Guides: Italian Wine Regions

Learn all about Italy's wine regions here and be inspired to plan your next Italian wine vacation!

Last updated: January 19, 2024

Italy’s myriad wine regions offer a challenge and deep satisfaction to wine lovers. The diversity of landscapes and grape varieties is out of this world, and as a result, Italy produces the most extensive range of wine styles in Europe. Wine tasting in situ is the ultimate way to learn about wines, and there are few places more alluring than Italy! Discover gourmet Michelin-starred restaurants and Alpine wines in Trento. Taste white truffles with your Barolo in Langhe; visit medieval hamlets during your wine tour of fairy tale Chianti; let the turquoise sea and Greek ruins of Taormina enchant you while tasting the volcanic wines of Mount Etna; sail down the Grand Canal of Venice on a gondola while sipping on Prosecco.

Map of Italian Wine Regions

Italian Wine Regions Map
Download Map of Italian Wine Regions

Northern Italian Wine Regions

Lambrusco vineyards near Castelvetro
Lambrusco vineyards near Castelvetro

Northern Italy is a “must” for true wine lovers, encompassing some of Italy’s best and undoubtedly most famous wine regions—Piedmont, where you can enjoy VIP wine tastings at premium small Barolo and Barbaresco estates. Northern Italy includes the country’s two sparkling wine regions, Franciacorta; this picturesque wine region is a relative secret, virtually untouched by non-Italian tourists. Its famed bubbly is considered on par with the finest champagnes.

Further west, we explore Prosecco, the land of Palladian villas and gently rolling hills covered in vines and noble manors. The surrounding vineyards, mainly of the Prosecco grape, are used to make the notorious Italian bubbly!

Valpolicella shouldn’t be missed; it’s one of Italy’s loveliest wine regions and home to the famed Amarone wines. It is located just northwest of the historic city of Verona and east of Lake Garda. And let’s not forget the “Super Whites” of Friuli, stunning wines in the most splendid countryside, with uplifting landscapes of vineyards, medieval villages, and rolling green hills.

Central Italian Wine Regions

Tuscany Vineyards
Tuscany Vineyards

Tuscany is high on the list of desired destinations of many; traveling from Florence in the direction of beautiful Siena, you pass through Chianti Classico’s scenic wine country, quintessential Tuscany. From Siena, you can visit Montalcino and Montepulciano (top Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano producers). The stunning Maremma region is where the “Super Tuscans” were born.  Sandwiched between Tuscany and Marche, Umbria is world-famous for its wines, chocolates, and truffles. Apart from all that Umbria offers culturally and gastronomically, the region is still a relative secret, unspoiled and pristine, and doesn’t receive the tourist hordes. A hidden gem in Italy!

Southern Italian Wine Regions

Sicilian vineyards, with Grillo vines
Sicilian vineyards, with Grillo vines

Southern Italy is a tourist magnet, especially Campania, with its fascinating capital, Naples, and nearby Pompeii. Interestingly, however, the region isn’t mainly well known for its wines, although the fertile volcanic soils have been appreciated since ancient times. Rightly so, some fantastic wines are being produced from ancient Greek varietals. The captivating island of Sicily, however, is very much on the map. It produces an extensive range of styles of wine, which accompany the divine local cuisine superbly.

  • Campania Wine Region Guide

    The region of Campania is firmly on the tourist’s map, but curiously not on the wine lover’s map. Yet, Campania is a fascinating wine region. Read more
  • Puglia Wine Region Guide

    Puglia's wine evolution: from bulk production to quality vintages with modern techniques and traditional methods, reshaping its global wine reputation. Read more
  • Sicily Wine Region Guide

    Explore Sicily's wine renaissance with tours of volcanic vineyards, tasting world-class wines, and embracing rich cultural heritage. Read more

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