Regions of Italy
Farina also has many other Italian wines
representing regions and styles for you to try:
San Lorenzo Sirio Montepulciano d’Abruzzo D.O.C. - Abruzzo, Italy
Cantina del Pino Barbaresco D.O.C.G. - Barbaresco, Italy
I. Papiano Riserva “Probi” - Emilia-Romangna, Italy
Verdicchio Tenuta Dell’ugolino D.O.C. - Marche, Italy
Di Majo Norante Sangiovese - Molise, Italy
G.D. Vajra Barolo D.O.C.G. - Piemonte, Italy
Nino Costa Langhe Nebbiolo - Piemonte, Italy
Renata Ratti Langhe Nebbiolo - Piemonte, Italy
Schiavenza - Barolo D.O.C.G. Prapò - Piemonte, Italy
Torraccia del Piantavigna Gattinara Nebbiolo D.O.C.G. - Piemonte, Italy
Vietti Barbera d’Asti Tre Vigne - Piemonte, Italy
Folonari Moscato - Provincia di Pavia, Italy
Montenero Primitivo - Puglia, Italy
Le Bozze Chianti Rufina D.O.C.G. - Rufina, Italy
Gorghi Tondi Zibibbo - Sicilia, Italy
Vigneti Zabu Nero d’Avola - Sicilia, Italy
AIA Vecchia Lagone Super Tuscan - Toscana, Italy
Altesino, Brunello di Montalcino - Toscana, Italy
Brancaia Il Blu 2015 - Toscana, Italy
Brancaia Ilatraia Red Blend - Toscana, Italy
Gaja Marcanda Promis Super Tuscan - Toscana, Italy
Mocali Brunello di Montalcino - Toscana, Italy
Mocali I Piaggioni Super Tuscan - Toscana, Italy
Nero di Venti Chianti Classico D.O.C.G. - Toscana, Italy
Nottola Anterivo - Toscana, Italy
Nottola Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - D.O.C.G. - Toscana, Italy
Podere Ciona Chianti Classico Riserva D.O.C.G. - Toscana, Italy
Podere Ii Carnasciale Caberlot 2016 - Toscana, Italy
Tiefenbrunner Pinot Grigio - Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
Archivio Storico Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico D.O.C.G. 2008 - Veneto, Italy
Farina Nodo d’Amore Rosso Trevenezie - Veneto, Italy
Gran Passione Rosso - Veneto, Italy
La Giaretta Amarone - Veneto, Italy
Parolvini Pinot Grigio D.O.C. - Veneto, Italy
Recchia Le Muraie Valpolicella Ripasso - Veneto, Italy
Tiamo Prosecco D.O.C. - Veneto, Italy
Zenato Amarone D.O.C.G. - Veneto, Italy
Zenato Cresasso Corvina Veronese 2012 - Veneto, Italy
Zenato Pinot Grigio D.O.C. - Veneto, Italy
Zenato Sansonina 2013 - Veneto, Italy
Zenato Valpolicella Rippasa D.O.C. - Veneto, Italy
Some basics for each region excerpt from (https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/italian-wine-regions-map/)
Veneto (~18% DOC production)
Keep your eyes peeled for reds and a rich white wine called Soave.
Veneto is known for the Valpolicella region which is known for producing Amarone della Valpolicella. Besides the great red blends of Valpolicella made with Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara, there are also several fine Merlot-based IGT wines in this area. For white wines, Garganega is the white grape that makes Soave (‘swah-vay’), a wine that’s rich like Chardonnay. Check out the article below on finding wines from Veneto.Tuscany (~17% DOC production)
Try red wines from Tuscany as well as a sweet wine called Vin Santo.
Tuscany is home to the Chianti region which is the most famous region for Sangiovese. When Sangiovese became the required major grape in Chianti during the 1970s, the other noble grapes (Cab and Merlot) ended up creating a new style of wine: Super Tuscan. For white wines in this region, keep in mind that Trebbiano is Italy’s most produced white grape and Vermentino has quite a few taste similarities to Sauvignon Blanc.Piedmont (~11% DOC production)
Try red wines and Moscato d’Asti from this area.
Nebbiolo is a grape with high tannins and pale color that has long been famous for its bristling acidity and high tannin. Besides just the great Nebbiolo wines of Barolo, the region is also home to Moscato d’Asti and the underdog varietal: Dolcetto.Emilia-Romagna (~9% DOC production)
Eat the cheese from Parma and drink Lambrusco.
Lambrusco has long been thought of as a cheap, sweet, fruity wine. Now there are several outstanding off-dry to totally dry Lambruscos from Emilia-Romagna.Lombardy (~7% DOC production)
Check out Pinot Nero and Sparkling wines from Lombardy.
Valtellina is within Lombardy, close to Lake Como. Nebbiolo is the red wine produced here but it’s called Chiavennasca; it’s lighter and more “pinot-like” than its Piemontese sister. Lombardy also produces some great Pinot Noir (they call it Pinot Nero) especially around Oltrepò Pavese. The sparkling wine is called Franciacorta and is made with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Blanc grapes in the same style as Champagne.Umbria (~7% DOC production)
Look for great valued Sangiovese and Orvieto (a white wine).
Sagrantino is the red grape variety in Umbria that people go crazy over. In Montefalco, you’ll find Sagrantino, but there’s also a fair amount of strawberry-like Sangiovese in the region. The white grape here is called Grechetto, which is one of the grapes in Orvieto. It’s minerally and zesty qualities are similar to Pinot Grigio, with a distinct green almond flavor.Abruzzo (~7% DOC production)
Look for red wines from Abruzzo.
Montepulciano is the primary red grape in Abruzzo and the wines are called Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. This is a bit confusing because there is also a Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which is a wine from Tuscany made with Sangiovese. Montepulciano (the grape) makes a dark, rich wine with high tannins and an herbaceous character, and is similar to Cabernet Sauvignon.Trentino Alto-Adige (~6% DOC production)
Look for white wines and sparkling wines.
This region is butted up to the Alps and makes fabulous white wines from Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Gewürztraminer, and Müller-Thurgau (the latter two are sweeter). In Trento, they also produce a sparkling wine made with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that easily rivals the best Champagne.Friuli-Venezia Giulia (~6% DOC production)
Look for white wines, particularly Sauvignon and Pinot Grigio.
Known for several unique and more intensely flavored styles of Pinot Grigio, (including Ramato) and Sauvignon Blanc, with a slightly meaty undertone. The area also produces some very savory and umami tasting Merlot.Marche (~3% DOC production)
Try refreshing and aromatic Verdicchio white wines.
Marche (Mar-kay) is known for their aromatic white wines. Verdicchio is definitely the most common, but Pecorino (the white wine grape, not the cheese) is an extremely special find. Lacrima is an up-and-coming grape from this area making fruity fun wines that reminded us of Syrah.Puglia (~3% DOC production)
Amazing valued reds made with Negroamaro and Primitivo.
The fruit forward red wines from Puglia (Apulia) are a great way to get started with Italian wines. Most are very affordable and the region has a great number of esoteric sweet red wines that grow nowhere else in the world. Puglia is also a known value region for Chardonnay.Lazio (~2% DOC production)
With Rome located in Lazio, wine production is relatively small. Still, refreshing and zesty Grechetto can be found here, along with Malvasia, an aromatic rich and sweet wine.
Sicily (~1% DOC production)
Try a red wine called Nero d’Avola.
Red wines from Sicily are dark, rich, and fruit forward because of the warm climate. Nero d’Avola is an awesome red variety that’s worthy of nobility.Sardinia (~1% DOC production)
You gotta try Cannonau and Vermentino.
At some point ampelographers discovered that Sardegna’s pride, Cannonau, is actually Grenache. In Sardegna (Sardinia), it tastes more rustic with dried fruit flavors. The wines from Sardegna (Sardinia) are highly aromatic and usually offered at a great value.Campania (~0.5% DOC production)
Aglianico is a very high tannin and rustic red wine. Traditionally, it takes about 10 years of aging to be drinkable. Recently Aglianico wines have gained momentum as producers have figured out how to dial back Aglianico’s rugged meaty tannins. That said, there’s nothing more guttural than a 10 year-old traditional Taurasi. Also check out Greco, a refreshing white wine with a bitter almond finish.
Liguria (~0.2% DOC production)
A very beautiful region that was not famous for their wines. Fortunately, some delicious white wine blends have surfaced with a tingle of salinity from the sea air. Perfect seafood wine. There is also a crazy producer of sparkling wines that ages them in the bottom of the sea.
Calabria (~0.17% DOC production)
Greco is the white wine of choice in this region.
Molise (~0.1% DOC production)
Molise produces some interesting red wines.
Basilicata (~0.1% DOC production)
Awesome and intimidating Aglianico that is grown on the side of a Volcano.
Valle d’Aosta (~0.05% DOC production)
The smallest wine region in Italy, in the alps, producing some Pinot Noir rosé and two regional grapes: Petit Rouge (a red) and Petite Arvine (a white).