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Are you planning a trip to Italy, and do you dream of drinking the perfect glass? This guide to Italian wines will help you order wine like a native, decode those confusing labels and choose the best bottles for your trip.
The wine of Italy is one of the best things to eat in Italy. Italian wines are not just Italy’s national beverage, they’re also a passion for the nation. Italians are the biggest wine drinkers in the world, with more than a million wine-growers spread across the country.
In Italy, wine drinking is a social activity. It’s not expected for only wine connoisseurs to order bottles, since almost everyone drinks it. Italy’s openness to everyone makes it a great place to experiment with different wines, even if your aren’t an expert.
Here is our guide on Italian wine if you want to make the most of your wine drinking experience in Italy:
Understanding Italian Wine Culture
Italy has over 500 native grapes varieties. Although Chianti, Prosecco and other popular Italian wines are exported outside the country, there is a wide range of Italian wine produced in the country. Many vineyards have produced wine for centuries but few non-Italians are aware of them. Unique wines like Nero d’Avola or Sagrantino are not well known outside of Italy. However, Nero d’Avola has become the most popular wine in Sicily. Italians are as passionate about their wine and their cities or villages as they are. It is a relationship that lasts for a lifetime, and it’s passed on through the generations.
You’ll learn how wine is highly valued in Italy.
What it feels like to order wine in Italy
Most Italians are inesperable when it comes to great food and wine. It is not uncommon for Italians to drink wine at lunch or dinner. Ordering wine in Italy does not have to be an expensive affair. Most house wines are affordable and delicious.
Common Italian Wine Etiquette
The etiquette for ordering and drinking wines in Italy is similar to other countries. The procedure is the same if you ordered wine from a list in a restaurant. The server will deliver the bottle.
A Restaurant Wine Tasting
Most establishments no longer assume that the man who sits at the head table will taste the wine. The server will instead ask “Chi Assaggia?” (“kee Ahss-AHG’ah ?”), which means “Who Tastes?” and simply point at the person who is doing the tasting. The server will open the bottle and pour a little into the glass of the person to taste.
You are not tasting the wine to see if it is good (although if it is, you can murmur “Mmm, buono. Thank you is always appreciated, but the real reason to do this is to check if the bottle has gone “off”.
Pouring Wine
Remember that, in Italian wine culture, the glasses are filled halfway or slightly below the top, not to the brim. In casual restaurants, you may not get wine glasses.
You’ll be expected to use the glass to drink both water and wine. Just make sure to switch it on and off while you go, so that you don’t overfill your glass.
Consider the House Wine
Some restaurants, such as small, relaxed trattorie and others may not even have a wine list. They will have at least one house wine in these situations. House wines are usually cheaper (both for the establishment and consumer – a liter can be purchased for around five euros).
It’s not always the best wine that you’ve ever tasted. You can find real diamonds among the grit. Italian house wine is usually produced locally. The wines vary greatly depending on the region, the year, the weather and even a restaurant.
Finding a hole in the wall with a house wine that is so good, it will knock your socks off is one of life’s most memorable experiences. If you’re looking for your favorite, don’t be afraid to ask the waiter to bring you some house wine.
How to order wine in Italy
What to say when ordering wine in Italy
There are plenty of servers and Sommeliers who speak enough English for you to be able to communicate. If you are navigating your way around a wine shop or wine menu by yourself, knowing a few words will be very helpful. Knowing Italian is also fun!
What is the most important word in English? “Vino”, of course! You can describe the type of wine that you are looking for by adding the adjective to the noun.
- “Vino Rosso”: Red wine
- “Vino bianco”: white wine
- “Vino rosato”: rose wine
- “Vino amabile”: a medium-sweet wine
- “Vino dolce”: sweet wine
- “Vino secco”: dry wine
- “Vino abboccato”: semi-dry wine
- “Vino corposo”, a full-bodied wine
- “Vino aromatico”: aromatic wine
- “Vino frizzante”: semi-sparkling wine
“azienda”, means estate. “anno”, is the year. produttore, is the producer. “Gradazione alcolica”,is a percentage of alcohol. “imbottigliato al’origine,”means the wine has been bottled by its producer. “Vendemmia” means harvest (i.e. The vintage, and ” Vitigno”means the “vine.”
Useful Phrases to Order Wine in Italy
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“What would you recommend?”
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“Do you have anything local?”
How to Order Wine in Italy
In general, ordering wine is a relaxed affair in Italy. Locals won’t ask about tannins, fruity notes or anything else. Some people like to ask if something new is on the menu, but most locals order the vino della casa, or house wine. It is often very good and cheap. House wine is often served in a table carafe, rather than a bottle.
They will be more specific if there is a request for a wine from a particular region, like a Chianti, and they will name the region.
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“Un bicchiere di Chianti” (A glass of Chianti)
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“Una bottiglia di Barbera” (A bottle of Barbera)
Decoding Italian Wine Labels
What do DOC, DOCG and IGT mean?
It’s important to know your DOC and DOCG when ordering wine in Italy, even if you aren’t an expert. These labels may look like an alphabet soup but they actually show the classification of the wine. The strictest classification in Italy is DOCG. Brunello di Montalcino, for example, has DOCG protection.
The second-strictest classification is DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata). DOC wines must be produced in certain zones and according to specific regulations, just like DOCG wines. This classification is similar to France’s AOC ( Appellation d’Origine Controlee). Next is the IGT ( Indicazione di Geografica Tipica),which can be used to describe any wine.
VdT wines are the ones with the loosest rules (Vino Da Tavola)and they only have to be produced in Italy. You can find out more about the classification of Italian food in our article DOP foods of Italy. It is a common misconception that only the most strict labels are used for the best wines. Some of Italy’s finest wines aren’t DOCG, DOC or even DOCG. IGT is the category that includes “Super Tuscans” and other famous wines.
Labels that Tell You About Quality
Italian wine labels may look confusing, but they are actually very simple and resemble French wine labels. You’ll find the name of a winery at the top, in large letters (in the case of the example to the right).
Then, in general, comes the name of the grapes and the region (in this case the region is Montefalco). If it is not a blended wine, you will also find the vintage year below. The label should include one of the following: DOCG (District of Columbia), DOC (District Of California), IGT (International Grape Tax) or VdT.
Visit an E noteca for a variety of Italian wines
You can also visit a wine bar or enoteca to sample a variety of wines. In these establishments the wine list is long, divided by region and the servers are well-informed. It is not the food that is important, but rather, it’s a detail to go with your glass of wine.
Insider tip: Florence has a long and interesting history of wine-windows. These are unique to Tuscany and lead directly out into the street. They were created solely for the purpose of serving wines. These openings were invented during the Plague, over 400 years ago. Many have been revived and are now in use again.
Popular Italian Wines and Regions
Italian wines are regional, just like Italian cuisine. Some are more famous than others, so they’re available in other regions.
Here are some types of red and white wine you should be familiar with:
Barolo
Barolo, the most expensive wine in Italy and protected by DOCG, is made of the Nebbiolo variety. It comes from Piedmont’s northern region. This is a rich, full-bodied wine.
Asti Spumanti
This is one of the most popular white wines in Italy. It’s also a sparkling wine that hails from Piedmont.
Chianti
This red wine is made in Tuscany in the Chianti region. It contains at least 80% Sangiovese. Chianti is a great wine region for quality and accessibility.
Brunello di Montalcino
This DOCG-classified Montalcino wine is 100% Sangiovese and has historically been regarded as Tuscany’s top wine.
Super Tuscans
You guessed it! These wines, which are not subject to the usual Tuscan blending laws and therefore vary widely, come from Tuscany. Some are the most expensive wines in the area and have a great reputation.
Prosecco
Prosecco, a sparkling white wine from northern Italy is a popular Veneto wine. It’s drank before dinner.
Montepulciano
Torre Zambra is one of the oldest, most respected wineries . The winery has been producing Montepulciano since 1910.