Italian wine

Italy's most famous wine regions include:   

• Tuscany: Nestled in the heart of Central Italy, Tuscany is steeped in winemaking tradition. Here, you’ll find renowned wines such as Chianti, celebrated for its red and black fruit flavours, and Brunello di Montalcino, known for its deep flavours and long ageing potential. Beyond these iconic wines made from native grapes, Tuscany has pushed the envelope with “Super Tuscans”. These wines break traditional blending rules, combining international grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon with the local Sangiovese. 
• Piedmont: Located in northwestern Italy, Piedmont’s exceptional climate and lime-rich soil  make it a fine wine paradise. The prestigious Barolo and Barbaresco red wines come from here. But it’s not all reds. Gavi di Gavi is often thought of as Italy’s answer to Chablis, and the region’s Moscato d’Asti offers a sweet and lightly sparkling white alternative. 
• Veneto: Beyond the canals of Venice, the northeast region of Veneto is best known for its vibrant sparkling wine Prosecco. It’s also celebrated for lush reds such as Amarone della Valpolicella, made with air-dried grapes for extra richness and more concentrated flavours. 
• Lombardy: Close to Italy’s lakes in the north, Lombardy is the home of Franciacorta. This sparkling wine, made in the traditional method similar to Champagne, shines with elegance and complexity. The region’s cooler climate and limestone-rich soils are also ideal for growing white wine grapes.
• Puglia: The heel of Italy’s boot enjoys plenty of sun, making it prime territory for reds. Grapes such as Primitivo (known in California as Zinfandel) and Negroamaro thrive here, producing robust and fruit-forward wines, often with a hint of Mediterranean herbs. 
• Trentino-Alto Adige: Situated in the northernmost part of Italy and bordered by the Alps, this region enjoys a cooler climate. It’s a haven for white wines, especially those made from Pinot Grigio, known for its crispness, and Gewürztraminer, celebrated for its aromatic intensity. 
• Emilia-Romagna: This region is home to the famous Lambrusco wines – a red sparkling wine with sweet flavours. The area’s Pignoletto offers a dry sparkling white option that pairs beautifully with the region’s rich culinary offerings. 
• Sicily: The Italian island of Sicily has recently redefined itself in the wine world – stepping out of its mafia shadow to showcase truly excellent wines. Standout grapes include the red Nero d’Avola, offering rich berry flavours, and the whites Grillo and Catarratto, both known for their fresh and aromatic profiles. Sicily’s volcanic soils also add a unique minerality to many of its wines. 

Discover more in our beginner's guide to Italian wine regions. 

To ensure the high quality and authenticity of Italian wine, the country uses a strict appellation system (similar to France). It has four main categories of quality that can help wine lovers pick outstanding wines to try – from the most basic VdT to the highest level of DOCG.   

• VdT: Standing for Vino da Tavola (“table wine”), this is a base classification. The only criterion for this category is that wines are made from grapes cultivated in Italy regardless of the specific region. Wines with this label still have the potential for good quality despite their entry-level classification. 
• IGT: An Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) label typically requires wines to meet a geographical category, with the grapes used all coming from the named region. Despite the label suggesting lower quality, there are still excellent wines in this category. “Super Tuscans”, for example, are labelled as IGT as a protest against the stricter DOCG and DOC restrictions.
•  DOC: Despite not being the highest level of quality, the Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) still has strict rules to follow. It’s easy to find a prestigious wine in a variety of styles, from the fresh Prosecco to the rich Nero d’Avola. Around 330 Italian appellations have this label. 
• DOCG: This is the most demanding label to achieve. Only 78 wine regions hold the title of Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG), and each one must follow strict rules covering grapes and winemaking techniques. A panel of tasting experts test and approve wines for this label.

There are hundreds of unique grape varieties that thrive across Italy’s 20 wine regions. Each area has a distinct climate, which means Italy produces wines in all styles – red, white and sparkling.  

Italy is a treasure trove for gorgeously fruity, easy-drinking reds to rich, deep and smoky classics. A handful of this country’s famous red wines include:  

• Barolo: One of Italy’s most famous and age-worthy red wines, Barolo is made from the Nebbiolo grape. This rich, full-bodied wine is aged in oak and possesses distinct flavours reminiscent of roses and dried herbs. Known as the “King of Wines”, Barolo has DOCG classification, emphasising its superior quality. When it comes to pairing, Barolo works well with rich meats and a range of different cheese styles. 
• Chianti: This iconic wine from Tuscany is made from the Sangiovese grape. It offers tastes of cherry and plum, accompanied by earthy undertones. Medium-bodied, Chianti is a versatile wine, making it a favourite for pairing with various dishes, from pasta to roasted meats. 
• Barbaresco: Another gem from Piedmont, Barbaresco shares its signature Nebbiolo grape with Barolo. However, it offers a softer texture with more subtle flavours of cherry and cinnamon notes. Its aromatic profile is slightly sweet, enhancing its appeal. Rich, cheesy dishes or those with creamy sauces are great with a glass of Barbaresco.  

But Italy can also produce crisp, refreshing white wines, each with unique flavours and characteristics. Some of Italy’s best-known white styles are:  

• Pinot Grigio: Perhaps Italy’s best-known white wine. Pinot Grigio’s light and refreshing nature, with subtle notes of apple, pear and a touch of white flower, makes it an excellent choice for enjoying with a range of dishes. 
• Soave: From the Veneto region in northeastern Italy, Soave is another famous Italian white wine. Produced mainly from the Garganega grape, its flavour ranges from ripe pear and citrus to a hint of sweet almond. Known for its crisp acidity and dry palate, Soave pairs wonderfully with many dishes. 
• Verdicchio: A crisp, dry white wine from the Marche region with citrus and almond flavours. Verdicchio is often considered one of Italy’s most characterful white wines. 
• Gavi: Piedmont’s Gavi has steadily gained attention for its well-rounded taste. Made from the Cortese grape, it is packed with flavours of juicy fruits such as peach and melon, underpinned by a hint of apple, making it a refreshing choice. 

Italy is also renowned for its sparkling wines, which offer great quality, diversity and value:  

• Prosecco: Made in Veneto from Glera grapes, Prosecco is Italy’s most famous sparkling wine. Dry and refreshing, it has crisp flavours of pear, green apple, honeydew melon and honeysuckle aromas. 
• Asti Spumante: Offering a sweeter palate, Asti Spumante captures the essence of the Moscato Bianco grape. With a flavour profile that bursts with peach, blossom, and nectarine, its DOCG status – awarded in 1993 – is a testament to its outstanding quality and character. 
• Franciacorta: This impressive sparkling wine from Lombardy is made in the same way as Champagne. Compared to Prosecco, Franciacorta is more full-bodied and complex, with citrus, peach and toasted brioche flavours. This sparkling wine can be made from various grapes, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc.

Yes, you can send Italian wine as a gift.   

Whether you want to send a single bottle of wine or a gift set, we have wine gifts for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and more.  

Explore our special occasion wine gifts.

The date of your delivery will depend on which option you choose at checkout. We offer:  

Standard delivery is ideal if you’re buying for yourself or as a thank you gift. We’ll deliver your order within three working days.  

Next-day delivery is a great choice for last-minute gifts, while Named-day delivery is perfect for anniversaries, birthdays and special occasions. Do bear in mind that we don’t deliver on Sundays or Bank Holidays.  

Top tip: for the best experience, subscribe to our Unlimited service. You’ll make a one-off payment of £29.99 which entitles you to free delivery for a year – as often as you like – even on single bottles.

Our wines are covered by a no-quibble guarantee.  

That means, if, for whatever reason, a bottle fails to satisfy, we’ll arrange to collect it. You’ll have the option to either receive a full refund or replace the wine.   

It’s that simple.