Who hasn’t enjoyed uncorking a bottle of Prosecco at brunch or a bottle of Sangiovese with a pizza? Or perhaps you’ve been lucky enough to visit Tuscany and experience a bottle of fine Barolo with an osso buco.
There’s a perfect Italian wine type for every meal, and every occasion, whether it’s a casual weekday dinner or a formal gathering. Italian wine is all about pairing with food and sharing with friends around the table.
Most of us feel right at home choosing between dishes like ziti, cavatappi and gnocchi on an Italian food menu. But have you ever felt a little less sure when it comes to finding the right bottle on an Italian wine list? You’re not alone.
There are hundreds of wines across Italy, and most regions have their own local favorites. Plus, grapes like Sangiovese, the base of Chianti, might be called Brunello or Vino Nobile di Montepulciano depending on where you are.
Our guide to Italian wine types will help you understand the flavors in some of the most popular red, white, and sparkling wines found on restaurant menus or your local wine shop. Come along and you’ll feel inspired and empowered to choose the right bottle for your next occasion.
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What is Italy’s most popular wine?
The answer to that question depends on who you ask and where you are in Italy. Each region from north to south has its favorite wine styles. But looking at sales data from major wine retailers, Prosecco, Chianti, and Pinot Grigio are among the most popular Italian wines.
Italian red wines to know
From the smooth and sexy Montepulciano d’Abruzzo to fresh tasting Barbera red wines, Italy makes traditional and popular red wines. That’s probably because their natural acidity, earthiness, and red and black fruit pair with warming, wintry dishes like mushrooms, roasted duck, pork, lamb, and beef.
Barbera
If you’re new to Italian wine, Barbera is a wonderful place to start. It’s fruity and friendly with juicy flavors of red cherry, blackberry, anise, and an earthy note, too. Barbera d’Alba is feminine and floral, while Barbera d’Asti is more muscular and concentrated.
Corvina
While the name Corvina may be new, this grape stars in Valpolicella and Amarone blends, along with Rondinella and Molinara. Corvina is bright with notes of cherry, plum, and tart red currants. Everyday Valpolicella is light and fruity, while the silky Amarone, made from slightly dried grapes, tastes of cherry cordial and chocolate. Corvina also shows up as Recioto, a dessert wine made from sun-dried grapes.
Sangiovese
Jove was the king of the gods in Roman mythology. Sangiovese means “the blood of Jove” indicating how revered this grape is in northern Italy. Sangiovese’s earthy tart cherry flavor is best known as Chianti and higher end Chianti Classico. Sangiovese is blended with French Bordeaux grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cab Franc to create Super Tuscan wines pioneered by Antinori’s Tignanello.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
In the boot-shaped Italian map, Abruzzo is the calf, tucked right next to the Adriatic Sea. And the signature wine is the aptly named Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. It’s a deep purple grape with bold tannins and savory notes like dark berries, herbs, and sweet cigar tobacco. Except for the tannins, it might remind you of an earthy old-vine Zinfandel.
Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo grape is named for the fog or nebbia that often hugs the Piedmont vineyards where it’s cultivated. Though Nebbiolo looks pale and sheer like Pinot Noir, in Barolo, it is a regal, powerful wine that evokes black truffles, violets, and rose petals with a bit of tar.
Italian white wines to know
Italian white wines all share a refreshing quality, making them perfect for warmer weather and pairing with shrimp, calamari, and swordfish with lemons and capers. If you like Pinot Grigio, the international favorite from Northern Italy, then you’ll want to explore crisp white wines Vermentino, Garganega, and Trebbiano.
Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio is a go-to for many wine drinkers, thanks to its inviting notes of white peach, citrus, and sweet tart candies. While it’s grown across Northern Italy, the most acclaimed Pinot Grigios come from parts of Friuli Venezia-Giulia, where limestone soils and careful cultivation yields wines with lush aromas.
Trebbiano
Did you know Trebbiano is one of the most widely planted white wine grapes in Italy? It’s sometimes compared to Chardonnay, since Trebbiano makes high acid wines with subtle hints of apple, stone fruit, and citrus, such as Orvieto. Trebbiano’s mild flavor and high yield make it a perfect base wine for balsamic vinegar in Italy, and Cognac in France, where it’s called Ugni Blanc.
Vermentino
A light and fresh white wine, Vermentino is like the Italian Sauvignon Blanc. It thrives in Tuscany, as well as in the Cinque Terre where it’s prized with dishes like frito misto. The most prized Vermentino comes from Sardinia, where wines have a racy acidity.
Garganega (Soave)
Better known as Soave, the Garganega from the Veneto in northern Italy is the country’s sixth most widely planted white grape. It’s like sipping a summer day: think white flowers, almonds, peaches, and golden apples.
Italian sparkling wines
Italy makes more types of sparkling wine than any other country. These fizzy wines help make every day a celebration. Here are some beloved Italian bubbly wines to enjoy on their own or paired with your favorite Italian foods, from prosciutto ham to Parmigiano Reggiano cheese to pasta.
Prosecco
With its soft bubbles, and inviting notes of green pear, melon, honeysuckle, and green apple, Prosecco is always welcome. Glera grapes are made into a base wine, and then tank fermented a second time to create off-dry and brut bubbly wines. The most traditional Prosecco wines come from around Valdobbiadene and Conegliano. For a special occasion, search out a bottle of Prosecco from Cartizze, an acclaimed hilltop vineyard.
Moscato
Though Drake and Lil’ Kim gave Moscato a big boost around 2010, aromatic wines from the muscat family have been delighting people for centuries. The best Moscato wines are a heady mix of peach, apricot, orange blossom, and nutmeg with refreshing acidity and soft bubbles. The best of the bunch are Moscato d'Asti wines, which are like drinking a fruit-flavored cloud.
Lambrusco
Red sparkling wines are rare treasures, and Lambrusco is a real gem. Prized since ancient times, Lambrusco’s ancestral home is Emilia-Romagna where its flavors of cherry, strawberry, plum, orange zest, and purple flowers shine with the region’s flavorful pork dishes. Sweet Lambrusco dolce made a big splash in the 1970s, but now the most sought-after Lambruscos are dry seco wines or the slightly sweet amabile style.
Are you interested in going deeper on more Italian wine styles? Explore our guides to Italian wine regions, red wines, white wines, and sparkling wines.