A PATH THROUGH ITALIAN WINE
Explore Italian wine
in 4 stages.
From geography and appellation reviews, move on to regional comparisons and producer winemaking choices.
You can proceed in order or start from any chapter you wish to review.
Start with your current interests.
Start with review →
Reorganize geography, grape varieties, and appellations into four stages.
Compare regions using the map →
From the geography of all 20 provinces, to their individual regions and producers.
consider with a case study →
Compare methods and regions to consider the conditions that result in differences.
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ORIENTATION
Regain a clear sense of the overview
Review the influence of mountains and sea, regional history, classification and label meanings.
4 ARTICLES- Overview↗
The latitudes, elevations, and seas that divide Italy’s wine regions
Sicily also has vineyards at high altitudes. When you add mountains and the sea to the map often summarized as "cooler in the north, warmer in the south," the differences between regions become apparent.
- Overview↗
The history of viticulture and the path to today's wine regions
Even in regions with a long winemaking history, the current grape varieties or appellations have not necessarily been carried through unchanged. Different evidence is needed both for the history of viticulture and for the origins of today's wines.
- Appellations & winemaking↗
DOCG, DOC, IGT and EU Geographical Indications
DOCG, DOC, and IGT are familiar indicators on labels. Comparing them with the EU's DOP and IGP makes it easier to organize which names are protected and what is required to use them.
- Appellations & winemaking↗
Label: Classico, Riserva, MGA, UGA
Even if Riserva and UGA are listed together on the same label, they indicate different information. One refers to production conditions such as aging; the other refers to land. Starting from the appellation, you can distinguish the role of each term.
CONNECTIONS
Connecting major regions and grape varieties
Learn about Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, and Aglianico by considering the differences among their key regions.
8 ARTICLES- Grapes↗
Nebbiolo
Both Barolo and Barbaresco are made from Nebbiolo. Further north in Valtellina, it is known as Chiavennasca. By tracking the same variety, you see wine regions shift from the hills to the Alpine slopes.
- Regions↗
Barolo
Barolo is both the name of a village and the designation for wines spanning several comuni. The map showing just the village and the map of the production zone cover different areas.
- Regions↗
Barbaresco
Barbaresco and Barolo are both made from Nebbiolo. Despite sharing the same variety, the boundaries and aging rules differ. Comparing these neighboring appellations helps clarify their distinctions.
- Grapes↗
Sangiovese
Sangiovese is the flagship variety of Tuscany, but it is also widespread in Romagna. Comparing Brunello and Chianti Classico highlights not only differences in their respective lands but also in authorized blends.
- Regions↗
Chianti Classico
Chianti Classico spreads across the hills between Florence and Siena. It is an independent appellation from Chianti, and UGA is a system for further indicating areas within the Classico zone.
- Regions↗
Brunello di Montalcino
Brunello is a red wine made from Sangiovese grown in Montalcino. Even though sharing the same town name, the surrounding slopes differ in aspect and elevation.
- Grapes↗
Aglianico
The representative regions for Aglianico are Taurasi in Campania and Vulture in Basilicata. When tracing southern Italy’s black grapes, you’ll find they often come from inland hills, not coastal areas.
- Regions↗
Taurasi
Taurasi is a Campanian inland red wine based mainly on Aglianico. Compared to Vulture, which uses the same grape, you see that there are diverse regions with hillsides even within southern Italy.
EXPLORATION
Understanding the 20 regions and winemaking
Learn about the geography and wines of all 20 provinces, and confirm the differences between drying, sparkling, extraction, and maturation.
23 ARTICLES- 20 regions↗
Valle d'Aosta
From upstream to downstream in the valley, altitude and main grape varieties change.
- 20 regions↗
Piedmont
From Nebbiolo of Langhe to the other hills of the region.
- 20 regions↗
Liguria
A region of both coastal terraces and inland reds, with both sea and mountains.
- 20 regions↗
Lombardy
Mountainous reds of Valtellina and sparkling wines south of the lake.
- 20 regions↗
Trentino-Alto Adige
In both regions, vineyards spread from the valley floor up to the high slopes.
- 20 regions↗
Veneto
Red wines from dried grapes, white Soave, and hilly Prosecco.
- 20 regions↗
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Learn the differences in white grape varieties and winemaking between border hills and plains.
- 20 regions↗
Emilia-Romagna
Lambrusco in the west, Sangiovese and Albana in the east.
- 20 regions↗
Tuscany
Sangiovese in the inland hills, and the coastal area known for international varieties.
- 20 regions↗
Umbria
The reds from Montefalco and the whites from Orvieto that cross regional borders.
- 20 regions↗
Marche
Compare the Verdicchio regions of Jesi and Matelica.
- 20 regions↗
Lazio
Whites from around Rome and Cesanese reds from inland.
- 20 regions↗
Abruzzo
From the Adriatic Sea to the high mountains: Red and rosé of Montepulciano.
- 20 regions↗
Molise
Among the varieties shared with neighboring regions is the name Tintilia.
- 20 regions↗
Campania
On the hills of Irpinia, red Aglianico and white Fiano.
- 20 regions↗
Puglia
Trace the distribution of red grape varieties and elevation of plateaus from north to Salento.
- 20 regions↗
Basilicata
Aglianico del Vulture and the grape's cultivation beyond the area.
- 20 regions↗
Calabria
From Ionian-sea-facing Cirò to interior vineyards.
- 20 regions↗
Sicily
Wine is made differently on the slopes of Etna, in Vittoria, and in Marsala.
- 20 regions↗
Sardinia
Gallura and the entire island. Even with the same variety, appellation coverage differs.
- Appellations & winemaking↗
Production methods for Amarone, Recioto, and Ripasso
From dried grapes, both dry Amarone and sweet Recioto can be made. The difference is not explained by drying alone—it is necessary to also follow what happens to the sugar during fermentation.
- Appellations & winemaking↗
Differences between second fermentation in the bottle and the tank method.
Both Franciacorta and Prosecco have bubbles. By comparing where fermentation takes place, the grape varieties used, and the time spent on lees, you’ll understand the differences in sparkling wine production.
- Appellations & winemaking↗
Extraction from the skins and barrel aging
The extraction of color and tannin from the skins and the aging in barrels are different processes. When a producer mentions “time,” check which step is being referred to.
DEEPER READING
Learn about the style of each producer from their vineyards.
Understand individual wines by considering vineyard conditions in Etna and the history and winemaking of producers.
10 ARTICLES- Regions↗
Etna
Etna is a single volcano, but vineyards around its slopes do not all share the same conditions. The direction of the slope, elevation, and the history of lava flows combine to form the regions for both red and white wines.
- Grapes↗
Carricante
Carricante, the emblematic white of Etna. Comparing it to the red Nerello Mascalese shows that even within the same volcanic region, there are wines from different varieties and growing locations.
- Grapes↗
Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Mascalese, the flagship red variety of Etna. Even around the same volcano, conditions differ between the northern and eastern slopes. Beyond being simply “volcanic”, there are also differences by slope.
- Regions↗
Valpolicella
Valpolicella has both regional indications like Classico and wines with different production methods like Amarone and Ripasso. Separating the place names from the production methods helps organize the complex naming system.
- Regions↗
Franciacorta
Franciacorta, south of Lake Iseo, is a region known for bottle-fermented sparkling wine. Even under the same appellation, grape varieties used, lees aging, and other conditions differ by type.
- Regions↗
Conegliano Valdobbiadene
The hills stretching from Conegliano to Valdobbiadene form one of the production areas for Prosecco. The long denomination names indicate a geographic area distinct from that of the broad Prosecco DOC.
- Producers↗
Produttori del Barbaresco
Several growers collaborate to make Barbaresco at a single winery. With Produttori, you can learn about the work of a cooperative through both vineyard-designated wines and blends from multiple vineyard sites.
- Producers↗
Biondi-Santi
Biondi-Santi, based at Tenuta Greppo in Montalcino. Their history, including wines dating back to 1888, traces the development of Brunello and their commitment to maturation.
- Producers↗
Cantina Terlano
Cantina Terlano is a cooperative winery bringing together growers in Alto Adige. It has a history of focusing on white wines even at times when reds dominated the area, reflecting differences within the province.
- Producers↗
Benanti
Benanti’s wines are linked to several slopes of Etna. Milo's Carricante is one of them. By keeping the producer consistent, you can compare the combinations of vineyards and grape varieties.
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