Roman times, many vineyards throughout Italy are
located on slopes or hills and this is probably where the term originated

Tenuta - Land holding or property. Usually associated with the vineyard location or wine
estate.

Vigneto - Vineyard

Castello - Similar to the word chateau in France for wine estate. Many of the Castello in
Italy are associated with an ancient castle.

Cascina - Winery
Cantina – Winery

Fattoria - Wine farm

Azienda – Company

Superiore - Usually associated with a regional name and indicates a high quality designation
usually with a slight bump in minimum alcohol level (with higher quality grapes).

Classico - A classic zone within a particular region. This doesn’t mean the wine is better, just
that it’s from a ‘classic’ wine growing area.

Riserva - A wine that’s been aged for longer than the normal version of the same denomination.
Aging varies from denomination to denomination, but generally it’s about a year longer