15+ Best Wine Regions in Italy: Amazing Wines Areas to Enjoy

Italy, one of the oldest and top wine-producing regions in the world, produces about 20% of the world’s wine. Italy contains over 20 different wine regions that produce a wide variety of delicious wines.

The Greeks became the first people to plant vineyards in the area around 800BC. In the 100BC, Italian wine production began to flourish. As the Roman Empire expanded, the emperor forbade viticulture outside of Italy. Present-day, Italy is home to many successful vineyards and some of the most delicious wines in the world! The following are some of the best wine regions in Italy.

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Aeolian Islands, Sicily

By Emily Lush from Wander-Lush

The Aeolian Islands, a volcanic archipelago off Sicily’s north-western coast, contains seven of the islands blessed with mineral-rich soils –perfect for growing capers, lemons, and of course, wine grapes. It is one of the best wine regions in Italy.

Salina, which carries the nickname ‘the green island’ because of its ultra-verdant landscape, has a particularly vibrant wine scene. There are roughly a dozen commercial wineries on the island, not bad considering Salina is only 26 square kilometers.

Most of the vineyards specialize in Malvasia wines, made from grapes of the same name that are endemic to the Mediterranean and Adriatic coastal regions. Malvasia grapes are cultivated in Croatian Istria, Slovenia, Spain, and Portugal (Malmsey, a sweet version of Madeira wine, which is made from a varietal of grapes). Malvasia delle Lipari, the collective name given to wines produced on the Aeolian Islands, is a sweet dessert wine with citrus notes.

Every small town and village in the archipelago has an osteria or two where local malvasia is served by the glass. One of the loveliest things to do on Salina is to hop between cellar doors and sample different wines straight from the source. Fenech on the northern coast and Hauner Winery on the island’s south-eastern tip are the two most popular wineries. In summer, both offer tastings and degustations (complete with Sicilian-style tapas) to walk-ins.

Alto Adige

By Dave Chant of Dave Chant

Skis in one hand, wineglass in the other, might be a strange way of sampling wine. Yet, as I skied the Dolomites for years, I began to find the region of Alto-Adige synonymous with great wines. The snowy mountains and sunny land make for the perfect climate to be grown throughout the valleys. It is one of the best wine regions in Italy.

Alto-Adige, the Northernmost of Italy’s provinces and on the border with Austria, produced over 20 varietals of wine. The regions produced two phenomenal yet different red wines: the Lagrein and the Schiava (Vernatsch). The Lagrein is grown around Bolzano, full and spicy. The Schiava will suit those that like a rose wine. It is a light red with floral tones of fresh berries and quite light in color.

Although known for its red wines, in this region, winegrowers produce more whites. The tables have now turned – 38% red and 62% white. Why? The climate here is easier for white wines, and I would say that this region makes the best white wines in the whole of Italy.

Among the more popular whites comes Pinot Grigio, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. The Gewurztraminer, my favorite, and more nuanced and less sweet than their French counterparts. There is also Mucat and Riesling, amongst others, grown in smaller numbers. Apart from the delectable Lagrein and Schiava, the only other red wine of note grown now is Pinot Noir.

The region boasts over 200 wineries (including many co-operatives), with 98% of the wine DOC quality, and 40,000 bottles produced yearly. Personally, there is no real favorite here. Even the supermarkets are fiercely local with their choices and sell fantastic wines at good prices. The only problem you will have is where to start!

Amalfi Coast

By Dariusz of Darek and Gosia

Italy is a stunning country. With so many amazing landscapes and places to see, there are also perfect conditions to grow wine grapes. But what is the best wine region in Italy? We believe that the Amalfi Coast should be very top on your list and one of the best wine regions in Italy.

The Italian Amalfi Coast tempts with amazing views, azure sky, and sea, charming towns suspended on the rocks. If you drive a bit further inland, you will see many vineyards. Some are even 500 years old! From Positano drive to a small place called Tramonti. It will take around 40 minutes by car to get to Tenuta San Francesco farm. The owners run also a B&B, so you can stay there a bit longer to fully enjoy this wonderful part of Amalfi.

Their best wine is red “È Iss”. It even made a sensation among connoisseurs at the famous Vinitaly fair in Verona, so it has to be one of the best wines in Italy!

If you are not a big fan of vineyards but still would like to taste a bit of Amalfi, you can do that in pretty every restaurant along the coast. Italians love local wines. One of our favorites was Costa d’Amalfi Rosé, which we tried in a restaurant in Positano. It was recommended to us as one of the best wines in Italy! Whether it was true or not, we really liked it

Cerveteri, Lazo

By Annalisa Franceschini of Roman Travelogues

The Italian wine “Cerveteri” is named after the quaint town located just a few miles from the Tyrrhenian coast and about 18 miles from Rome. Cerveteri is popular for hosting the most important Etruscan Necropolis of Italy and is one of the best wine regions in Italy. The land where this wine is produced extends along the coast and in the hilly backcountry between the cities of Cerveteri and Tarquinia, about 7000 hectares. You can visit the region with an easy day trip from Rome.

The best occasion of the year to taste the wines and the local delicacies is the  3-day “Festa del Vino di Cerveteri” happening during the month of August. The festival takes place inside the old walled city. It is very charming, especially in the evening when the walls are lit up by dim lights and from the open-air terrace, you can gaze at the sea in front of you enjoying a glass of the white local wine.

The wineries in the region make 4 types of white, 2 of red, and 1 of rosé wine. The white wines are the most loved by the locals. The qualities of grapes grown in the Cerveteri wine region are the Malvasia and Trebbiano. If you want to taste the wines at a local vineyard,  visit the Casale Cento Corvi in Cerveteri, Via Della Tomba 18. Besides wine tasting, the owners offer a one-hour tour of the vineyards and the cellar.

Emilia-Romagna

By Eva Milano of All Things Hair

The Emilia-Romagna region is the food capital of Italy, famous for the production of world-known products. Balsamic vinegar from Modena, Parmigiano cheese, bolognese sauce, lasagna, prosciutto from Parma, to name a few. Historically, Emilia and Romagna had different invaders, hence their food differs. Barbarians who settled in Emilia had fatty food, based on pork meat.

This taste is balanced well with sparkling wines such as Gutturnio. Romagna’s cuisine, as the name suggests, was influenced by the Romans who used olive oil to season their food. The perfect pairing for this food is Albana, Italy’s first DOCG white wine, and Sangiovese, dry red wine whose name means “blood of Jupiter”. A wine worth mentioning is Lambrusco, although it does not boast with a great reputation. Known as “cheap, sweet and low in alcohol content”, it has many varieties and some of them have excellent quality.

The varieties to try are Lambrusco di Sorbara, Maestri, Grasparossa, and Salamino, with a taste that can match a wide selection of international cuisines, including Thai, Indian, or even burgers! The local wines that pair well with fish and seafood are Malvasia di Candia, a fragrant white wine, and Pignoletto, a delicate and balanced DOCG white wine.

Lastly, Albana, mentioned above, pairs well with any food but it is an incredibly enticing match with cakes. In short, the region of Emilia-Romagna offers wine for every meal and taste! Emilia-Romagna is one of the best wine regions in Italy.

Lombardy

By Lynne Nieman from Wander Your Way

Franciacorta is a wine-growing area in the Lombardy region of Northern Italy on the southern shores of Lago d’Iseo and one of the best wine regions in Italy. It is a small growing region that not many travelers know about, but the wine-makers produce some amazing sparkling wine. In fact, this bubbly is created just like French Champagne, using the same double fermentation method: once in the barrel and once in the bottle.

The same primary grape varieties, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (known as Pinot Nero in Italy), are used to make this delicious wine. Franciacorta is definitely Italian taking in the qualities of the microclimate in which the grapes are grown. While you can find red and white wines in Franciacorta, this wine region really is all about the bubbly.

Ferghettina is my favorite vineyard as they have these really cool, unique square bottles. The bottles are square to give the yeast more contact with the bottle and thus enhance the wine’s aromatic elements. The Satèn, Milledì, and Rosè are my favorite wines from Ferghettina. On a side note, Ferghettina also has some amazing olive oil.

Barone Pizzini is the first organic Franciacorta and another vineyard to check out as it has a rich history to it as well. Interestingly, about 70% of the vineyards in Franciacorta are either organic or in the process of converting to organic. Just another reason to love this sparkling wine! And the other reason to love Franciacorta? It’s less expensive than French Champagne. The downside? This sparkling wine is not well known outside of Italy so it can be difficult to find in other parts of the world. I guess that means you’ll just have to go to Italy!

Marsala, Sicily

By Sarah Barthet of Dukes Avenue

When one thinks about Italian wines, one may initially think about Chianti or Prosecco from regions like Tuscany or Veneto. Whilst there is a reason they are so well-known, this article proves Italian wine offers so much more than that. Sicily, the large island off the coast of the Italian mainland is in fact home to some delightful wines, with one of my favorite regions being Marsala, located in the western part of the island.

The region is known for its production of Marsala wine, a dry or sweet fortified wine, similar to the likes of Spanish sherry or Portuguese port. The region has a fascinating history and is, in fact, Sicily’s largest wine-producing center. Marsala wine was made popular by British Admiral Nelson whilst he was traveling through the port in the 1800s. He loved it so much that we went on to order 500 barrels!

Over the decades, sweet fortified wines became unpopular and the Sicilian wine-makers had to adapt. However, this only led to them producing ever-finer wines! Over time, this allowed them to restore the Marsala name. This is one of the reasons I love the region, not just for its history but because the Marsala wine region shows the true and inspiring character of Sicilian people. It demonstrates their resilience and how they were able to overcome the struggle and hardship to come out on top.

If you find yourself in Marsala, I would highly recommend visiting two wineries in specific, Florio and Donnafugato, to explore their historic cellars and sample some of their fine wines. You will also get to try some of the local cuisines whilst you are at it and enjoy one of the best wine regions in Italy.

Parteolla, Sardinia

By Claudia Tavani of Strictly Sardinia

Not many know, but Sardinia is one of the best wine-producing regions in Italy. There is little doubt that one of the best things to do in Sardinia is wine tasting. One of the best places to do that is the area of Parteolla, which is located about a 20-minute drive from Sardinia’s capital Cagliari. Parteolla is comprised of several villages, among them Serdiana and the neighboring Dolianova. Between just these two, you can count on at least 6 different wineries where you can go on vineyard experiences (including the harvest) and wine tasting tours. 

One of the best wineries, Cantine Argiolas has been producing award-winning wines for more than 100 years. Their signature wine, Turriga, a deep, textured red of which only a limited amount of bottles are produced every year. It is best enjoyed with meat dishes. 

Every May, Serdiana and Dolianova organize an event called “Cantine Aperte” (literally “open vineyards”). For the course of a day and for a nominal fee visitors can go on guided tours of the vineyards. Visitors can also visit the local museums and historical sites, enjoy wine tasting and food, and an overall festive atmosphere in one of the best wine regions in Italy.

Piemonte

By Jade Laurenza of The Migrant Yogi

Piemonte, a region of Italy located in the northwestern corner of the country, gets its name ‘foot of the mountain’ from the Italian Alps. This unique terroir gives it some of Italy’s most remarkable wines such as the Nebbiolo grape. Substantial fog, paramount to the ripening of the Nebbiolo grapes, fills the valleys and mountains of Piemonte. At a similar latitude as Bordeaux in France, the cooler climate and less-than-average rainfall contribute to unique Italian wines produced in the region.

The most popular grapes planted here include Barbera, Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, and Moscato. Nebbiolo is best known for Barolo and Barbaresco, among the best wines produced in the entire country. Barolos and Barbarescos have a velvety mouthfeel due to the super-soft tannic structure. Meanwhile, Barbera and Dolcetto grapes typically produce masculine red wines to be drunk at a younger age.

As far as white wine goes, the colder climate here lends a semi-sweet quality, effervescence, and a light body.  Moscato d’Asti, no doubt the most famous white wine produced from this region, with its frizzante and spumante styles being popular worldwide.  

Piemonte is one of the best wine regions in Italy to visit on your tour around the Bel Paese. A wine and food tour here is a unique and unforgettable experience to have in Italy.  And, if you’re looking for wines of superior quality, Piemonte is home to more DOCG wines by volume than any other Italian wine region! Try the wineries Gaja and Vietti for some superior options.

Make sure to try some traditional Piemontese cuisine: veal and tuna, braised meats, Ligurian olive oil, and the famous Alba white truffle.

Prosecco, Veneto

By Emile Tarrier of London City Calling

Considering the rising popularity of Prosecco all around the world over the last few years, the Prosecco region itself is surprisingly one of the lesser-visited wine regions but one of the best wine regions in Italy in Italy. A fact that definitely needs to change!

Prosecco, the Italian-origin sparkling wine, must be produced using at least 85% Glera grape. Other parts of Italy and other countries produce Prosecco as well, but the best stuff comes from northern Italy.

To know whether a bottle of Prosecco is from Italy’s Prosecco region you need to look out for DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) and DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) on the labels. This signifies that not only is it higher quality wine from the region but also that the producers have to comply with much stricter standards of production.

The Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions produce Prosecco DOC, while the smaller regions between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene in the Veneto region of Italy produce Prosecco Superior DOCG.

Also known as the Prosecco Hills, the Prosecco DOGC region spreads out over 6,586 hectares, there are 100+ Prosecco wineries all making their own varieties of the local sparkling wine. Many of which you can visit for tours and tastings.

Not only is the Prosecco from the area some of the best you will ever taste, but it is one of my favorite places to visit in Italy in general. It has beautiful rolling hills, charming rustic farmhouses, and restaurants serving delicious local cuisine. Plus, it is totally acceptable to drink Prosecco from breakfast until dinner every day of the week!

Trentino

By Joanna from The World in My Pocket

Valle dei Laghi in Trentino is probably one of the most surprising and off the beaten path wine regions of Italy. This small area between Lake Garda and Trento is home to the Nosiola grapes, which only grow here. They are a white grape variety with a golden skin, which is used to make two specific types of wine: a dry white wine, very refreshing in summer, and Vino Santo, a dessert wine pressed only during the Holy Week.

The Nosiola wine has a distinctive hazelnutty flavor, which is accentuated especially in the Vino Santo. The name of the grapes actually comes from the word “hazelnut” in Italian, which is nocciola. Therefore, Valle dei Laghi is one of the best wine regions in Italy.

The Vino Santo which is made from the Nosiola grapes is a DOC product, specific to the Trentino area. The grapes are harvested very late in the year and left to air dry over winter. The Ora di Garda wind, which is blowing in the afternoon from the South of the lake, helps not only drying the grapes but also the spreading of the noble root, which is an important element in the production of Vino Santo. The specific climate from Valle dei Laghi helps the grapes release the natural sugar resulting in a delicious sweet wine with a nutty distinctive flavor.

Tuscany

Easily the most popular region in Italy, Tuscany produces some of the best wines in the country. This 9000 square mile area in central Italy has a warm Mediterranean climate which makes it great for growing grapes. 

Chianti, the major wine produced in this region, is made from Sangiovese grapes. A Chianti wine must contain at least 80% Sangiovese grapes to qualify as a Chianti. Other notable grapes of the region include Cab and Merlot, which combine to make a Super Tuscan wine. The area also produces a few white wines such as Trebbiano and Vermentino. 

My favorite winery in Tuscany, Bindi Sergardi, produces a variety of red and white wines. A tasting costs $30 and includes a sample of four wines along with a bread and cheese plate. Another excellent winery, Poggio Amorelli, offers a tasting of six wines paired with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and truffle oil tastings. 

Tuscany is the perfect place to start your wine tasting in Italy. It is one of the most popular and well-known areas and contains so many wineries to try. Chianti Classico is one of my favorite wines in the world. The wines in the Tuscan regions are not like any other wines found in the world. Thus, why Tuscany is one of the best wine regions in Italy.

Umbria

By Gabby Stuckenschneider of The Office Escape Artist

Umbria, known as the “Green Heart of Italy”, is the lesser-known cousin to Tuscany. It is one of the best wine regions in Italy. With stunning rolling hills, gorgeous hilltop towns, and wonderful wine, this region is one of Italy’s best-kept secrets. The most well-known wine region in Umbria is Montefalco.  The Montefalco wine region is located in the Province of Perugia near the northern border of Umbria.  Although there are both white and red wines in Montefalco, the two most famous varietals, both red wines, are Montefalco Rosso and Montefalco Sagrantino.

Known for its full body and tannis, The Sagrantino is DOCG and made with 100% Sagrantino grapes. Similar to other Sangiovese wines like Montepulciano Rosso and Chianti Classico, the Montefalco Rosso can be a more approachable varietal Sangiovese-based with DOC status.

I never enjoyed red wines until I visited Umbria and tasted the Rosso. This wine pairs so perfectly with the local dishes. It is also pleasantly drinkable even if you are not enjoying a meal.

This wine is fairly difficult to find in the United States because Italians consume most of what gets produced. Because of this, I once excitedly ordered a bottle at a steakhouse when I saw it on the menu. This prompted the sommelier to come out and meet me. He said that the bottle only sells if he personally recommends it!

Cantina Baldassarri, one of the wineries in the Montefalco area, gave a tour of the grounds, explained how the process of wine production, and did an excellent guided tasting that I very much enjoyed. Umbria has not been overrun with tourists (yet) so it is a wonderful destination to experience fantastic Italian wine!

Valpolicella, Veneto

By Jennifer Dombrowski & Tim Davis of Luxe Adventure Traveler

Verona is most famous for the star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet. Though the two never actually lived in Verona, Shakespeare sealed Verona’s fate as an Italian town one simply must see when he set the famous book here. While you may rush to check standing on Juliet’s balcony off your bucket list, the nearby Valpolicella wine region is even more romantic.

Not as known as Tuscany or even Barolo, Valpolicella is as gorgeous a wine region as it is delicious. Although most famous for the reds, it is the Amarone that makes us say this is one of the best wine regions in Italy.

Made from grapes left a little longer on the wine during harvest and then dried for four months in the cellar, Amarone makes for a unique red wine. The effect is like pressing raisins for their highly concentrated juice. After being aged in oak barrels, this wine produces a complex and velvety red loved by many wine aficionados around the world. To enjoy the wine further, age it in the bottle for up to 20 years.

We recommend visiting Fratelli Vogadori, a family-run winery producing one of the best Amarone wines in the region. Set on a hilltop, the vines cascade down the hillside with a sea of vines stretching out as far as the eye can see. Fratelli Vogadori, open for tastings and regularly hold events, partners up with local restaurants for excellent pairings to realize the full potential of a robust wine like Amarone. They also have some apartments for stays among the vines. With Verona only a short drive away, this is one of the most beautiful spots to enjoy a weekend exploring.

The Best Wine Regions in Italy

Some of the best wine regions in Italy are also some of the best in the world. Other stellar wine regions in Italy include Valle D’Aosta, Puglia, and Liguria. Each region of Italy specializes in unique wines and all will leave you wanting another trip to Italy!

Traveling the World? Check out these other wine regions around the world!

• Best wine regions in the United States
• The best wine regions in New Zealand
• Best wine regions in Canada

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