If you’re visiting Italy, you are bound to stumble upon a local winery no matter where you go. The country is home to some of the oldest wine producing regions in the world with nearly every part of the country producing its own styles of wine.
Followed closely by Spain and France, Italy is the world’s largest wine producer by volume. The three country’s regularly via for the top position…and as one of the top wine destinations for wine lovers to visit. Which is where Carpe Travel steps in.
We’ve pulled together the following Italian Wine Travel Guide to share a brief history of many of the must visit Italian wine regions, along with where to sip, where to stay and things to do beyond the vines.
This guide is designed to help you plan the perfect Italian wine vacation. And like wine, our guides get better with age as we will continue to build them out and add more tips and wine adventures. Make sure to subscribe to keep updated. Saluti!
TERROIR
The are 20 main wine regions in Italy. Yes, that’s a lot and seeing as there are more than 350 official Italian wine varieties, there is a lot to know…and sip.
TOP ITALIAN GRAPE VARIETIES
Italy is home to more than 350 grape varieties. These are the most commonly grown grapes in the country.
WHITE WINE GRAPES
- Pinot Grigio
- Glera
- Trebbiano
- Verdicchio
- Moscato Bianco
- Cortese
RED WINE GRAPES
A Travelers Guide to Understanding the Italian Wine Classifications
ITALIAN WINE TRAVEL GUIDES
We have curated the following wine travel guides to different regions within Italy to help you map out where to sip, stay and things to do on your next sip trip.
PLANNING YOUR TRIP
OUR FAVORITES PLACES TO STAY BY REGION
- Piedmont: Castello di Sinio in Barolo, Palazzo Finati di Paola Fava in Alba
- Sicily: Grande Hotel et Des Palmes, NH Palermo, Il Vigneto Resort
- Tuscany: Castello di Vicarello
- Valpolicella/Verona: Hotel Milano & Spa, Due Torri Hotel, Relais Empire
REGIONAL ITINERARIES & GUIDES
PIEDMONT | AMALFI COAST | TUSCANY | SICILY | VALPOLICELLA
MEET THE WINEMAKERS
Armchair Food & Wine Travel to Barbaresco
Interview with a Winemaker: Sergio Germano of Ettore Germano in Piedmont
SIP IN MORE OF ITALY
A Guide to the Liguria Wine Region in Northern Italy
Wines of Campania and the Amalfi Coast
The Perfect Amalfi Coast Itinerary for Wine Lovers
Hunting for Alba White Truffles in Piedmont
Where to Stay in Alba: A cheat sheet to visiting Barolo
A Complete Guide to The Ultimate Sicilian Wine Trip
MORE RESOURCES
Piedmont
- The Piemonte Wine Trail
- 10 Things to do in Turin
- On the Piemonte Wine Trail: Stella Giuseppe
- Piedmont Wine Tours: Harvest Lunch in Barbaresco
Puglia
Liguria
Elaine Schoch is an award-winning travel writer, wine judge, American Wine Specialist and certified by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET II). At Carpe Travel she shares wine travel destination guides for ALL WINE LOVERS – from novices to experienced pros – to help them plan their wine adventures, arming them with insider tips, must-visit spots, and things to see and do beyond the vines.